Lawns are put to the test this time of year. Any weakness in water coverage, soil nutrition, or weed control shows up in the heat of summer. Now is the time to recheck your sprinkler system. Plugged or broken heads need to be fixed or replaced. Brown patterned circles in your lawn generally indicate a sprinkler head has been plugged by a grain of sand or has become a victim of a vicious lawn mower attack.

The irrigation system in flower beds should also be inspected. Many times we plant in front of a sprinkler. This is not a problem when the plant is small, but it can result in disaster for other plants in the bed as the new guy grows and blocks the water for the others. Make the necessary adjustment and watch your plants flourish.

Grasshoppers are among the most difficult insect pests to manage in the garden. When numbers are low, they can be hand-picked and squashed. Floating row covers and other protective covers provide some protection if their numbers are not high. However, grasshoppers will eat through cloth or plastic row covers if they are hungry enough.

Most grasshoppers are general feeders, but they prefer young, green plants, especially lettuce, beans, corn, carrots, onions, and some annual flowers. Grasshoppers do their damage by chewing and can remove large sections of leaves and flowers in one sitting, sometimes devouring an entire plant. An odd grasshopper here and there is nothing to be alarmed about, but should you face a full invasion, there are some steps you can take to combat this destructive pest.

The best way to control grasshoppers is to apply a bait containing carbaryl around the borders of your garden. Make sure to re-apply baits after any period of rain. For non-edible plants, you can also use a spray directly on the plants. It usually helps to do a repeat spray every couple of weeks until they leave your garden. Make sure to spray late in the evening or early morning when bee activity is lower; you don't want to kill our important pollinators.

The West Nile Virus is showing signs of life in the community, it seems so strange to find crows dead in the street, victims of the virus. A bird so seemingly cunning and adaptable can't escape this disease carried by mosquitos.   A couple of people  have been affected by the virus in LA County , and they were able to fight it off. The local LA County Health Department is no longer picking up dead birds; however they are recording locations.

To report dead birds or report areas that may be harboring mosquitoes, please contact the Los Angeles County of Health Services : 1-877-747-2243
or click on the link below:

Insecticides can be directed against either the immature or adult stage of the mosquito life cycle. Chemicals used by mosquito control agencies must comply with state and federal requirements. Public health pesticide applicators and operators in most states are required to be licensed or certified by the appropriate state agencies. Come in for a large selection of mosquito dunks and granules that will kill larvae in standing water in ponds or bird baths. These dunks are safe to use with fish or other wildlife. Understand that mosquitoes can breed in broken pots or bottle caps--anything that holds water.

Accuracy of application is important because missing even a relatively small area can cause the emergence of a large mosquito brood, resulting in the need for broad-scale adulticiding. We sell a few products that can be applied in the garden.

When dealing with West Nile virus, prevention is your best bet. Fighting mosquito bites reduces your risk of getting this disease, along with others that mosquitoes can carry. Take the commonsense steps below to reduce your risk:

• Avoid bites and illness;
• Clean out the mosquitoes from the places where you work and play; help your community control the disease.

Something to remember: The chance that any one person is going to become ill from a single mosquito bite remains low. The risk of severe illness and death is highest for people over 50 years old, although people of all ages can become ill.