With our recent rainy weather and warm spring temperatures, summer weeds are beginning to sprout. The time to remove them is while they are small and easy to pull. Despite the rain, we are still in a drought, so it is especially important to control weeds early. Uncontrolled weeds dry …
Gardening in Nevada can be quite a challenge. Temperature extremes, drought and other factors can make any gardener begin to lose hope. We can’t control the weather, but we can try to give our landscape a fighting chance by improving the things that we can control, such as our soil. …
Chicken-keeping is a growing trend in northern Nevada. Chickens are still considered illegal in most areas of Sparks, but are allowed in Reno and Washoe County. Chickens are a nice addition to your landscape, providing eggs, insect control and weed control. Integrating chickens as part of your pest management plan …
One of my pet peeves is when people refer to soil as “dirt.” Soil is not dirt; it is not some contaminant we should remove. And soil is more than sand, silt and clay particles. Soil is a complex system of chemical and biological interactions that helps produce something we …
Horticultural oils are among the least toxic pesticides available to control fruit tree and shade tree pests and diseases. They are considered safe and effective pesticides that decompose quickly in the environment and pose little risk to humans, pets, wildlife and beneficial insects. Horticultural oils are refined plant- or petroleum-based …
As much as I like to garden, by fall I’m grateful for the freezing nights and the reduced garden chores. During a recent windstorm, I noticed tumble weeds, tumble mustard and other dried weeds blowing into my yard. It reminded me that it was time to start planning an application …
It’s almost fall and many gardeners are shopping for tulips and daffodils. Another bulb to consider planting this fall is garlic. Like other spring-maturing bulbs, garlic needs a cold period before it will begin to grow. Now is the time to order or purchase your garlic to obtain the greatest …
It’s August and the garden is doing well…or so you thought. You may have noticed damage to some of the vegetables in your garden. Here’s some information on two common vegetable garden pests for this time of year and tips to control them: Squash bugs attack plants in the cucurbit …
Of the more than one million types of insects in the world, less than 5 percent are harmful. Insects are an important part of the food web, providing a meal for other insects, birds and small mammals present in our yards. Many insects are pollinators. Without them, we would have …
