 What is a Garden Grub?
Grubs are grayish-white c-shaped worms that become Japanese beetles later in life. They are a lawn pest and are also a favorite snack for moles. If you have a mole problem, look for grub worms in your lawn – get rid of one, you will probably get rid of the other!
Moles eat from 70 to 100 percent of their weight each day. A mole’s appetite seems to be insatiable. Experiments with captive moles show that they will usually eat voraciously as long as they are supplied with food to their liking. The tremendous amount of energy expended in plowing through soil requires a correspondingly large amount of food to supply that energy.
If you have a mole and grub problem – start with getting rid of the moles food – the grubs! Here are some great products to help:
Maxide Grub Granules – For home lawns, landscape plantings and flower beds. Season long grub control. Readily absorbed by the roots. Insect feeding will stop with a few hours. Allows turf to recover from grub damage. Treats up to 5,000 square feet.
Grubz-Out (pictured to the right) – Controls white grub larvae, chinch bugs, mole crickets, larvae of annual bluegrass weevil, asiatic garden beetle, billbugs. Apply with broadcast spreader or drop spreader 10# bag will cover up to 8300 sq. ft.
For an Organic Alternative:
Safer Grub Killer - Ready to spray / Hose End – Effective on 6 species of white grubs: june bug, billbug, masked and europe chafers, japanese and oriental beetles. If you want the best in lawn grub control, Safer Brand has the organic solution for you. Safer Brand Grub Killer effectively kills June Bugs, Billbugs, Masked & European Chafers, Japanese Beetle & Oriental Beetle, Sod Webworms and Cinch Bugs. Utilizing a derivative of the seed of Neem trees, this organic product is a natural and effective solution to your grub control problems.
Get rid of those bothersome pests with a grub control product that is OMRI Listed® and compliant for use in organic gardening. This organic grub killer comes in a convenient, ready-to-use spray formula that attaches to your hose. No mixing necessary.
The RESCUE! Reusable Yellowjacket and Wasp Trap catches all major species of yellowjackets common to North America.
The exclusive RESCUE!® Attractant replicates the sex pheromone of the yellowjackets to draw them inside the trap. The yellowjackets enter the trap through the holes on the bottom section, then fly up through the interior cone into the clear yellow catch chamber.
- Catches multiple species
- Attractant lasts for weeks without daily maintenance
- Attractant refills available, including the RESCUE!® 10-week Attractant Cartridge for even longer lasting performance
- Won’t trap beneficial honeybees
- Also available is the big fly trap in our fly trap category
- Double-chambered design prevents yellowjackets from escaping
- Durable plastic holds up in sunlight for seasons of use
- Used and recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture as well as major U.S. zoos, parks, campgrounds, resorts and school districts
- Clear plastic tube allows the user to see the yellowjacket “body count”
What kills the insects
Once inside the trap, the yellowjackets cannot fly out and die of dehydration.
Where it’s used
The RESCUE!® Reusable Yellowjacket Trap can be used outdoors wherever there is a yellowjacket problem. We recommend the trap be placed at least 20 feet away from an outdoor activity area, such as a patio or deck. The trap should be hung, if possible, in a natural setting of bushes and trees. It’s also effective to place the trap on the perimeter of a yard or area where yellowjackets are entering. The trap should also be placed at least 20 feet away from a known yellowjacket nest.
When it’s used
The RESCUE!® Yellowjacket Trap can be used in spring when the queen yellowjackets emerge from overwintering to look for nest sites. It can also be used in the summer and fall when the worker yellowjackets forage for food.
 Don’t skimp on pond tubing.
This is one part of your pond that can cause alot of problems is you don’t buy quality materials. Lees, Laguna and Cal Pump all make quality tubing to use specifically for your pond.
Strong and durable non-kink tubing will not collapse due to back-pressure or reasonable weight from gravel or cover material. The black color on true pond tubing inhibits algae formation and is hard to see once installed.
Black Pond Tubing 10 ft. x 1.5 in. Cal Pump 1.5 inch x 10 feet Kink-free black
Lees Black Pond Tubing Pond Tubing – Resistant to ultra-violet rays.
Non-Kink Pond Tubing 3/4 x 10 ft. To install pumps to filters skimmers spitters and other accessories.
SMOOTH inside and outside. Flexible black PVC hose resists kinking, is fish safe and some what flexible. Flex PVC is ideal for plumbing filtration system and running underground. Can be glued to PVC fittings and bulkheads connecting skimmer or pond to pumps and other filtering equipment.
Citronella is the most widely recognized organic insect repellent. It is used in sprays, soaps, candles and other mosquito repellent products. What, exactly is Citronella?
Citronella is a tall, blue-green, lemon-scented perennial grass which  grows to 3 to 5 feet tall. The leaves are used to make citronella oil. When the grass is 2.5 – 3 months old it is cut above the leaf sheath. The leaves are left to wilt in the sun. It can then be harvested again after about a month and a half.
