All articles tagged with #yard
In Washington, D.C., Maggie Penman shares a six-step, neighborhood-inspired plan to curb mosquitoes in a humid, shady yard, detailing practical experiments and tactics—from managing standing water to tweaking the garden layout and using traps—to make evenings bite-free and exploring whether such community-style strategies could work at a single home.
Coyotes have expanded across North America and can be seen in urban areas; they generally avoid humans but pose risks to small pets and can carry diseases. To stay safe, keep pets supervised, avoid leaving pet food outside, and use hazing techniques to scare coyotes away. Most encounters are harmless if proper precautions are taken.
Garlic powder is a simple and effective way to repel wasps from your yard and garden. Wasps dislike the potent smell of garlic and tend to fly in the opposite direction when they encounter it. You can create a garlic powder solution by mixing it with water in a spray bottle and spraying it around your yard. Alternatively, you can use fresh minced garlic or grow garlic in your garden as a natural and pet-safe repellent.
If your pet continues to get fleas, it could be due to an infestation in your yard. Fleas can bite humans and carry diseases, so it's important to address the issue. Using dish soap, particularly Dawn, mixed with water in a garden sprayer can effectively kill fleas in your yard. Apply the soapy water in the morning or evening, avoiding harsh sunlight or rain. Repeat the process as needed to target active fleas and their eggs. Dish soap works by dehydrating and smothering the insects, but be cautious as it can also dry out your grass. Adding vegetable oil to the mixture can help protect your lawn. Dish soap is also effective against other pests and fungus.
A pest control expert on TikTok has shared her top tips for keeping mosquitoes out of your yard. She advises removing standing water sources, using larvicides if water cannot be removed, trimming or removing large bushes, using mosquito repellent, and spraying insecticide on bushes. These measures help control mosquito breeding grounds and reduce their presence in the yard.