Insects and Animals
Pink Hibiscus Mealybug
If you think fire ants and armadillos are terrible exotic, invasive pests, just wait until you have a houseplant infested with pink hibiscus mealybug (PHMB). The damage this insect does to plants makes them look like weed killer was sprayed...
How to Handle Dead Birds
With all of the news about Bird Flu and West Nile Virus, it’s easy to become concerned when you see a dead bird. Could it be infected or not? How should it be disposed of safely? Should it be reported?...
Southern Pine Beetle – Links
Following are Internet links to information about the Southern pine beetle: Walter’s thoughts about Southern pine beetle Homeowner Q&A about Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) Southern Pine Beetle Internet site UGA southern pine beetle brochure Southern pine beetle in Florida Homeowner...
Homeowner Q&A about Pine Beetles
The following was written by Terry Price, Georgia Forestry Commission. How do I know if my trees are currently infested with bark beetles? Trees that still harbor beetles will be characterized by green to yellow needles, tight fitting bark (hard...
Deer and Rabbit Control – Using Plantskydd
“I heard you mention the product Plantskydd repellant on your Saturday broadcast a week or two ago. Here is a rosarian’s experience: “In a short phrase, IT SEEMS TO WORK! “I ordered mine on line at www.highcountrygardens.com . I purchased...
Deer Control – Using a Scarecrow Device
From a local rose grower. “We have a large lot (1 1/2 acres, more than 200 roses). We have seen as many as nine deer at one time in our pasture, fairly close to the garden, in late afternoon. “Last...
Mosquito – Ultrasonic Repellers
taken from HortIdeas High-Frequency Mosquito “Repellers” Found Ineffective This isn’t the first time we’ve reported on scientific trials of electronic devices claimed by their distributors to repel mosquitoes due to high-frequency sounds, and we suppose it won’t be the last...
Dogs – Landscaping for
If you have a dog or dogs, you know the damage they can do to a landscape. Whether digging under shrubs or pounding out a dirty path by the fence, dogs are quick to make their mark. My colleague Sheldon...
Heron – Control
Every year, many pond keepers lose fish from their ponds following the visit of a heron. The occasional visit of these magnificent birds can create a great deal of interest, but unfortunately they are efficient predators and can decimate the...
Deer – Control
In another article, I listed plants that are least appetizing to deer and suggested that they make good choices when living in deer country. There were dozens of plants on the list but not enough to satisfy most homeowners. I...
Bluebird – Placing Houses
The first scouts of our bluebird population arrive in early spring. If you have a wide expanse of grassy land, free of trees, near your home, early February is the time to set up bluebird boxes for the spring. Don’t...
Squirrel – Control
Squirrels present us with one of the most vexing wildlife control problems. The noise they make in an attic can be unnerving – especially in the middle of the night. Perhaps you should listen to this song to make you...
Asian Ambrosia Beetle – Control
There is no more accurate description of Asian Ambrosia Beetle damage than “Toothpicks coming out of the trunk of my tree!” This boring pest came to my attention in 2001 when a big flowering cherry tree in my back yard...
Deer Control – Resistant Plants
Judging from the messages I’ve received from gardeners in Big Canoe, Lake Oconee, Eagles Landing and other naturalistic residential settings, one wild creature deserves the anima non grata landscape sign: whitetail deer. When they can’t find food in the woods,...
Aphids – Control
If you want to become an aphid expert, early summer is the best time to easily find them in your landscape. The tips of rose and crapemyrtle branches usually have dozens or hundreds of these sap-sucking insects. Many plants can...
Argiope – Spider ID
Remarkably large garden spiders are often seen in fall. They are black with yellow markings on their underside and their webs stretch across garden paths and between flowers. A distinctive zig-zag pattern in the middle of the web identifies this...
Cicada
When a new baby was introduced into my rural Georgia community, my mother would be one of the first visitors. “That’s such a beautiful child!” she’d coo. “It would be a shame if they didn’t have an encyclopedia for their...
Mealybug – Control
Mealybugs can attack several kinds of houseplant. Mealybugs look like small white, cottony masses usually at the joint between a leaf and a stem. The insects suck plant sap and excrete sticky honeydew, which covers nearby leaves. Jade plant, coleus,...