Fresh, partly dried or wholly dried grass is steam distilled to remove the essential oil. The oil is yellow-brown and has the aroma we are all familiar with. Citronella oil is used a lot in candles and repellents in the US.
July 4th Decorative Doormat.
Citronella is native to southeast Asia. It is grown commercially in Sri Lanka, India, Burma, and Indonesia.
Besides being an effective insect repellent it has been used for rheumatism, colds, headaches, lower back pain, migraines, fevers, pain, sprains, muscular aches, intestinal parasites, digestive problems, menstrual problems, stomach complaints, an after childbirth wash, to speed healing, fatigue, depression, household germicide/antiseptic, repelling cats, excessive perspiration, conditioning oily skin & hair, and to increase mental alertness.
Celebrate the 4th with Red, White and Blue Citronella Candles – place them throughout the area you are celebrating to keep those nasty insects at bay.
 If you enjoy working in your garden or yard, wearing a pair of garden gloves will help to reduce the damage to your hands and will make clean-up easier. A good pair of garden gloves will help to keep your hands dry and clean as you garden. In addition, wearing a pair of garden gloves will also help reduce the damage to your nails and skin and can help reduce allergic reactions to outdoor allergens such as grass, weeds, or flowers. To help keep your hands dry, look for a pair of gloves that are made of rubber material that is tough enough to resist cuts, which are caused by thorny branches and more. Here are some great choices to consider when choosing a new pair of garden gloves:
- One of my favorite pairs of garden gloves to wear is the Muddy Mate Women’s Glove by Boss Manufacturing. This lightweight pair of rubber garden gloves is very flexible and available in two sizes for a good fit. They are also available in assorted colors that make them easy to locate when working in the garden and are perfect for working in wet conditions or in muddy areas.
- The Nitrile TOUCH Garden Glove by Atlas Gloves are designed to be abrasion and puncture resistant. They are also ideal for helping to keep your hands dryer because they have a thin polyurethane coating on the palm area. These garden gloves are available in four sizes for the perfect fit and help to keep your hands clean and dry, while protecting them from cuts.
- Another great pair of rubberized garden gloves is the Dirt Digger Glove by Boss Manufacturing. These garden gloves are very comfortable to wear and help to keep your hands dry and clean while digging in the dirt. The finger tips are molded to make these garden gloves very comfortable and easy to wear for long periods of time.
 An outdoor pond can provide you with a soothing, relaxing spot in your yard. To help make your pond more interesting and even more enjoyable, it is a good thing to add aninteresting and unique pond spitter to your pond. It is easy to add an interesting and charming pond spitter to your outdoor pond. While pond spitters are great for catching the eye, they also serve practical functions, which help your pond to thrive and stay beautiful. A pond spitter will make a great decoration in your pond because it not only helps to aerate the water to keep the pond water cleaner, but also helps to provide oxygen for the fish.
A decorative angel pond spitter, such as the Kneeling Angel Spilling Water Garden Spitter or the Angel Pond Ornament(both by Laguna), are interesting to look at and make romantic and angelic pond decorations. These pond spitters both have an antique finish that blends in well with nature and are made of durable plastic resin that is weather resistant and will look great for many years to come. Both are cold temperature resistant. One consists of a kneeling angel holding a pot and the other one consists of an angel sitting by a pot. Either decorative angel pond spitter is sure to get your attention and help make aerating your pond water easy and convenient.
Another great decorative pond spitter to use in your pond is the Aqua UV Fishby Aqua Ultraviolent. This decorative pond spitter is made to help filter out bacteria that is harmful to your pond and is designed to be easy to connect to a submersible pump or an existing filter. It is very beneficial to use in your pond, especially if you have natural plant life or fish in your pond and is fun to look at.
 Father’s Day is less than a month away and finding a gift for your dad can be a challenge if your dad has everything he needs or wants. When selecting a gift for your dad, it is important to think about the types of hobbies or activities that your dad enjoys doing to avoid getting a gift that your dad won’t use or enjoy. If you are wondering what to get your dad for Father’s Day this year, then here are some great suggestions that will inspire you to find the perfect gift:
- For those dads who work in the yard, a garden gift can be a great gift for your dad. You may want to consider what your dad needs to work in the yard or something that your dad has been wanting to get. Garden tools are practical and won’t go to waste if your dad enjoys gardening. In addition to a new gardening tool, a gardening book can also make a great gift for your dad. Choose a gardening book, like Orthos Creating Japanese Gardens, that will inspire your dad to work on his hobbie.
- Another area to consider when choosing a gift for your dad is whether he enjoys spending time outdoors. An outdoor fire pit such as Copper Finish Fire Bowl, will make any evening spent outdoors more enjoyable. An outdoor fire pit is fun to sit around and enjoy the fire on a spring, summer or fall night. Your dad can enjoy this outdoor gift throughout the year and it makes spending time outdoors more enjoyable with your family.
