Pest Control

The battle of the bugs and beasts

The one drawback to outdoor living is the pests who will want to share your beautiful yard with you. From biting bugs to rooting raccoons, your yard can become a popular spot for all kinds of critters.

What to Control and How

Some bugs and furry critters are beneficial to your yard and should be left alone. Bumble bees and honey bees help pollinate your flowers, fruits and vegetables. Dragonflies and bats eat mosquitoes. Worms are essential for healthy soil, and ladybugs help control aphids who are harmful to leaves. But there are some pests you’ll want to keep out of your yard to protect yourself and your plants:


  • Mosquitoes

    - Aside from the itchy red bumps they leave, mosquitoes can carry harmful West Nile Virus. Citronella candles are one of the most common deterrents, but there are other chemical and non-chemical solutions.

  • Mice and rats

    - These furry critters love seeds and are especially attracted to sunflowers, but they can gnaw into your home causing costly damage and spreading disease. Traps and poisons are the best way to control these fuzzy foe.

  • Deer

    - They look peaceful and gentle, but deer have big appetites and can wipe out entire vegetable gardens in a matter of days. Visual deterrents and non-chemical solutions are the best way to fend off hungry deer.

  • Wasps and hornets

    - Unlike honey bees and bumble bees, wasps and hornets don’t play a very big role in pollinating your garden. Their sting can be quite painful and they often build nests in the peaks and corners above doors. Chemical sprays can destroy their nests while non-chemical wasp traps will manage the odd stray.

  • Slugs

    - These slimy visitors can wreak havoc on a garden and chew holes in some of your favorite veggies. Make your garden hospitable to toads and they’ll take care of the problem, or pick the slugs off your veggies yourself. You can also sprinkle coarse sand around the stalks of plants. The sand irritates the slugs’ bodies, so they’ll steer clear.

  • Earwigs

    - Known to eat flowers and herbs and to deliver a fierce pinch, earwigs can be controlled with chemical sprays or trapped in shallow cans with a few ounces of beer, corn oil or dish soap and water in the bottom.

  • Raccoons

    - These furry critters can cause a mess around garbage cans and can be very aggressive. Many pet and home and garden stores sell powders that mimic the smell of raccoons’ predators’ urine. Sprinkle it around your property to discourage the masked bandits from taking up roost.

Whether you opt for chemical or non-chemical solutions, it’s important to control pests in your garden. If you choose a chemical product, be sure to follow the container’s instructions carefully and keep the product away from children and pets.

