Alicia Bodine

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Garden Guides uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the ever-evolving conversations surrounding gardening and landscaping, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert insight and tutorials from our talented team.

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Stories By Alicia Bodine

  • Directions For Use Of Curtail Herbicide

    Directions for Use of Curtail Herbicide. Curtail is an herbicide used to control broadleaf weeds in wheat and barley. Curtail is produced by Dow AgroSciences, and its active ingredients are clopyralid and 2,4-D amine. Curtail herbicide is best applied by a professional, but if you choose to use this chemical herbicide, you will need to follow all of the safety precautions. This product is hazardous to humans and animals.

    By Alicia Bodine November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • How To Substitute Flower Food

    How to Substitute Flower Food. Flower food comes in small packets and is used to keep cut flowers fresh as long as possible. Flower food does two things. It keeps bacteria from growing in the water that the flower is set in, and it feeds the flower so that the flower can stay alive as long as possible. Flower food can be substituted as long as the ingredients used have the power to kill bacteria and feed the flower.

    By Alicia Bodine November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • How To Get Rid Of Beetles On Tomato Plants

    How to Get Rid of Beetles on Tomato Plants. There are several different types of pests that can bother your tomato plants. Beetles are one of those types. You may find blister beetles, Colorado potato beetles, or flea beetles on your tomato plants. These beetles mainly eat the leaves of the tomato plant, leaving behind small and large holes. If you see these beetles, you will want to get rid of them as soon as possible.

    By Alicia Bodine November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • How To Keep Squirrels Out Of Pear Trees

    How to Keep Squirrels Out of Pear Trees. Squirrels don't just destroy ground crops and flowers. They also love to climb trees. If you own a pear tree, you need to protect if from the squirrels. Otherwise, you won't have any pears to enjoy when picking time rolls around. Getting rid of squirrels might seem like a daunting task, but it can be done. All you need is to be armed with a little bit of information.

    By Alicia Bodine November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • How To Use Mosquito Dunks To Control Gnat Infestations In Houseplants

    How to Use Mosquito Dunks to Control Gnat Infestations in Houseplants. Fungus gnats are a common pest for various houseplants. Fungus gnats look like little black fruit flies. Once the fungus gnats find your houseplants, they will quickly get out of control. The Mosquito Dunks product contains Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI for short). BTI has the power to kill more than just mosquitoes. It can also get rid of those pesky fungus gnats.

    By Alicia Bodine November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • How To Keep Deer Away From Geraniums

    How to Keep Deer Away From Geraniums. Deer are mammals that love to feast on grass, shrubs, leaves from trees, and flowers. One type of flower that deer will eat if they find it is a geranium. If you enjoy growing flowers on your property, and you have some geraniums, you may be at risk of a deer invasion. Rather than wake up one morning to find your prized geraniums gone, get active in keeping deer away from your flowers.

    By Alicia Bodine November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • How To Stop Deer From Eating Spruce Trees

    How to Stop Deer From Eating Spruce Trees. Deer love to munch on the leaves of any trees that they can find. If you have spruce trees in your back yard, they are susceptible to becoming a deer's dinner. This can leave your yard looking a little shabby, so you will want to protect your spruce trees from the deer. This can be done in a variety of ways. You can choose one of these methods, or combine a few for maximum protection.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • How To Protect Trees From Grasshoppers

    How to Protect Trees From Grasshoppers. Grasshoppers are considered herbivores, meaning they love to eat leaves, plants and vegetation. Because grasshoppers can jump 20 times the length of their bodies, they can get in trees and begin to damage them when they eat their leaves. You will need to take action to protect your trees from these grasshoppers.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • How To Kill English Ivy With Dawn Liquid

    How to Kill English Ivy With Dawn Liquid. English ivy is an evergreen plant that is known for its ability to climb. You may find it wrapped around your tree or creeping up the side of your house. You can purchase an herbicide to get rid of the English ivy, but it is full of harsh chemicals that can irritate your skin and harm your eyes and airway. An alternative is to use products such as Dawn dish soap to create an English ivy killer.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • How To Clean Mineral Deposits On Flower Pots

    How to Clean Mineral Deposits on Flower Pots. If your home has what is considered hard water, chances are you will end up with mineral deposits on your flower pots. You can identify the mineral deposits quickly if you spot some areas on your flower pot that are white and crusty. When you go to transplant your plant or flower, you will want to clean the flower pot and remove the mineral deposits. Fortunately, you probably already posses the items needed to clean the flower pot in your home.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • How To Get Rid Of Pesky Squirrels From Trees

    How To Get Rid of Pesky Squirrels from Trees. Squirrels are members of the Sciuridae family. They can grow up to 29 inches long with a maximum weight of 18 lbs. You can distinguish a squirrel from other rodents by its bushy tail and big eyes. In the wild, squirrels use trees for shelter and food. Unfortunately, this means that if a squirrel finds a tree in your backyard, it may decide to come back again and again. If your tree is a fruit tree, the squirrel can do some serious damage. You will want to take action and keep that pesky squirrel out of your tree.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • How To Preserve Flowers With Clorox

    How to Preserve Flowers With Clorox. If you receive a bouquet of roses for your birthday or other holiday, you can preserve them with Clorox bleach. The bleach works by killing bacteria that break down the flowers. The important thing is to stick to the designated amount of Clorox as too much will kill the flowers and too little won't kill the bacteria.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Homemade Orange Oil Pesticide For Vegetables

