Spending time in the backyard during the summer has become a pastime. Being able to fire up the grill, spend quality time with friends and family, and enjoy the warmth is what makes spending time in the backyard so great. There are also some of us who enjoy our privacy. While a fence is probably the most obvious way to achieve this, it is also not the most feasible. Fences can be difficult to install…

Bagworms can be very destructive to your trees and shrubs. They are hard to see, but you will notice the destruction they leave behind. If you notice your pines dropping or leaves turning yellow and dying, there is a good chance that these little creatures have made a home in your yard. What Are Bagworms? Bagworms are insects that feed on many different species of bushes and trees, but they especially like pines, junipers, Cyprus,…

Some people may be shocked to learn that attracting hawks to your yard can be a good thing. They are predators to many other animals, but they are the ultimate bird for avid bird watchers. Attracting hawks to your yard is considered to be a rare achievement, and if you do the right things, you can draw them in without a lot of effort. Why You Should Want Hawks in Your Yard It can be…

Lime, which is also known as calcium carbonate or limestone, can be beneficial to the lawn. It helps to neutralize the acidity in soil and it raises the pH to a slightly acidic level, which is where most turf grasses grow best. Testing the soil and following guidelines for applying lime will ensure that you are applying the lime in the best way possible to benefit your lawn. Why Add Lime to Your Soil? For…

Slugs are common pests in the garden. They belong to the mollusk group and they are classified as gastropods. They slide on one muscular foot and leave a mucus trail behind as they go. Slugs are different from snails because they lack the hard, protective shell. They have two tentacles on their front with eyes on the tips for sight and smell. There are two lower tentacles that are used for touch and taste. They…

Inchworms are not worms; rather, they are caterpillars that are a member of the Geometridae family of moths. There are around 1400 different kinds of geometer moths living in North America alone. Inchworms are also called loopers, spanners, and measuring worms. The characteristic that is most obvious is that inchworms have fewer legs than other worms, which results in their unique movement. They can cause damage in a garden, especially in large numbers. Characteristics of…

Oak mites, also called itch mites are an ectoparasitic mite that lives on an insect host and can bite people. They are so small that they are hard to see, and they reproduce rapidly, which makes them hard to control. They live on the gall of an oak tree, which is home to the midge fly. They midge fly lays its eggs on these galls, which is food for the mites. Wasps also nest and…

Hickory trees are in the genus Carya, and they are deciduous trees made of hardwood in Asia and North America. They have nuts that are contained in a very hard shell, but the meat of the nut is oily rich, and tastes like pecans. They are actually related to the pecan tree, but they are higher in calories and fat. Hickory nuts were eaten by Native Americans many years ago, and they would gather them…

It can generally go without saying that people love privacy. For many people, privacy is something they don’t really think about that much. That is, until they no longer have that privacy. Whether you have a large, sprawling backyard that spans for acres or you have a tiny backyard that barely offers enough space for a garden, there is going to come a time when you realize that you want to have a little bit…