Yard Care And Yard Pests

Patio heaters used to be a luxury item that you would only see at a restaurant in Nappa Valley, today they are becoming commonplace to many patios, screened in porches and decks. Having used and researched multiple different brands of patio heaters it became clearly obvious who is THe the industry leader.  Yardiac.com Blue Rhino, with vase knowledge and experience of propane gas tanks,  introduced the Endless Summer Line of patio heaters which  has consistently proven that the name (Endless Summer) is well begotten.  From top to bottom it is the market leader in style, performance and price.  These full size heaters can be warm up to 20 foot radius, and provide the right atmosphere for most outdoor gatherings anytime of the year.  To further research these units as the comparisons chart below shows, Yardiac.com's Blue Rhino hits a home run.

Industry Rated #1 --Here's Why:

Features & Benefits of all Endless Summer Patio Heaters:

• Safety Tilt Switch. (gas automatically shuts off if heater leans more than 18 degrees)
• 40,000BTU/Hr (Except for table top version)
• AGA and CGA Approved.
• Ideal for patio, restaurant, swimming pool, outdoor entertainment, etc.
• 18' to 25' circle of sun-like radiant heat.
• Raises temperatures 10-30° F.
• No electrical connections needed.
• Low maintenance - weather resistant construction.
• Will operate 10 hours from common 20 lb barbecue type propane tank. (tank not included)
• Multiple heaters may be used to heat large areas.
• Propane tank is hidden inside patio heaters base.
• Assembles in less than 2 hours with common household tools!

 Endless Summer Vs. The Competition

Click Here to return to the Product Selection Page

Mosquito Facts

the name is Spanish for little fly. There are 3000 different kinds of mosquitoes and a worldwide population of 100 trillion!! Most are in tropical climates, but there are mosquitoes in arctic and desert regions.

They can fly up to 10 mph, dart between raindrops and even fly backwards. Most live and die close to where they hatch, but some are strong flyers that travel many miles in search of a victim. 

Only female mosquitoes bite. They require a blood meal in order to develop eggs to make more mosquitoes. Most female mosquitoes lay their eggs on standing water. Stagnant ponds, ditches and fresh or salt water wetlands are favorites, but even a few tablespoons of water in a flower pot or old auto tire will do. The eggs hatch, become swimming larvae, then pupae and finally flying adults. Mosquito larvae are an important source of food for certain fish, birds, bats and other animals. To reduce Mosquito infestation we recommend using the following products  Mosquito Bits or Mosquito Dunks.  A SkeeterVac is a long term and highly effective solution for eliminating mosquitoes . SkeeterVac's  patent pending scientifically proven technology  creates an atmosphere biting mosquitoes can't resist: warmth, water vapor, carbon dioxide and odorants. Then it finishes off the job by trapping and killing those biting pests so your outdoor experiences are safer and more enjoyable.

What's being done about Mosquitoes and what you can do.

In their quest for blood, mosquitoes may bite birds, frogs, snakes, and mammals, including people. Some, called peridomestic mosquitoes actually live and breed around homes just to be near us.

24 hours or so after hatching, a female mosquito flies off in search of a meal. She homes in on body warmth, odor, moisture and the carbon dioxide we exhale. When she bites, the mosquito injects a bit of saliva that slows coagulation so blood flows freely. It's your body's allergic reaction to the saliva that caused the welt and itching sensation.

Mosquitoes can also transmit canine heartworm, which is fatal to dogs once contracted. For protection, pet owners can purchase a preventative medicine from their veterinarian.

Generally, the trend in the U.S. is away from spraying adult mosquitoes with chemicals. Whenever possible, government health authorities control large tracts of mosquito breeding land by larviciding. They use low toxicity biopesticides like B.t.i. (Bacillius thuringiensis subspecies israelensis), a live bacteria that's deadly to mosquito larvae, harmless to other living things.

The mosquito that bit you last night may have hatched in the birdbath right in your own back yard. At home or with school or community groups, you can effectively reduce mosquito problems using common sense and environmentally-conscious methods.

Organize a neighborhood cleanup. Its great community project that will eliminate lots of potential mosquito breeding spots and improve the view! Look for places where rainwater collects and stands. Old car tires, drain flower pots, children's wading pools and tree holes.

