5 Natural Ways to Recycle Fallen Leaves

Winter leaves might seem annoying at first, but they’re really a nutrient-rich blessing from mother nature! 

Instead of trashing this gift, which can leave your soil less fertile over time, why not repurpose it for a more beautiful and healthy lawn?

Here are 5 natural, eco-friendly ways to recycle your fallen leaves:

Mow Them for Mulch

One of the best ways to recycle leaves is also the easiest: Mow them!

Switch your mower to the mulching setting, then simply shred those leaves throughout your lawn for an evenly spread nutrient-rich mulch.

Feed Potted Plants

Whether inside or out, potted plants can get a major boost from fallen leaves, which will slowly feed the plant as they decompose.

For best results, fill your chosen pot ⅓-½ full of densely packed leaves, then top off the remaining space with the appropriate potting soil.

Compost Them

Composting fallen leaves is an easy, free way to produce your own organic fertilizer.

Mix shredded leaves with grass clippings or other greenery and toss them in your compost pile. Mix the pile with a shovel every 5 days or so, keep it warm with a tarp when necessary, and you should have ready-to-use fertilizer in about 2 months.

Suffocate Weeds

Did you know fallen leaves can help suffocate stubborn weeds?

After shredding your leaves, mix them with grass clippings and Cedarcide Granules. Then, add a thick layer of this mix on top of your garden soil wherever you’re struggling with weed growth.

Protect Plants from Freezing

Surrounding vulnerable plants like smaller shrubs and perennials with mounds of unshredded leaves can help protect them from the winter cold.

When spring rolls around and the weather warms, simply remove any extra leaves as needed.

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page and let us know what you think!

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How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree: 5 Tips

Trashed Christmas trees end up in landfills where they can take decades to decompose, and once they finally do, they release noxious methane, a greenhouse gas that’s worse for the environment than carbon dioxide 

Here are 5 tips for recycling or reusing your Christmas tree instead:

But Before Your Recycle…

Make sure you remove ALL decorations from the tree, as well as the plastic bag you use to drag it to the curb. Items like Christmas lights and ornaments not only damage the chippers they use to recycle trees, but can also cause serious harm to the individuals operating the machinery. 

Note: Unfortunately, if you have an artificial tree or a flocked tree—the ones sprayed in that fake snow—you’re not going to be able to recycle it.

Support Your Community

Often to benefit local parks and animal habitats, many cities collect Christmas trees and repurpose or recycle them to support the local community. 

Search online or contact your city directly to learn how to take advantage of their recycling program. 

Recycle it Yourself

Several local organizations—such as the Boy Scouts, game & fishery depts., even zoos and animal sanctuaries—accept trees from those looking to recycle them on their own. 

Visit Earth911.com to find a recycling option near you.

Compost It

If you have access to a wood chipper, your unwanted Christmas tree can be easily transformed into excellent compost.

For those without a compost pile, your Christmas tree’s branches are perfect for starting one. A 5-inch stack of thin evergreen branches makes for a great compost base, allowing plenty of airflow for a productive bin or pile. Then, add your compostable items like kitchen scraps on top and you’re good to go.

Return it to Nature

For those in rural areas, returning your tree to nature by simply placing it somewhere on your land is also an option. Not only will this provide food and housing for wildlife, but the tree’s needles can be harvested for an effective, slow-to-decompose mulch.

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page and let us know what you think!

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How to Prevent Tick Bites: 3 Easy Steps

 

The ugly truth is that tick season is never over. 

In most regions, these scary pests can survive all winter long, even in freezing conditions.

Don’t worry, we have your back. Here are 3 tips to prevent potentially life-altering bites and keep ticks away from you and your pets through fall and winter.

 

Protect Yourself and Pets

Apply Cedarcide Original to you and your pets before walks, hikes, dog park visits, and other outdoor activities to prevent bites.

Need deep woods protection? Try Extra Strength Tickshield instead.

 

Get a Tick-Free Lawn

Spray your entire yard, shrubbery, and bases of trees with PCO Choice monthly to kill and repel ticks. For larger tick populations, spray twice, two weeks apart, and then monthly after that.

Because PCO is both family and pet safe, you can start enjoying your yard immediately after application.

 

Check for Ticks 

Ticks removed within 36 hours rarely cause disease or infection. After outdoor activities, get in the habit of checking yourself, children, and pets for ticks as soon as possible (ticks are about 2/3 of an inch, brown or red).

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page and let us know what you think!

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How to Protect Clothing from Insect Damage

Carpet Beetles

Emerging from eggs laid on clothing, furniture, and carpet, carpet beetle larvae can ruin a closetful of clothes in no time, especially natural items like wool, fur, mohair and more. 

What to look for: Small beetles for adults (most commonly black or brown, sometimes multicolored), and small caterpillar-like larvae (usually brownish red, covered in fine hairs).

Moths

Infamous for leaving holes in clothing, moth larvae feed on wool, flannel, fur, and almost any other textile that’s dirty or recently used (sweat, food, skin oils, etc are all appetizing to these destructive pests).

What to look for: Whitish worm-like larvae with a hard outer shell, and very small white or gold-colored moths for adults.

Silverfish and Firebrats

These close relatives are both expert clothing destroyers, preferring starched items, natural fibers like rayon, silk, and cotton, and those stained with sugary food and drink. 

What to look for: Silver wingless insects with carrot-shaped bodies about ¼ inch long.

Roaches

While they don’t usually eat clothing on purpose, roaches are attracted to the sweat, and food spills that end up on our clothing. When consuming these items, they often create holes and stain fabrics with excrement.

