Health Concerns in the Yard -- Keeping Yards Safe
You encounter many challenges in yard work, such as excessive water in your yard, or a slope so steep that it invites erosion. But health concerns in the yard represent yet another challenge. As salutary as yard work may be, "How safe am I?" is always a question worth asking while working in the yard. Some of the health concerns I cover are Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and poison ivy.
"Itchy Rash Plants"
Itchy rash plants are the plant kingdom's answer to yellow jackets and mosquitoes. As if it weren't bad enough watching out for the burning sting that yellow jackets inflict, there's an itchy rash plant (stinging nettles) that can also 'burn' you.
Itchy rash plants are the plant kingdom's answer to yellow jackets and mosquitoes. As if it weren't bad enough watching out for the burning sting that yellow jackets inflict, there's an itchy rash plant (stinging nettles) that can also 'burn' you.
Checklist of Home Safety Tips
A list of home safety tips can never be complete and is never a substitute for good old common sense, but I provide some of the most important for landscaping your yard in this article on home safety tips.
A list of home safety tips can never be complete and is never a substitute for good old common sense, but I provide some of the most important for landscaping your yard in this article on home safety tips.
Earth Day Celebration
Do you have health concerns in the yard? Toxicity issues, for instance? It's time to look at the big picture, then -- it's time to become "earth-friendly" and make every day an "earth day celebration." Find out how you can modify your yard maintenance approach so as to reduce or eliminate your dependence on toxic herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers.
Do you have health concerns in the yard? Toxicity issues, for instance? It's time to look at the big picture, then -- it's time to become "earth-friendly" and make every day an "earth day celebration." Find out how you can modify your yard maintenance approach so as to reduce or eliminate your dependence on toxic herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers.
List of Poisonous Plants
Consult my descriptions and pictures of poisonous plants as an aid to identifying them. My list of poisonous plants includes examples of weeds that cause rashes and beneficial weeds used as home remedies to counteract them. Poisonous plants are a major health concern for those with small children.
Consult my descriptions and pictures of poisonous plants as an aid to identifying them. My list of poisonous plants includes examples of weeds that cause rashes and beneficial weeds used as home remedies to counteract them. Poisonous plants are a major health concern for those with small children.
Deer Ticks and Lyme Disease
Deer are garden pests, but deer ticks are worse than pests -- they're bearers of Lyme disease, a major health concern. To minimize infestation, plant deer-resistant plants. If the deer don't come to eat, there's that much less chance of you being bitten by deer ticks. A natural garden pest control method, planting deer-resistant plants also saves you money, lest your garden become deer-food.
Deer are garden pests, but deer ticks are worse than pests -- they're bearers of Lyme disease, a major health concern. To minimize infestation, plant deer-resistant plants. If the deer don't come to eat, there's that much less chance of you being bitten by deer ticks. A natural garden pest control method, planting deer-resistant plants also saves you money, lest your garden become deer-food.
Pictures of Poison Ivy
Let these pictures of poison ivy at it various stages of development and in its various habitats help you identify the "itchy weed" and avoid it! Pictures of poison ivy look-alikes also offered in this photo gallery, for the sake of comparison.
Let these pictures of poison ivy at it various stages of development and in its various habitats help you identify the "itchy weed" and avoid it! Pictures of poison ivy look-alikes also offered in this photo gallery, for the sake of comparison.
Organic Herbicides
Consumers leery of using chemicals in their yards will find the information in this review of green lawn care products helpful. Green lawn care products include organic herbicides and pesticides and lawn and garden composters.
Consumers leery of using chemicals in their yards will find the information in this review of green lawn care products helpful. Green lawn care products include organic herbicides and pesticides and lawn and garden composters.
Natural Mosquito Control
While West Nile virus poses a serious health concern, many are just as concerned about the dangers posed by chemical bug sprays. Use natural mosquito control methods when you work outside: e.g., take away breeding habitats for mosquitoes. That means common-sense sanitation, like eliminating areas where water puddles.
While West Nile virus poses a serious health concern, many are just as concerned about the dangers posed by chemical bug sprays. Use natural mosquito control methods when you work outside: e.g., take away breeding habitats for mosquitoes. That means common-sense sanitation, like eliminating areas where water puddles.
Carving Pumpkins and Halloween Yard Safety
Carving pumpkins for Halloween is fun but is not without its dangers. In this article I alert you to some yard safety concerns of which you may be unaware at Halloween, especially if you'll be carving pumpkins. If trick or treaters will be coming onto your property, there are a few extra precautions you should take.
Carving pumpkins for Halloween is fun but is not without its dangers. In this article I alert you to some yard safety concerns of which you may be unaware at Halloween, especially if you'll be carving pumpkins. If trick or treaters will be coming onto your property, there are a few extra precautions you should take.
Poison Sumac Pictures
Poison sumac may be a health concern for those who landscape in wet areas. Consult these poison sumac pictures for identification purposes, so you can avoid incurring the rash of poison sumac! My poison sumac pictures include closeup photos of the shrub's plant parts.
Poison sumac may be a health concern for those who landscape in wet areas. Consult these poison sumac pictures for identification purposes, so you can avoid incurring the rash of poison sumac! My poison sumac pictures include closeup photos of the shrub's plant parts.
Common Ragweed, Cause of Hay Fever
Fall hay-fever sufferers have common ragweed and its big brother, giant ragweed to blame for their hay fever. Through the pictures provided here you can undertake weed identification of this nuisance plant and eradicate common ragweed from your yard.
