Quick Tips for Keeping Pests at Bay

January 30, 2008

Squirrels are cute little critters. I have a charming picture of my father in law feeding one. However, they sometimes do like to nibble on your tender little plants. Here is an easy way to protect your flora from the fauna. Sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

And who has not been bothered with ants? Here's a tip to try. Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home", and can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it is rainy, but I've been told that it works and it is not harmful to pets, children or the environment.

Lastly, it is now time to begin putting in your garden plants. Work nutrients into the soil. Cover with wet newspapers in layers around the plants, overlapping as you go. Cover with bark or mulch and you can forget about needing to pull weeds. They will not get through the wet newspapers.

If you have other tips, how about sharing them. Click on "comment" and enter them in the comment box that appears.