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5 Tips for keeping Bugs out of your Garden

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45451026_1bcbc98dadAs we get further along into spring, and summer being around the corner, the thought of a beautiful garden starts dancing in the minds of many. Whether you fill your garden with flowers or veggies, one thing is a fact. No one wants bugs eating their plants. Check out the tips below to combat bugs this spring and summer.

Tomato Trouble
There is nothing like eating a salad with fresh tomatoes you have grown in your garden during the summer. These juicy vegetables are a great source of lycopene and very helpful for your heart. That said, how many times have you gone out to check up on your tomatoes plants and found your seedlings have been “chopped” in half? This is due to cutworms. One DIY option TLC recommends is to, “make simple collars from empty toilet paper rolls to protect the stems until they are too large to sustain damage from cutworms. The rolls will break down in the soil, or you can compost them.”

Enlist the Help of Other Plants
Just like peanut butter goes well with jelly, there are plants that complement each other in the garden. I’m not talking about aesthetically, but in a scientific way. For instance, if you have a moth or lady bug problem in your garden plant some bay leaves. They deter both pests. Onions deter cabbage moths, aphids, weevils, carrot flies, moles, rust flies, worms and red spiders.

Cut the Clutter
Bugs thrive in foliage, under rocks and in the weeds. If you clear out your garden of any debris you are setting up your garden for success. If bugs can’t find a safe haven to live in your garden, they won’t be in there for the long haul.  Bird baths can also attract more than birds. Make sure you are checking your bird bath for bugs who may be finding safe harboring under the bath.

Stink Bugs
Also known as shield bugs, stink bugs can make life for your tomatoes troublesome. By mixing vegetable, olive or lavender oil with water in a 1:1 ratio you can spray the solution on your plants to rid yourself of these bugs. Another option is to plant decoy plants around your tomato garden (like the suggestion above). Some plants stink bugs like are marigolds, mustard and lavender.

Call in the Experts
If your bug problem escalates to the point where you can’t manage it any longer, it may be time to call in a pest control service. There are many of eco-friendly options for your garden if you are worried about chemicals in your garden (especially if you are growing vegetables/herbs). Many times professionals will know how to clear your bug problem efficiently and for good. This is a great option if you have tried on your own for too long with little to no results.

Have you battled bugs in your garden? If so give us your quick tips in the comments below.

Guest post courtesy of Frank Merryman and pest control Houston company Protext Pest Control, who has provided Houston pest control services since 1978.

Planning a Bathroom Renovation

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When you wish to make bathroom renovations, such as the installation of double bathroom vanities, learning more about the process can help you plan the renovations properly and make the remodel a success.

Why Are You Renovating?
Your reasons for renovating the bathroom can help you determine which products to purchase and how much money to allocate toward the changes. If you are remodeling to increase the value of your home prior to putting it on the market, you should focus on items and changes that appeal to a variety of people rather than your personal taste. A bright blue bathtub may appeal to you, but a white one is more likely to match the tastes of prospective buyers.

If you are renovating to make the room more accessible or comfortable, consider which items have the greatest priority. A total overhaul can become a costly endeavor. If you prioritize certain renovations, you can make the most important ones first and gradually make other changes as your budget allows. For example, if you need to make the shower area more accessible for an aging parent but also want to redo the wallpaper, you may want to purchase a walk-in bathtub before overwhelming yourself with wallpaper options and supplies. Walk in bathtubs are useful additions to bathroom space and can be paired with a shower curtain that suits your taste.

Minimizing the Mess
Focusing on the large and more expensive items first also helps you minimize the mess. It’s much easier to remove and replace all the fixtures first than it is to work on them after you make cosmetic changes to the walls. When dealing with plumbing, you are likely to encounter lots of dampness, and there is also the possibility of encountering mold and mildew. Getting this out of the way from the beginning will make the rest of your renovations easier and less stressful.

Choosing a Contractor
There are lots of questions you should ask before selecting a contractor. You want to be sure that you and your contractor are on the same page regarding your renovations before any work begins. Interview the local contractors. Ask your friends and family for recommendations. Depending on your schedule and ideal timeframe for the work to be completed, you may also need to discuss the contractors’ schedules. Without knowing their schedules before work begins, you could end up dealing with a dismantled bathroom for far longer than you had hoped or planned.

Discuss costs and warranties or guarantees as well. You may find a large price difference in the estimates provided by different contractors. Cheaper is not always better, however, so ask for detailed estimates. Some contractors may have connections for better prices on fixtures, whereas others may offer low labor rates because of inexperience.

Making It a Hassle-Free Experience
The bathroom is one of the most important and most frequently used rooms in the house. Prior to starting the renovations, make plans for managing your daily routine without having access to that room. If you have two bathrooms in your home, there is no need for this. However, if you have only one, you may want to make arrangements to spend a few days elsewhere.

10 Questions to ask your Builder or Contractor

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If you are considering hiring a contractor to work on a new house or with plans for your budget home renovation, you’ll want to ask several questions before signing a contract. For one thing, you need to know what to expect. You’ll also want to interview several contractors in order to get the best work at the lowest price. Make sure you are satisfied with the answers to the following list of questions before making a commitment.

1. Do you hold a contractor’s license? If your locality requires that contractors be licensed, then ask to see the contractor’s license. A licensed contractor must meet certain requirements to obtain the license, generally providing you with the assurance that he or she is capable of completing the work.

2. Do you carry liability and workers’ compensation insurance? Make sure the contractor has liability insurance and carries workers’ compensation insurance on employees. The last thing you need is a worker getting injured while working on your property and wanting your homeowner’s insurance to pay for those injuries.

3. Will you obtain and pay for all necessary permits? As a general courtesy, most contractors will take responsibility for obtaining the necessary permits and will include the cost in their bids.

4. Will you give me a detailed written estimate? Get everything in writing, including all of the minor details. You don’t want to accept a verbal bid and then have the contractor come in with his crew and say, “That’s not what I said.”

5. Will you perform the actual work? A lot of contractors subcontract their work. They may farm out plumbing, electricity, or some other major aspect of the job. You’ll want to find out who the subcontractors are who will be working on your house plans. This way you can check their reputations with the Better Business Bureau.

6. Will you get lien waivers from suppliers and subcontractors? Make sure your contractor is willing to provide you with lien waivers from his or her subcontractors and suppliers. These waivers will prove that everyone was paid via the money you paid the contractor.

7. Will you sign a written contract? The estimate is not a contract and cannot be viewed as such. Get a written contract from the contractor that details everything in the estimate. It should include the work to be performed, payment terms, an estimated date of completion, and instructions for incorporating necessary changes.

8. How will you handle necessary changes? Seldom does a homeowner get through a home renovation process without changing the original plans. If changes are to be made, make sure they are put in writing and include the price of the changes.

9. What is the payment schedule? The contractor may ask for a down payment, which should not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the project. Do not pay a contractor in full at the start of the project. If the work will take months, arrange to pay the contractor over the course of the project.

10. Can you provide references? Ask the contractor to provide you with the names and phone numbers of former clients. Be sure to call them. If possible, drive by and look at some of the contractor’s completed work.

These basic questions will help you avoid the situation where work is completed  but does not satisfy your expectations, or if there are any disputes about payment or what work was agreed upon to be completed.  Unfortunately there are many unethical and unscrupulous construction organizations that can and will take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners.  You can avoid these situations by performing your due diligence as you evaluate potential service providers.