- If your dad enjoys watching the birds, a birding camera can make the ideal gift for your dad. The Audubon BirdCam Birding Camera is an unique camera that allows you take beautiful pictures of wild birds and captures special moments that are hard to capture with an ordinary camera .
 When planting your annuals and perennials this spring, don’t forget to add the plant fertilizer when planting and giving them plant fertilizer on a regular basis. It is important to use plant fertilizer whether you are starting your garden or maintaining it because it helps your plant’s roots to grow healthier and stronger and you are sure to get more of your money’s worth with a big, beautiful garden to enjoy all summer long. A general, all-purpose plant fertilizer may be used to grow better and bigger plants or you may want to choose a plant fertilizer specific for the types of plants that you have in your garden. Miracle Gro has a line of plant fertilizers that are ideal for growing bigger and better annuals and perennials. Here are some great fertilizers to use in your garden that work great on both annuals and perennials:
- The Miracle Gro Garden Feedermakes feeding the plants in your flower beds easy and convenient. Just attach this feeder to your garden hose and spray on the annuals and perennials in the flower bed. Using the feeder to fertilize your plants is so easy and does not require any measuring. It also waters your plants as it fertilizes them. The handle is ergonomically shaped and is comfortable to hold.
- Another easy-to-use fertilizer is the Miracle Grow Shake N Feed. This fertilizer may be sprinkled on all types of annuals and perennials to help them grow bigger and stronger. It helps to feed your plants for up to 3 months, so you don’t have to worry about routinely feeding your plants.
- For even better results, choose the Miracle Gro Shake n Feed Bloom Booster to grow even bigger and better annuals and perennials in your garden. It is formulated to shake on your plants and will feed them for up to three months after application.
 When planning your summer garden, it is important to think about the type of soil that exists in the ground or in your flower beds before you start planting your plants, flowers, vegetables and more. Most ground soil is ok for growing plants, but if you want your plants to really thrive and grow to be big and beautiful all summer long, it is best to use a soil that is rich in nutrients and time-releasing fertilizer.
To help keep your garden looking beautiful and healthy all summer long, here are some nutrient-rich soils that make gardening a breeze:
- Scotts Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Garden Soil is a multi-purpose, nutrient-rich soil for your garden that makes beautiful gardens easy. This moisture-rich soil contains ingredients to help retain water that will hydrate the plant’s roots. It is ideal for use in dryer climates or ground soil that is sandy and helps to keep your plants living even when you forget to water them.
- For vegetable or flower gardens, use a nutrient-rich soil like Miracle-Gro Garden Soil for Flowers and Vegetables. This nutrient-rich soil is formulated to supply the roots of your vegetable and flower plants with the essential nutrients they need to grow into healthy, big plants. It contains fertilizer that lasts up to 3 months in the soil and helps to reduce the need for fertilizing your plants on a regular basis. In addition, this soil also retains moisture to help keep the plant’s roots hydrated.
- Another great soil mix for your flower and vegetable gardens is Schultz Garden Soil for Flowers and Vegetables. This nutrient-rich soil mix gets your garden off to a great start and makes your gardening job easier. It is formulated with time-releasing fertilizer that feeds the plant’s roots for up to 6 months, which decreases the need to constantly fertilize your plants.
 Planting a tree in your yard can make a huge improvement in the appearance of your yard and can offer you many additional benefits. After you have spent time and money picking out the perfect tree for your yard, you will want to make sure that your tree is properly planted and care for in order for it to thrive in it’s new location. Here are some helpful tree planting tips to make sure your tree has the best start:
- The first step is to pick a good location for your tree. The location and tree you choose will depend on the amount of sun the tree needs and the amount of sun that the location gets. In addition, think about how big the tree will grow and the type of drainage that it will need.
- Next, it is time to dig a hole for the tree. The hole should be twice as big as the tree’s width and a few inches deeper than the height of the root ball. Use a rounded-tip shovel like the Round Point Shovel With 30 in. D-Grip Wood Handle to cut into the soil and scoop out the dirt. You may also want to use a wheelbarrow or a tarp to place the dirt into while shoveling to make it easier for you to shovel the dirt back into the hole.
- Place the tree in the hole and fill in the hole with dirt. It is not a good idea to fill in the hole with soil that is rich in organic matter because you want to encourage the roots to spread and grow to get additional nutrients. Use the dirt from the ground to fill in the hole. Make sure that the tree is placed at the same level that it was growing at before being transplanted. You may also want to have someone hold the tree up right as you fill in the hole with dirt to help it grow straighter.
- Water your new tree well to help set the soil and water the roots. Since new trees need lots of water when starting off, it is a good idea to create a basin around the tree and add mulch to catch rain water or water from the hose and help keep the soil and roots hydrated.
- Lastly, add one or more tree stakes to help your new tree grow straight and help keep it stable.
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