Around the Yard

Black rat snakes and black racers are nonvenomous reptiles. Here are debunked myths about these creatures and how to handle close encounters with them.

Do you have a hard time keeping strays and neighborhood dogs off your lawn? Here are some of the most effective things you can do to keep your lawn dog-free.

Before digging in your yard, call 811 to have utility companies come out and mark any underground utility lines, and do not dig within 2’ of marked lines. Lines are marked with the following color coded paint. Watch this video to find out more.

Shredded paper from a paper shredder can be recycled and used as mulch around trees and shrubs as well as in your garden. Shredded paper also provides warmth, protection, and nutrients for the plant's roots. Watch this video to find out more.

Some dogs love to escape when confined to a fenced yard, and the easiest way out is often by digging under the gate. Watch this video to see how to prevent your dog from digging under a gate.

Stop grasshoppers and other chewing insects from eating your plants by making them eat flour. Place three cups of all-purpose flour in a garden duster or saltshaker and then jiggle the plants to get the insects moving. Dust the insects and the leaves of the plant with the flour.

Standing water in your yard is an eyesore and can act as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Installing a French drain is a great way to remove standing water from your yard. Watch this video to find out how to construct a French drain.

Moss growing on surfaces you walk on—such as sidewalks, stepping stone paths, decks, steps, or stairs—should be removed, since it can make them slippery and cause a safety hazard. Watch this video to find out how.

You don’t have to buy expensive herbicides to kill weeds in the cracks of a driveway or sidewalk. Simply pouring boiling water on the weeds will do the trick without toxic side effects.