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fruit fly infestation
Posted on 12/31/2009 9:51:00 PM by Anonymous
Help! Got fleas. Tried Sevin dust and Raid spray.
Posted on 12/30/2009 7:21:00 PM by Anonymous
Help please can not afford $400 more dollars to get rid of bed bugs. have thrown away our carpet our beds and our couches. Wash all linens in hot and clothes dry extra hot. Sprayed and bombed and keep home VERY clean. Still can not get rid of them help advise please. Thank you.
Posted on 12/30/2009 5:47:00 AM by Anonymous
I am six months into fighting some type of flea, the biggest problem is having had to move in with my mother to take care of her, these things have followed me into her home and I am in a panic trying to rid her house of these terrible pests, this morning her bed was covered in tiny black specks, and I do mean covered! I have done all the convntional treatments and have had professional spraying. I am at such a loss and wearing myself completely out The larva I have picked up has been an irridecent blue, it has also picked up the paint on the garage flor and would have dismissed this as peeling but found the traditional shape larve in my hair, looked like the garage floor paint. These tiny brown specks get into everything from papertowel, toilet tissue, plastic, even makeup. I have been to doctors for help and the medical profession is ill equipped to even begin to help, I've sent samples of this 'flea' to several places, it is now in the hands of Orkin to identify the type of flea, do you please have suggestions on how to get this out of my mothers home, she is in her 80's and very unwell. Thank you.
Posted on 12/29/2009 6:09:00 PM by Anonymous
what about raoches, besides Raid, how do we get rid of them?
Posted on 12/18/2009 10:33:00 AM by Anonymous
my dog have fleas. I tried 2 kind of flea killers and they don't seem to be working. I love my dog and I don't like to see him like this,he is also a house dog and I am now worrying about my family haveing fleas please help me email me treneshal@yahoo.com
Posted on 12/8/2009 2:25:00 AM by Anonymous
howcan i ger rid of house flies
Posted on 11/18/2009 11:29:00 PM by Anonymous
Our indoor dog has fleas. She has been treated. Now how do I get the fleas out of my home?
Posted on 11/18/2009 9:45:00 PM by Anonymous
HI
Posted on 11/6/2009 4:55:00 PM by Anonymous
how to get ride of ladybug infestations.
Posted on 10/22/2009 4:16:00 PM by Anonymous
what does a termite look like?
Posted on 10/21/2009 6:08:00 PM by Anonymous
we have a flea problem we have bombed our house three times and haved sprayed constantly they are still biting us HELP
Posted on 10/17/2009 4:57:00 PM by Anonymous
I am having a problem with booklice in my house. I found it on my window blinds in the bedrooms first. I have cleaned all of them off and thought I was through with the problem. Now I see them very speratic on different things in the house, but a couple in each room. They are so small that I am afraid I might have a bigger problem then I think. Do I need to boom the house to get rid of these bugs?
Posted on 10/7/2009 10:10:00 AM by Anonymous
I need to control the cricket population in my house
Posted on 9/22/2009 3:52:00 PM by Anonymous
To get rid of fleas, ticks, etc. buy either sevin dust or sevin spray. It must be used every two weeks to keep the bugs in check, or they come right back. Make sure you spray around the base of your house or garage and spray all bushes and trees. Ticks especially like to fall down on their victims. As for mosquitos, you can only keep an eye on standing water around your home and get rid of it as fast as you can. I know there are certain foods that you eat that make you more attractive to mosquitos, so find a web site about that. Hope this helps y'all (yeah, I'm from Texas)
Posted on 9/19/2009 5:54:00 AM by Anonymous
there is a big fat black ant in my floor every morning. almost scary what kind of ant is this. He don't have wings. He's just your common looking black ant, very, very,large in size.
Posted on 9/12/2009 8:54:00 AM by Anonymous
a too kill spiders i would get some yard spray for spiders crickets and it has a list on thier from black flag good luck
Posted on 9/9/2009 4:42:00 AM by Anonymous
i have these flees in my house i sprayed my cat and got him a flee collar now i felt one flee im my bed whats the best way to get them out my house .... should i go to the store and get flee spray and spray my whole house or bomb it ....????
Posted on 9/9/2009 4:40:00 AM by Anonymous
how to kill outdoor spider???
Posted on 9/8/2009 2:41:00 AM by Anonymous
Bring it back on the market.Iwas around it alot and it did not effect me. That was 40 tears ago.
Posted on 9/3/2009 2:17:00 AM by Anonymous
I see lots of questions, but answers. doesn't seem like much help
Posted on 9/2/2009 9:50:00 AM by Anonymous
what about fleas in the yard. Mine is infested and causing the dogs alot of problems.
Posted on 8/24/2009 12:14:00 PM by Anonymous
my 10 year old son is being bitten like no tomorrow by fleas i have tried everything any one that can help me please email me at ern_gam@hotmail.com
Posted on 8/19/2009 2:45:00 PM by Anonymous
how to kill indoor spiders?
Posted on 8/17/2009 10:53:00 AM by Anonymous
The powders that discourage raccoons. Do they also discourage the strays I'm feeding?
Posted on 8/14/2009 7:58:00 PM by Anonymous
Can you tell me how to get rid of the potato beetle , no chemicals please
Posted on 8/14/2009 8:57:00 AM by Anonymous
what do termites look like
Posted on 8/11/2009 6:01:00 PM by Anonymous
Help!! we have a spider infestation! We live in a high rise and the spiders have taken over our bathroom and bedroom windows... I can't even open the window to try and get rid of them... I AM TERRIFIED... after having been bitten by a brown recluse spider a few years ago.
Posted on 8/11/2009 4:49:00 AM by Anonymous
