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There are many insects crawling around in our gardens which perform vital duties and help them grow. These naturally beneficial bugs perform valuable services such as pollination as well as pest control. Using these insects to control pests has been a common practice for many years now and is regularly implemented by many experienced gardeners. BENEFICIAL […]

The birch leaf miner is a tiny wasp-like sawfly that feeds between the surfaces of birch leaves.  Repeated attacks over several years may weaken a tree, making it more susceptible to damage from other insects. Identification and Life Cycle The birch leaf miner overwinters as mature larvae in the soil beneath a tree. In early […]

A burrowing cousin of the squirrel, chipmunks feed on fungi, plants, nuts, grains, seeds and the occasional insect and can be detrimental to a garden or landscape. These rodents favor areas with stone walls or rotting logs and heavy ground cover. When they burrow, they excavate the dirt, keeping tunnel entrances well-concealed. If you find […]

Deer are creatures of habit. Once they establish a feeding area, it is very difficult to keep them away. It is therefore important to take preventative measures so that deer don’t get in the habit of visiting your yard and/or garden. Some common methods include putting up fences, homemade and chemical repellents, and planting things […]

In order to control grubs, you must understand their life cycle and apply the right product at the right time. In spring, adult grubs from the previous year begin moving to the surface as the temperature rises. As they reach the surface, skunks and crows may try to dig them up. Any damage to the […]

The hemlock woolly adelgid is a small, aphid-like insect which attacks both the Carolina and eastern hemlock and is capable of severely weakening and killing its host plants. It was introduced into Massachusetts in 1988 from an already existing infestation in Connecticut. Identification and Life Cycle These small insects are brownish-red in color, oval in […]

The lily leaf beetle is an imported pest that attacks all true lilies (not daylilies). It lays eggs only on true lilies and fritillaria species but researchers from the University of Rhode Island have found the beetles feeding on Soloman’s seal, potato, hollyhock, bittersweet and some hosta species. The lily leaf beetle was first officially […]

Aloe Vera Amaryllis Apple (seeds) Apricot (pit) Avocado (fruit and pit) Azalea Baby’s Breath Bird of Paradise Bittersweet Buckeye Buddhist Pine Caladium Castor Bean Cherry (seeds and wilting leaves) Chinese Evergreen Christmas Rose Cineraria Clematis Croton Cycads Cyclamen Daffodil ——————————————————– DIEFFENBACHIA: (some varieties and common names are) Charming Dumb Cane Giant Gold Silver Spotted Tropic Snow […]

The pine shoot moth was first observed in the U.S. in 1913, attacking ornamental Scotch pine on Long Island. Beginning in 1925, this species of moth spread rapidly throughout southern New England. Identification and Life Cycle Moths fly over an extended period from mid-July through September, laying eggs that hatch within 7 to 10 days. […]

Rabbits can be irritating and damaging pests in a garden, especially a vegetable garden. Their rate of reproduction is very high. They give birth to several litters every year, with 4-7 babies in each litter, so population in an area has a tendency to increase rapidly. They are active all year long, mainly in daytime hours. […]