While the Spotted Lanternfly is on the rise in Pittsburgh, I was surprised to find very few back east when I was visiting my dad this summer. Thanks to ongoing research from academics and vigilance from the agricultural industry, we’re learning more about where they pose the most risk and what methods are – and aren’t – successful at keeping them at bay.
As Pittsburghers, we have a lot of retaining walls on our property, and we knew it was only a matter of time before we would have to repair one. Last year our driveway wall was compromised by a tree I loved very much. In order to replace the wall and ultimately protect the foundation of the house, I had to make a hard decision.
A major component of my pollinator garden is finally taking off this year: the milkweed, which I hope will host many generations of monarch butterflies. The three different species in my garden have gotten varying reviews from monarchs, milkweed bugs, and aphids. After seeing it in action, I’m happy to share what I’ve learned in case you’d like to grow your own too.
What I thought was a stress-induced grooming habit for my kitty Siegfried actually turned out to be the result of fleas (though we couldn’t find any on him). It turns out that indoor cats can, in fact, get fleas, despite a common belief that they can’t. Fortunately fleas are pretty straightforward to deal with, as long as you follow instructions to the letter.
Probably the only thing that makes me retreat indoors during summer is mosquitoes. I can handle heat and rain in high quantities, but once I become a buffet, I’m ready to call it quits. Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying; they can carry serious diseases. There are a number of natural solutions to help keep these pests away if you’re looking for an alternative to synthetic repellents.
I’ve always loved bats. They’re adorable and beneficial but often get a bad rap. With populations in rapid decline, there are few actions we can take, and one of them is adding a bat box… in certain situations. Following proper guidelines on size and placement can ensure a safe, comfortable place for bats to spend the summer (that doesn’t include your attic).
A common struggle for any gardener or farmer is keeping groundhogs away. Many natural and/or humane methods of groundhog control are ineffective, but killing animals is not an option for me. Furthermore, dispatching the groundhogs deals with the symptom, not the problem, and leaves a move-in ready home for the next family. The best solution is making your yard undesirable in the first place.
Aphids can drain a plant of the nutrients it needs, thereby damaging or killing it, but they can also spread disease from one plant to another. Since my garden is exploding with them, I wanted to understand the best ways to get rid of them or even prevent them in the first place. But that’s easier said than done, as they have some unlikely allies.
On this, the second anniversary of Radical Moderate, we will be looking into the traditional second anniversary gift: cotton. It is one of the most widely produced textiles on earth, with farms spread across multiple countries. Unfortunately, it usually requires a lot of land, water, and chemicals to produce. This post will look into consumer options and how to make the most responsible wardrobe choices.
Spending a month with my parents in eastern PA allowed me to meet our newest invasive species: the Spotted Lanternfly. This insect has been in Pennsylvania for less than a decade but is already wreaking havoc on a variety of cash crops, including grapes, grains, fruit, and hardwood. This post covers how to recognize them and kill them – because, yes, it is necessary.