Goldfish and fresh water minnows (Gambusia affinis) will both eat mosquito larvae. Microbe Lift is an ideal supplement to protect pond areas for excessive mosquito hatchlings. Check with your local mosquito control agency about availability and local regulations. Flush birdbaths and fountains weekly. Clean clogged gutters and drains, cover cesspools.

Let Yardiac.com help you!

Fortunately Yardiac.com is there to help and protect you from the health risk mosquitoes present. When you can't flush or drain stagnant pools, low-lying wet areas, tree holes, unused swimming pools and rain barrels, use a B.T.I. product like Mosquito Bits or Mosquito Dunks.

If you have mature plants that are being devoured by deer -- it's time to take action! Deer Repellents can be very effective and easy to use.

Deer will almost always stay away from plants that offend two or more senses. Therefore, if a plant tastes and smells offensive deer will avoid the general area it's planted in. Deer resistant gardener use's this knowledge to their advantage.

Yardiac.com recommends using two deer deterrents together (one that offends the sense of smell and one that offends the sense of taste) they will render your tasty plant repulsive to deer.

The best combination we have found is:

Tree Guard or Hot Pepper Wax used in conjunction with Coyote Urine.

Using two products will activate the sense of smell and taste and encourage the deer to move on to more attractive foliage (hopefully not your neighbors) You can learn more about or purchase these products at Yardiac.com's animal repellent department.

Deer hate hot and spicy foods

Say Goodbye to Moles and Voles Forever!

Getting rid of moles and voles can be a difficult task! However by following a few simple steps it can be done.

If you are looking for a quick removal of the pesky vagrants use the Yardiac.com Whole control. This concentrate is sprayed directly into the areas where armadillos, moles, voles, gophers, and other burrowing animals are digging.

It is not a poison and will not hurt any animals. Whole Control will leave a residual in the ground which tastes awful. As invaders dig, they will come in contact with the bad tasting soil and quickly decide the bad taste is too strong and prompt them to find food elsewhere.

For a more permanent control we recommend using the Yardiac.com Mole and Vole Eradication Program. It requires using all three of the following products in combination.

To learn more or to purchase the Yardiac.com Mole & Vole Control program click here

Three basic tools suffice for most pruning jobs: shears, loppers, and a pruning saw. Keep them sharp for clean cuts; disinfect after pruning diseased material.

1. When Do Roses Need To Be Pruned?

Prune in winter or early spring when plants are still dormant. Prune plants to maintain symmetrical bushes and to encourage strong new growth. Cut back all previous years growth as much as one-third its length. Remove branches that cross through center and remove plants understock. Also prune weak and dead stems as needed. This will also encourage strong new growth.

2. When Do Crepe Myrtles Need To Be Pruned?

The best time to prune crepe myrtles is in February. Prune out twiggy stems and any dead wood. Thin out crossing or crowding branches in the plants center. If tree form, prune lower branches. Prune top to maintain symmetry. Each year after flowering, cut 12 to 18 inches off the tips of branches that have bloomed.

3. When Do Hollies Need To Be Pruned?

Prune in winter or early spring mostly to shape plants. Cut back wayward branches and prune out weak unproductive dead stems as needed.

4. When Do Butterfly Bushes Need To Be Pruned?

Butterfly bushes bloom in summer on new spring growth. They can be pruned in late winter or early spring. By pruning old blooms you will encourage new flowers. Also prune out old dead and unproductive branches.

5. When Do Hydrangeas Need To Be Pruned?

Hydrangeas fall into two groups. Some you prune in early spring and others after the flowers fade.

1. Early Spring Pruning
   Hydrangeas bloom on new growth. These plants are Climbing Hydrangea, Annabelle, Grandiflora, and PeeGees.
2. After-Bloom Pruning
   Hydrangeas bloom on last years stems. These include Bigleaf Hydrangeas, Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Lacecaps, SummerBeauty, and Nikko Blue. Pruning should be done when the flower has faded. Cut back the flowering stems to the strongest pair of new shoots. As plants mature, begin to thin out the oldest woody stems. Remove crowded crossing, broken, or dead branches.

