Tag: home & garden
A safer way to stop household pests
When creepy-crawly pests show up in your home, the instinct is often to reach for the strongest chemical spray available—or call an exterminator. But...
Don’t move firewood
Roger Boddaert
Special to the Valley News
The moving of firewood has the potential of transporting tree-killing insects and diseases from one area to another.
Our forests...
More than one-third of Christmas tree home fires occur in January
If you’re struggling to part ways with your Christmas tree, consider this: More than one-third (35 percent) of U.S. home fires involving Christmas trees...
Native bees of California: Guardians of our ecosystem
Stephanie HolbrookWings of ChangeCalifornia is home to more than 1,600 species of native bees. These small, often unnoticed pollinators keep wildflowers blooming, strengthen food...
Time to fertilize rose bushes and keep them well-watered
Frank BrinesARS Master RosarianI always enjoy looking back to last year's care column for the month. According to weathercurrents.com, the “normal” (30-year average) for...
When the fruit disappears: Local residents battle critters, thieves, and heartbreak in backyard harvest...
As the warm summer sun has ripened backyard peaches, nectarines, figs, and plums across Northern San Diego County and Southwest Riverside, neighbors are discussing...
From toothpicks and 2x4s to telephone poles and pencils – all come from trees
Roger BoddaertSpecial to Valley NewsDo you ever look around and wonder about the bounty that trees give us daily?Around our planet, approximately 3 trillion...
Tarantula mating season begins across Southern California hillsides
It’s that time of year again in Southern California: male tarantulas are on the move in search of mates. Late summer through early fall...
Feathered friends: How to attract birds to the garden
Here’s how to create a backyard wildlife refuge complete with quality food, fresh water, and shelter
Sandy LindseyThe Epoch TimesColorful and ornamental, migratory and resident...
Save water, save money: Rancho Water offers free landscape evaluations
As a standard benefit for all customers, Rancho California Water District (Rancho Water/District) offers complimentary landscape irrigation system evaluations to promote water conservation and...