Perennials are springing up everywhere. And the herbivores are loving it. The hostas pictured above are always the first course. Around here, the biggest culprit of garden dining are deer. Don’t believe me? I took the following picture of our backyard two years ago. Apparently, we are living in the Grand Central Station for the Bambi crowd.
Garden stores sell various deer and rabbit deterrents, but most are topical treatments that have to be applied after each rain or even heavy dew and, generally, they’re expensive. Since many are based on smells (a popular one is coyote urine), it’s not surprising a non-appetizing, odoriferous, rainproof thing such as Irish Spring keeps the critters at bay. $13.89 for 12 on Amazon.
Just cut a bar into cubes, wrap the cubes in scraps of cloth, and staple them onto stakes.
Drive the stakes in among the tantalizing vegetation. I also cut smaller bits to scatter along the ground.
Yes, the yard smells ‘refreshing’ and no, the soap doesn’t suds up during a rain. Last year, I did the stake trick at the beginning of the year, but replenished my scattered pieces once a month or so. Together, they seemed to do the trick; the deer left my plants alone.
Whether you’re a renter or a longtime homeowner, chances are you’ve dealt with some sort of annoying pests attempting to claim your home as their own. But in addition to just being a pain in the butt, some pests can cause serious risk to your property, ranging from creating a mess to structural damage.
The team at Groundworks conducted a survey to determine the worst pests in every state by taking a composite look at entomology reports, scientific analysis, and user search trends. Here are their findings, which will have you eager to nix creepy crawlers in no time.
The most common bug, spiders, took the rankings in 13 states, spanning everywhere from Oregon to Arkansas. Luckily, most types of spiders aren’t going to cause you harm, but a few, like the brown recluse and black widow, are serious health risks.
Nine states have the most problems with carpenter ants, including all of the New England states. These tiny nightmares hollow out wood and live inside the tunnels they create.
Termites proved to be a serious issue down south, in seven states like Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. However, they also took the number one slot in California. Termites can go undetected for years, but eventually can destroy the wooden beams that hold up your home.
Cockroaches proved to be the worst pests everywhere from New York to North Carolina. And they’re not just a threat in urban environments; they can spread disease and can trigger asthma, respiratory issues, and allergic reactions. Also, they multiply with a quickness: For every cockroach you see, there could be between 10 and 40 more that are hidden out of sight.
Carpenter bees, who bore holes into the wood of your home, were chosen for Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee and more.
If you have a pest problem, there are a few things you can do yourself to help prevent infestations. But sometimes, spraying for ants or plugging up empty holes yourself isn’t enough. Hiring a pest-control professional can help shine a light on the secret pathways these creatures find into your home.
Megan Johnson is a reporter in Boston. She got her start at the Boston Herald, where commenters would leave sweet messages like “Megan Johnson is just awful.” Now, she’s a contributor to publications like People Magazine, Trulia and Architectural Digest.