I have a nest of Yellowjackets in an exterior bedroom wall. I've sprayed the entrance and they are no longer coming in and out however the wall still hums soundingas if the nest is still in wall. How do I get rid of that? I fear if I seal the entrance they will find another way out possibly into the house or if I block the entrance will they die on their own?
Posted on 8/8/2009 10:17:00 AM by Anonymous
My wife bothers me when I am watching TV. I have tried to use a squirt gun everytime she tries to speak but it is ruining the furniture and is not as effective as it was with the dog and cat. Any suggestions as I would like to keep her as she is a good cook.
Posted on 8/8/2009 2:13:00 AM by Anonymous
I killed a large black ant in my kitchen today. Not sure what kind as it had a red band around its lower body. I have never seen one like this before. Can you tell me what kind this is?
Posted on 8/7/2009 4:34:00 PM by Anonymous
I have alot of 1/8th inch flying brown beetles that have invaded my house. They like to hang around lights, but are everywhere. Please help.
Posted on 8/5/2009 11:26:00 PM by Anonymous
I have these things that look likehair pulled out a brush their as big as a fist they don't like light and i can't catch onee to show anybody e1 thinks i'm nuts. Please email me at:bjreardon@hotmail.com
Posted on 8/5/2009 7:07:00 PM by Anonymous
I live in a basement apartment and have recently been finding lots of white spiders. There are tiny ones and large ones so obviously they have a nest somewhere. I have never seen them before and have no idea where they're coming from or how to get rid of them. I'm very allergic to spiders so I need to get rid of them fast!
Posted on 8/4/2009 8:55:00 AM by Anonymous
help I have outdoor and in door cats and three dogs (four) cats old and now I have racoons on my porch every night or in the trash. I fear for my cats. What can I do ? My cats are around 8 or 9 years old. My Babies.
Posted on 8/2/2009 2:27:00 AM by Anonymous
Rubbing small amount of black pepper on clothes, will stop misquito bites to that area. Wear gloves when applying pepper.
Posted on 7/30/2009 3:21:00 PM by Anonymous
I have been infested with bedbugs.need to find out how to get rid of them
Posted on 7/29/2009 4:25:00 PM by Anonymous
yesterday while pulling weeds in the yard I found what looked like little whit eggs. Also a lot of red aunts. Termites or just red ants. G.J CO 81506
Posted on 7/28/2009 1:55:00 PM by Anonymous
I Still don't know what they look like and what color they are and what do the eggs look like befor they are hatched?
Posted on 7/28/2009 1:52:00 PM by Anonymous
I live in Colorado Springs, CO...in the forest.....was out checking around our rock retaining walls that are on the north and south sides or our house. I lifted up some of the rocks to find what looked like white magots or bug larva? ...and small red ants were taking these down into the soil. Are these termites before they turn into flying termites? oh boy...hope not...but would appreciate a response.
Posted on 7/16/2009 10:50:00 PM by Anonymous
i bought this riddex electromagnetic or ultrasonic repeller and the mice play on the product and i have had it for only a few months, is the riddex really effective
Posted on 7/14/2009 4:18:00 PM by Anonymous
is it used outside?
Posted on 7/14/2009 10:09:00 AM by Anonymous
how can i cheaply get rid of fleas and ticks in my yard and house? Please help!!!!
Posted on 7/13/2009 8:58:00 AM by Anonymous
what do termites look like?
Posted on 7/9/2009 12:39:00 PM by Anonymous
What can I do to deter the deer from my hosta plants?
Posted on 7/7/2009 9:36:00 AM by Anonymous
can you show me a picture of a termite?
Posted on 7/7/2009 9:30:00 AM by Anonymous
in response to the grey colored bug shaped like a pumpkin seed with a black thing use for it's legs--sounds like silverfish also known as the potato bug.
Posted on 7/6/2009 2:07:00 AM by Anonymous
keep squirels away by sprinkeling cayenne pepper anywhere you don't want them to be
Posted on 7/6/2009 2:00:00 AM by Anonymous
to add to keeping mice and rats away i think any homeowner may consider getting a cat or two. i'm a himeowner myself and i have 3 cats with no mice and rat problems here.all 3 of my cats are "mousers" and do a great job.
Posted on 7/6/2009 1:56:00 AM by Anonymous
THIS IS VERY USEFUL BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SQUIRRELS? THEY ATTACK MY FLOWER POTS LEFT AND RIGHT. PLUS MY BULBS IN GARDEN Sherri
Posted on 7/5/2009 8:24:00 PM by Anonymous
I've seen many, many, times small gray bugs that have see pumpkin seed like shape. It has a long black thing protruding from one end to can do the same from the other end as well. This long black thing is used as it's legs and crawls with it. It has no legs and it can be seen on the floors and walls too. Does anyone have an idea of what this bug could be?
Posted on 7/3/2009 9:45:00 PM by Anonymous
think we have rat infestation
Posted on 6/30/2009 9:42:00 PM by Anonymous
A very interesting and helpful information article. Thank-you
Posted on 6/30/2009 11:40:00 AM by Anonymous
is there any home remedies for sand fleas. thanks
Posted on 6/23/2009 7:24:00 PM by Anonymous
I have a 2 month old kitten and I have found that if you bathe the kitten in Salt water first and wait fifteen minutes then use regular shampoo on him/her the flease will die. it is al safe for the kitten. Will work on cats too if you can get them to take a bath without clawing you to death.
Posted on 5/27/2009 8:57:00 PM by Anonymous
This was the best site ever!!! I LOVE THIS SITE!!!
Posted on 5/20/2009 2:52:00 PM by Anonymous
going to try your earwig trapping methods now. have sprayed one product after another but fear my dogs will contact the poison, especially the pup. guess i can spare a little beer to see if this works. thanks
Posted on 5/15/2009 4:18:00 AM by Anonymous
thanks for site \
Posted on 5/11/2009 6:43:00 AM by Anonymous
if a mouse gets off a glue board will the glue on feet of mouse still kill it ? Thanks Mike Moss
Posted on 4/14/2009 9:00:00 AM by Anonymous