    Homemade Orange Oil Pesticide for Vegetables. If you find any insects or bugs on your vegetables you may need to get rid of them right away. Unfortunately, chemical pesticides will seep in to the vegetables. You don't want to eat the pesticide, so it is best to stick with a natural solution. Orange oil--as well as any other citrus oil--is excellent for using as a pesticide. It repels bugs and insects but isn't harmful to humans or pets when sprayed on your vegetables.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Instructions On How To Mix Ortho Garden Disease Control For Fruit Trees

    Instructions on How to Mix Ortho Garden Disease Control for Fruit Trees. Scotts makes a product called Ortho Garden Disease Control. This concentrate works to kill diseases that affect fruit trees. Some of these diseases include coryneum blight, brown rot blossom blight, stem end rot and leaf spot. You must mix your Ortho Garden Disease Control with water before you apply it to your fruit trees. If this is not done correctly, the product will not be effective.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • How To Treat Lawn Moss With Lime

    How to Treat Lawn Moss With Lime. Moss can grow on a lawn for several different reasons. You will not be able to stop the moss from coming back once you remove it, unless you know what conditions led to the moss's growth. For example, if your soil is found to be sour or acidic, moss can grow. You can use lime to neutralize the acid in your soil, thus preventing the moss from growing again in the future.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • How To Make Liquid Bone Meal Fertilizer At Home

    How to Make Liquid Bone Meal Fertilizer at Home. Bone meal can be used to make fertilizer because of its high phosphorus content. Bone meal fertilizers can be purchased at your local gardening center, but it is much cheaper if you create your own bone meal fertilizer at home. You can save and use your family's leftover bones from dinner, such as chicken bones. You can turn this fertilizer into a liquid, which is much easier to apply in your garden.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • How To Use Sevin Dust In A Garden

    How to Use Sevin Dust in a Garden. Sevin brand dust is a pesticide with the active ingredient carbaryl. You can use it to control insects that infest vegetable, fruit and flower gardens. Sevin dust kills more than 65 different types of insect, including lacebugs, Japanese beetles, ticks, scale insects and aphids. It is important to follow the proper procedure when applying Sevin dust, as it is a harsh chemical that can be dangerous to people and pets. Select a day to apply the Sevin dust when no rain or wind is expected. You don't want the Sevin dust to drift into unwanted areas.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • How To Keep Critters Out Of Flower Pots

    How to Keep Critters Out of Flower Pots. If you don't have a large yard, you may have to resort to growing your flowers in a flower pot. Unfortunately, even if your flowers are in a pot, critters can still get in to the pots and harm or destroy the flowers. Squirrels, raccoons, deer and even stray cats are often the cause. It is best to protect your potted plants to keep them safe, healthy and vibrant.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • How To Use Tempo Insecticide

    How to Use Tempo Insecticide. Tempo is an insecticide that kills both indoor and outdoor insects. Ants, wasps, spiders and even bedbugs are no match against this insecticide. You must, however, use this product properly. It contains harsh chemicals that are harmful to both pets and humans.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • How To Mix Spectracide Diazinon Insect Spray

    How to Mix Spectracide Diazinon Insect Spray. Spectracide diazinon is a pesticide that combats ants, grubs, spiders and many other insects. It comes in a concentrate, which means it must be mixed with water before you apply it to your lawn. Another important thing to remember when using spectracide diazinon is that it is poisonous. Always keep children and pets indoors while you prepare and use the spectracide diazinon.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • How To Fertilize Bougainvillea

    How to Fertilize Bougainvillea. A bougainvillea is a tropical thorny vine that can grow 40 feet tall. Bougainvillea has the nickname "paper flower" because the flowers on this vine are thin and resemble paper. Having a good root system is important for the bougainvillea. If you want to ensure that your bougainvillea roots stay healthy, you will need to fertilize them on a regular basis.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • How To Remove Black Walnut Stains

    How to Remove Black Walnut Stains. Black walnuts are round like a basketball and about two inches thick. Black walnuts taste delicious when used in baking various breads and cookies. Black walnuts actually contain a juice that can stain your fingers and clothing. If you are planning on picking or working with black walnuts, you will need to know how to remove these stains. Soap is not enough to get black walnut stains off.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Directions For Eliminator Weed & Grass Killer

    Directions for Eliminator Weed & Grass Killer. Weeds and grass can creep up in places around your property that you don't want it to. For example, If there are cracks in your sidewalk, grass and weeds will grow through them. One product that you can use to get rid of your unwanted grass and weeds is called Eliminator Weed and Grass Killer II. This product comes ready to use but follow all of the safety precautions.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Homemade Solution That Will Kill Grass & Weeds

    Homemade Solution That Will Kill Grass & Weeds. Most homeowners do not want weeds in their lawn because it makes their lawn look unattractive. There may also be portions of the lawn where they don't want any grass, such as where they want to set up a swing set for their children. They may just want to put mulch around the swing set. Whatever the reason, you can get rid of grass and weeds with products found in your home.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • How To Dry Geraniums

    How to Dry Geraniums. Geraniums come in such a wide variety of colors. According to the University of Minnesota, these colors include pink, lavender, red, white, fuchsia, and even bi-colors. It is easy to pick fresh geraniums during the summer months and display them on your dining room table, but fresh geraniums are not available during the winter months. Fortunately, you can pick some colorful geraniums from your flower garden just before the first frost and dry them out. The flowers can then be displayed during the winter months.

    By Alicia Bodine November 3rd, 2022 Read More