Rats in the California Home Garden Part 1: Norway Rats and Roof Rats By any measurement, rats take first place as the most generally destructive and harmful mammalian pests in California urban areas. They are ideally evolved to coexist with humans in our cities, homes, and landscapes. In many California cities and urban areas, infestations […]

Boiling water makes an excellent weed killer, especially for those difficult areas that are beyond the reach of mechanical weeders. Simply boil water in your teapot or other pot and pour. Boiling water is the ultimate organic solution: the heat kills the weeds, but leaves no residue. To view customized gardening information for your area, […]

GardenZeus expert Darren Butler appreciates roses as much for their ability to discourage mammalian pests as for their blooms and fragrance. He considers cut rose canes the best solution to many small-area garden pest problems such as grazing by wild bunnies, cats using beds or pots as litter boxes, digging by raccoons, and similar mammalian […]

See customized advice and information for growing tomatoes in your Southern California zipcode Don’t know your GardenZeus California Climate Zone? Enter your zipcode at GardenZeus.com. GardenZeus receives commissions for purchases through links in this post. As a longtime gardener with an ever-untamed inner child, I still respond to hornworm infestations more like I would to finding […]

Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. Post 11: Nontoxic Habitat Traps for Earwigs Did you know? Earwig pincher appendages at their rear-ends are more curved in male earwigs, and more straight in female earwigs. European earwigs provide an […]

Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. Post 10: Earwigs Are Fickle Allies in the Garden I have heard stories of people experiencing a sharp pain inside an ear and pulling out an earwig a piece at a time; […]

Are garden pests, such as squirrels, rats and rabbits, eating your vegetables and fruits? Do you have aphids on your roses? Before going to your local garden center, consider the following DIY pest remedies, which you can probably make from ingredients you may already have in your cupboard. Remedy: Hot pepper spray. Deters: mammals, such […]

Organic gardeners can easily make a pest repellent from hot peppers with particularly high levels of capsaicin, such as serrano peppers or habanero peppers. Take one cup of hot peppers with high levels of capsaicin and coarsely chop Immerse in 2 cups of water for 12 to 24 hours Strain and place liquid in plastic […]

Insect and Gastropod Pests: Aphids may occur year-round due to the mild climate in your zone, but infestiations are generally more severe from spring through fall or during warm weather than from fall through winter in your zone. Aphids can sometimes be removed with a strong stream of water, or washed off leaves with a […]