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Home Pests

Extension works with homeowners and gardeners to identity the safest, most cost-effective most environmentally ways to deal with home and gardening pests, animal control issues and plant diseases.

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Fall is Peak Season for Yellow Jackets

Fall is the peak season for yellow jackets in Alabama. In fall, their colony size is at its largest because... more

Fall Is Peak Season for Yellow Jackets

​Fall is the peak season for yellow jackets in Alabama. In fall, their colony size is at its largest... more

Let the Sun Shine In—At Least Through the Plastic

By Chuck Browne, Lee County Extension Coordinator … For many of us,... more

Ants in the Ceiling

by Xing Ping Hu, Extension Entomologist … Question: I have a log... more

Hungry Ants May Venture Inside Homes

"They're everywhere!" That was the description I was given from a lady who had ants in her house. Ants were... more

Garden Bugs

Vegetable Garden

The best way to manage insect pests in the home vegetable garden is to use a combination of strategies, including cultural, mechanical, and biological controls. Organic gardeners rely totally on nonchemical methods. Most home gardeners can tolerate some insect damage on their vegetables; consequently, they are able to use many nonchemical control strategies that can reduce, but not always eliminate, insect damage. Home gardeners not opposed to using chemicals may use chemical controls when nonchemical methods do not provide sufficient levels of control.

Modern pest management relies on “planning before planting” rather than responding to a pest problem after it has occurred. For example, you can prevent many insect pest problems by using what you know about the pest to make the vegetable planting less suitable for pest development. This could mean planting early to avoid high pest numbers that occur late in the season.

Correct identification of insect pests infesting the vegetable garden is critical so you can develop a management plan. Equally important is recognition of beneficial insects. Your county Extension agent can help you identify pests and develop management strategies for specific pest and crop situations. more...

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