4-H: Recollection and Reality
By Anne Reed, Extension Master Gardener Most urban dwellers today are clueless about 4-H. More than likely, quite a few rural denizens, residents of the locations where 4-H had its …
Brood X Cicadas in the Morning
For some cicadas, the molting process can be long and arduous, taking up to an hour or more.
Rethinking Your Lawn
The care of our lawns takes a heavy toll on our time and money as homeowners try to meet the unattainable goal of the perfect, unblemished expanse of green. The average household spends $1,200 and 70 hours annually on lawn care, although many individuals consider mowing to be an onerous chore. Learn about the number of actions that climate-conscious gardeners can take to make their lawns more environmentally friendly.
Protecting Yourself From Ticks . . . Without Harming Pollinators
Protect yourself from ticks without destroying beneficial insects. Spraying pesticides to control ticks is ineffective because ticks reside primarily within leaf litter where the sprays cannot reach them, or they are brought in by animal hosts. The pesticides, however, are nonselective and will kill pollinators and other beneficial insects they come in contact with. There are much more effective ways to protect yourself, your family, and your pets and still enjoy the outdoors.
Mosquito Control Begins with a Home Walk-Around
We are already seeing calls for spraying to control mosquitoes on neighborhood social media sites. Before you think of spraying, check out these better options for controlling mosquitoes that will not hurt beneficial insects.
Plant Partners
If you are looking for planting strategies with the potential to improve the productivity of your vegetable garden, or if you have heard about “companion planting” and want to know what science supports, Plant Partners by Jessica Walliser is a good resource.