Fall hay-fever sufferers have common ragweed and its big brother, giant ragweed to blame for their hay fever. Through the pictures provided here you can undertake weed identification of this nuisance plant and eradicate common ragweed from your yard.
Ragweed Allergy and Giant Ragweed Weed Control
Getting rid of ragweed allergy begins with identification, which makes getting rid of the allergy-causing weeds possible. This article offers pictures of giant ragweed, as well as further information on these noxious weeds.
Getting rid of ragweed allergy begins with identification, which makes getting rid of the allergy-causing weeds possible. This article offers pictures of giant ragweed, as well as further information on these noxious weeds.
Cat Poop
I'm often asked for advice from folks sick of finding cat poop in their gardens. It's a legitimate concern, since cat poop is unsanitary. The answer lies in cat repellents. Whether by wire, water, or just plain understanding how feline pests think, you can eliminate or reduce cat poop in gardens by implementing these tips.
I'm often asked for advice from folks sick of finding cat poop in their gardens. It's a legitimate concern, since cat poop is unsanitary. The answer lies in cat repellents. Whether by wire, water, or just plain understanding how feline pests think, you can eliminate or reduce cat poop in gardens by implementing these tips.
Getting Rid of Poison Oak
If you live on the West Coast of the U.S., you're more likely to encounter poison oak than poison ivy plants. Learn how to get rid of poison oak, a relative of poison ivy plants.
If you live on the West Coast of the U.S., you're more likely to encounter poison oak than poison ivy plants. Learn how to get rid of poison oak, a relative of poison ivy plants.
Newspaper Safe as Garden Mulch?
"Can I use newspapers as a garden mulch or put them in my compost pile?" It's a common question I get from organic gardeners, and the answer depends on the specific newspapers you'd be using.
"Can I use newspapers as a garden mulch or put them in my compost pile?" It's a common question I get from organic gardeners, and the answer depends on the specific newspapers you'd be using.
What's the "Dig Safe" Phone Number?
You've heard about the "Dig Safe" phone number you should call before plunging that shovel into new ground. Dialing this "Call Before You Dig" number could save you from a lot of trouble.
You've heard about the "Dig Safe" phone number you should call before plunging that shovel into new ground. Dialing this "Call Before You Dig" number could save you from a lot of trouble.
Poison Ivy Pictures
The first step in controlling poison ivy is identifying it, and the poison ivy pictures in this article should help. Poison oak and poison sumac, related plants causing similar health concerns, are also described. Both organic control methods and use of herbicides is discussed. As an antidote to poison ivy rash, another weed can be helpful: jewelweed.
The first step in controlling poison ivy is identifying it, and the poison ivy pictures in this article should help. Poison oak and poison sumac, related plants causing similar health concerns, are also described. Both organic control methods and use of herbicides is discussed. As an antidote to poison ivy rash, another weed can be helpful: jewelweed.
Neem Oil As Organic Insecticide
Neem oil is pressed out of the seeds from tropical trees of the same name. If used properly, neem oil, an organic insecticide, reduces the health risks in your yard posed by spraying for insects. Find out more about this important tool for organic pest control in this article.
Neem oil is pressed out of the seeds from tropical trees of the same name. If used properly, neem oil, an organic insecticide, reduces the health risks in your yard posed by spraying for insects. Find out more about this important tool for organic pest control in this article.
Gardening as Natural Stress Relief
This entry, along with the next one, offers a twist to the subject of "health concerns in the yard": gardening for natural stress relief! Gardening is well known to be an antidote to the debilitating effects of stress. As Elizabeth Scott, About's Guide to Stress Management, notes, "the act of making your particular stretch of nature into a haven can be a stress reliever in itself."
This entry, along with the next one, offers a twist to the subject of "health concerns in the yard": gardening for natural stress relief! Gardening is well known to be an antidote to the debilitating effects of stress. As Elizabeth Scott, About's Guide to Stress Management, notes, "the act of making your particular stretch of nature into a haven can be a stress reliever in itself."
Gardening First Aid Tips
Rod Brouhard, About's Guide to First Aid, deals with everything from sun exposure and allergies to snake bites and bee stings in this article on first aid tips for the backyard.
Rod Brouhard, About's Guide to First Aid, deals with everything from sun exposure and allergies to snake bites and bee stings in this article on first aid tips for the backyard.
Gardening and Back Pain
Many people who garden and landscape develop back problems, in the course of performing tasks such as lifting stones. To avoid back injury, Anne Asher, About's Guide to Back & Neck Pain, offers "illustrated, step-by-step, easy to use guides" that will show you the right way to tackle gardening and landscaping chores.
Many people who garden and landscape develop back problems, in the course of performing tasks such as lifting stones. To avoid back injury, Anne Asher, About's Guide to Back & Neck Pain, offers "illustrated, step-by-step, easy to use guides" that will show you the right way to tackle gardening and landscaping chores.
Custom Hot Tub Covers
Do you soak your landscaping pains away in a hot tub? Then you may wish to browse these resources for custom made covers for all hot tub and spa types, any shape, new or old.
Do you soak your landscaping pains away in a hot tub? Then you may wish to browse these resources for custom made covers for all hot tub and spa types, any shape, new or old.
Portable Spa
Brand name spas and hot tubs direct to the public, fast shipping included.
Brand name spas and hot tubs direct to the public, fast shipping included.