Cork Flooring For Soft Footing
The cork used in cork floors comes from the bark of the cork oak, which is grown in the Mediterranean Basin, in countries like Portugal, Spain, and Italy. The cork bark is harvested from a tree every nine years, during the months when the trees ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
A Pesticide Primer
Bacillus Thuringiensis - (called BT) Kills small caterpillars and grubs. Is harmless to people, animals, birds or good bugs. There are different varieties for each insect, as well as a long lasting solid BT for mosquito larvae. (Trade name ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Beware Of Birdseed!
They are slow and easy to swat, but it's the ones you don't see who do the damage. I put bags of bread crumbs as bait near the birdseed corner for them to lay their eggs in, changing them every 2 weeks since their life cycle is about 30 days. I ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Houseplant Blights
Often fungus disease and rot is caused by too much water and not enough air circulation. Another common reason is that foliage remains damp too long. It takes only 8 hours of moisture for a fungus to insert it's feeding tube into leaf cells. ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Houseplant Bug Problems
Systemic Insecticides: These are substances which are watered into the soil, taken up by the roots and gradually spread throughout the leaves. As sucking and chewing insects try to feed, they are killed. It saves any spraying of pesticides in the ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
How Gardens Grow
Slugs: In the cool fall weather, the slugs come out again, and they love ripe tomatoes. If you find holes chewed in red fruits, it's time to use slug bait. The only one that can be used with food crops is the pesticide metaldehyde. (But not ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Indoor Air Pollution - Pesticides
The amount of pesticides found in homes appears to be greater than can be explained by recent pesticide use in those households; other possible sources include contaminated soil or dust that floats or is tracked in from outside, stored pesticide ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Japanese Beetle Grubs
Japanese Beetles lay their eggs in midsummer. Their white grubs cause brown patches in August by eating grass roots. In different part of the United States, there are several other similar beetles (May beetles, June beetles and European chafers) ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Pest Management
Pest management can be one of the greatest challenges to the home gardener. Yard pests include weeds, insects, diseases, and some species of wildlife. Weeds are plants that are growing out of place. Insect pests include an enormous number of ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Prevent Damage From Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants damage wood by hollowing it out for nesting. Unlike termites, wood damaged by carpenter ants does not contain mud-like debris. Instead, carpenter ant nests have a smooth, sandpapered appearance. Carpenter ants typically establish ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Termites: Identification, Prevention And Control
Drywood termites infest dry, undecayed wood, including structural lumber as well as dead limbs of native trees and shade and orchard trees, utility poles, posts, and lumber in storage. From these areas, winged reproductives seasonally migrate to ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Termite Control
Soil treatment practices have seen many changes over the years. Chlordane – no longer used, but once the termiticide of choice – remained in the soil for decades and negatively impacted ecosystems. The new generation of soil treatments is ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