6. When Do Clematis Need To Be Pruned?

Clematis can be put in three categories: Spring-flowering, summer-flowering , and twice-flowering.

1. Spring-blooming
   Clematis produce flowers on stems that grew during the previous year. Prune when flowers are done blooming. Cut back the flowers that are now dead. Prune out any old dead stems as well.
2. Summer-blooming
   Plants bloom on new growth produced in the spring. Cut back stems before new growth begins. Late autumn or early spring is a good time to prune. Cut back about 12 inches of old growth. Each year the vine will grow larger and stronger.
3. Twice-blooming
   Plants first bloom in spring on stems produced the previous year. Late summer or fall will be the next bloom time. In late fall or very early spring, prune lightly to thin the stems. After the spring bloom, prune more heavily for more healthy stems to develop for the next bloom. After a second bloom, prune old flowers away.

7. When Do Fruit Trees Need To Be Pruned?

The most common fruit trees are apple, peach, pear and cherry.

1. Apple Trees
   Apple trees should be pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Always remove all suckers (summer is a great time). Also remove dead and other unproductive branches as needed.
2. Peach Trees
   Peach trees are fast growing and need to be pruned in winter. Without pruning the peaches will grow farther away from the tree's center. This will put great strain on the branches, causing them to break. In winter, thin out upward-growing branches that cross in tree's center.
3. Pear Trees
   Prune back in early spring. Always prune dead and unproductive branches as needed.
4. Cherry Trees
   Prune in winter. Prune out branches that cross in center and dead unproductive branches as needed.

8. When Do Azaleas and Rhododendrons Need To Be Pruned?

They can be pruned in winter or early spring. However pruning at this time will prevent plants from producing many blooms. The best time to prune azaleas and rhododendrons is just after their blooming period in spring. If you prune at this time , no additional pruning will be necessary.

9 When Do Junipers Need To Be Pruned?

Junipers need very minimal pruning. They should be pruned to correct their shape, to accent their form, or to limit their size. This should be done during the juniper's growing stages in mid-summer.

10. When Do Flowering Trees Need To Be Pruned?

Flowering trees should be pruned after they have finished blooming. Prune as little as possible. Dead branches, branches that cross in the center, and branches that are unproductive should be pruned out.

Three basic tools suffice for most pruning jobs: shears, loppers, and a pruning saw. Keep them sharp for clean cuts; disinfect after pruning diseased material.

Once Crabgrass gets foothold in your lawn it can be difficult to fend off (even with the best pre-emergent control products!) However it can be done! Here is what we recommend!

The first step is to purchase our Crabgrass Killer! This chemical is formulated to specifically attack the roots of crabgrass! It is a Post-emergence control for grassy weeds in Bermuda, zoysia and bluegrass lawns. It kills crabgrass, sandbur, dallisgrass, johnsongrass, goosegrass, barnyardgrass and more.

This concentrate and will cover up to 4,000 square feet! For Blue Grass mix 2 oz (4 tablespoons) in 1 gallon of water to cover 200 sq. ft. Spot treat the areas that are infested with crabgrass.

The second step is critical for optimal application -- always mix a "Spreader Sticker" with the weed killing chemical.

The "spreader sticker" we recommend is called Wilt Pruf. Mixing a spreader sticker (1 oz. per gallon) with a weed killer will ensure the chemical spreads over the entire foliage area and then sticks! As an added benefit, it will keep an application from washing off during an unexpected spring rain storm!

The weed should begin to wilt and brown within 5 days -- spot treat as needed every two weeks until you have killed off that nasty crabgrass! It should not take more than 2-3 applications to wipe out event he most mature crabgrass.

A couple of other notes: For best results, apply Crabgrass Killer to the lawn in the morning (after dew has dried) on a sunny, calm day to allow maximum absorption of the weed killer. Higher temperatures result in a quicker uptake of this product for faster control. However, do not apply Crabgrass Killer if temperatures exceed 90 degrees. If daytime temperatures are expected to exceed 90 degrees, apply the product in early morning when it is cooler.

The combination of these two products will take care of your weed problem!

Click Here to Learn More about Crabgrass Killer

Click Here to Learn More About Wilt Pruf.