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It’s inevitable — wherever there are gardens, there will also be pests! Even well-tended gardens are likely to experience a pest problem at one time or another.

Pests can cause plenty of damage, from nibbling on your plants and vegetables to creating holes and tunnels all over your property. Identifying garden pests is the first step to controlling them, and the sooner that garden pest identification occurs, the better your chances of preventing a full-scale animal assault.

Garden Pests Identification Tips

While animals may visit your garden throughout the day or night, the best time for identifying garden pests is usually at dawn or dusk. Sit by a window offering a clear view of your garden and see what critters decide to drop by for a… Read More

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Health Risks for Animals Around Plants

Those rabbits, squirrels and other critters that hang around your backyard can do much more damage than just eating your plants, flowers and vegetables. Some of these wild animals can potentially be carrying disease that could threaten your health, as well as that of your family and pets.

Animals are exposed to a wide variety of diseases in the wild. They can easily transmit these diseases to others by coming in contact with the vegetables you eat, by defecating or urinating in your yard, or through biting. What’s more, many animals also carry harmful parasites that can “jump” to pets and humans.

Taking appropriate steps to deter these nuisance animals from entering your yard or garden can greatly reduce your exposure… Read More

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Unlike humans, animals don’t have the luxury of curling up with a good book next to the fireplace on a cold, rainy or snowy day. Although many animals are blessed with fur coats and other natural features that protect them from the elements, it doesn’t mean they enjoy being wet or cold any more than you do.

Who hasn’t, at one time or another, discovered a cat sleeping underneath a car on a chilly or stormy day, taking advantage of the heat of the engine as well as the shelter it provides? And you may have owned or observed a pet that is absolutely terrified by the sound of thunder!

Pets and Natural Disasters

As we have seen most recently with Hurricane Sandy, natural disasters, such as hurricanes or tornadoes, can… Read More

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Acid rain occurs when sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, which are typically produced as a manufacturing byproduct by industrial plants, are expelled into the atmosphere. These contaminants combine with precipitation and are absorbed into the soil when they reach the ground. While acid rain is more common in urban areas that may have a high concentration of industrial facilities, it can have an impact on people and plant life located many miles away.

Problems Caused By Acid Rain

Prolonged exposure to the pollutants in acid rain has been linked to a number of health problems in humans, including heart and lung disorders and chronic asthma. The acidity from acid rain can also create a number of problems with your soil, and in turn, your garden.
… Read More