Fruit trees are a wonderful thing to have in your backyard. Why travel far to grab a few peaches or apples for a snack or to add to a baked good recipe when you can pick them from your own backyard? However, you're not the only one who enjoys nibbling on some fruit - pests do too. Consider these tips to keep pests off fruit trees.
Some pests are good for your fruit trees, and some aren't. It's important you know the difference between the pests that are beneficial and those that aren't, so you don't kill the good ones off too, Fantastic Farms noted. Certain insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, praying mantises, wasps and specific types of beetles all can actually help your trees grow and prosper. However, other insects, such as caterpillars, worms, moths, aphids and the like can all hurt your trees or eat them, which in turn could attract other pests.
While your fruit is beginning to bloom and come into season, it's important you cover your trees to protect them from small insects and pests, the San Francisco Chronicle stated. These covers, which usually are made of a lightweight material that is similar to burlap, can help the trees breathe and keep them safe without the pests wiggling through. They also let water through. Keep them in place with stakes and string, or else the cover could fly off.
Noisemakers, scary-eyed balloons and Mylar streamers all can keep birds away from fruit trees. Birds are one of the most annoying and voracious pests when it comes to grabbing fruit. They have no problem flying over to your trees and staying for awhile. Keep them away with these tools.
For smaller pests, or ones who try to access the tree from the ground, use sticky traps. These products can cause any kind of a pest to stick to it and prevent it from climbing up your tree. Place the traps fairly low on the trunk of your tree, to prevent the insects from getting too close.
If you have a considerable pest problem, or none of these tactics work, don't reach for the pesticides. These chemicals may end up on your fruit, and could hurt you or your family. Instead, call up pest management professionals to take care of the problem. They can properly handle your situation, regardless of what type of pest you have.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