Crickets

Like roaches, crickets eat clothing stains not clothing itself. Small holes and tears, not to mention cricket poop, can easily lead to hundreds of dollars in damage in only a few weeks.

 

Store Items Correctly

That means freshly cleaned, starch-free, and in a cool, dry place in tightly sealed containers or nylon bags (leather and fur items require breathable bags, such as cotton).

Vacuum

Regularly cleaning and vacuuming rugs, carpets, draperies, baseboards, furniture, and storage closets substantially lowers your risk of clothes-eating pests by removing eggs, larvae, and the debris they need to survive. Dispose of the bag when finished.

Naturally Kill & Repel 

Hang freshly dried lavender or Cedar Granules inside of a stocking in your chosen storage area to protect against damaging bugs. A cedar-based spray like Cedarcide Original can also be used throughout the space to kill and repel.

For already infested items: try washing & drying them, freezing them for 48 hours, or treating them with a fabric-safe insecticide like Cedarcide Original.

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page and let us know what you think!

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How to Grow a Successful Movember ‘Stache

Each November, men across the world participate in Movember, a charity campaign where participants grow mustaches to raise awareness for serious men’s health concerns, including testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and suicide. 

Whether this is your first Movember or you’re a seasoned veteran, the following 6 tips will help you grow the best ‘stache possible for the cause of supporting men’s health!

Start with a Beard

In those first embarrassing days when your mustache would be a sad, spindly little thing, having a full beard can help salvage your reputation. For whatever reason, a thin in-progress beard just looks way less creepy than a thin, in-progress mustache on its own.

Try growing a beard and then trimming it into a mustache later to avoid weirding out your friends, family, and coworkers. Just remember to trim it fairly quick, Movember is all about sparking conversations with your mustache, goofy looking or not.

Reach for Biotin

While reviews and studies are mixed on the subject, many believe Biotin, the vitamin responsible for nail and scalp health, can stimulate additional hair growth—and that includes your ‘stache. 

Chances are it won’t make much of a difference, but if you’re desperate, it’s worth a shot.

Grab a Mustache Brush

Not only can they make your ‘stache look more full and luxuriant (especially for those of us with puny, patchy facial hair ), mustache combs and brushes are essential for styling, too.

Say, for instance, your mustache always grows downward, but you really need it to grow out to the side instead. Daily combing or brushing can help train the hairs to grow the direction you want, making styling much easier in the long run.

Avoid Harsh Face Washes

Harsher face washes—like the types that combat acne, for example—can wreak havoc on your mustache game. From stripping the hair of color to impeding growth, it’s best to avoid chemical-based cleansers if your aim is a healthy-looking cookie duster.

Convert the Haters

Haters gonna’ hate. Thankfully, this month, hating on ‘staches is much, much harder. You’re growing it to support men’s health and combat cancer after all. You’re basically a superhero. 

But seriously, these types of interactions are what Movember is all about. Each joke and awkward stare (they’re just jealous!) is an incredible opportunity to start a conversation about the ongoing male health crisis and the countless men who die prematurely from suicide, testicular cancer, and prostate cancer worldwide. This is your time to shine—make it count!

Wax On

Attention patchy facial hair sufferers: mustache wax is your new best friend! In addition to moisturizing facial hair and helping loads with styling, wax can do wonders for hiding bald spots above your lip. And don’t worry, it won’t look like a combover. 

Even those with thick hair can benefit from mustache wax, especially when it comes to taming those stubborn rogue hairs that always seem to stick out in the wrong direction, or back into your mouth when you’re trying to eat

 

To join in on Movember, learn more about the campaign, or contribute to the cause of men’s health, visit movember.com

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5 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Stink Bugs

Stink bugs don’t bite or spread disease but they damage plants and are super annoying—plus, yeah, they stink, too. The next time you spot these intrusive pests, skip the toxic stuff and try these natural approaches instead.

Prep Your Yard

The following guidelines reduce outdoor (and therefore indoor) stink bug populations:

• Limit potential hideouts by keeping grass and shrubbery trim, and promptly removing any overgrowth like weeds.
• Create space between exterior walls and any small trees or bushes. Stink bugs use these as bridges to move indoors.
• Healthier lawns are less prone to stink bug issues. Maintain a vibrant lawn by watering, fertilizing, and aerating as needed, and treating your lawn for pests monthly with PCO Choice.

 

Soap & Water

Simple and effective, a bucket filled with several cups of hot water and ¾ cup natural dish soap is excellent for disposing of stink bugs.

Place the bucket below individuals crawling on walls and other surfaces and knock them down inside using a garden tool

 

Reach for a Vacuum

Vacuums are one of the easiest options for removing stink bugs indoors.

To avoid a stinky mess, use a vacuum with a disposable bag or repurpose a used stocking to prevent bugs from entering the bag. Simply wrap the stocking around the vacuum tube, secure it with a rubber band, and push it down inside the tube. Then simply dispose of the stocking when you’re finished.

 

Flypaper

Stink bugs tend to accumulate all in the same areas, namely walls and entry points with access to warmth or sunlight.

A few strips of fly paper applied to these spaces can do wonders for reducing their numbers.

 

Diatomaceous Earth

Made from crushed algae fossils, diatomaceous earth is an awesome natural pesticide, killing any stink bugs that come into contact with it.

Spread the chalk-like powder along entry points like window sills and doorways, and wherever else you commonly spot stink bugs. Dusting them directly works, too!

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page to let us know what you think!

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What is The Fall Crawl

Overall bug populations might surge in the summer, but many pests peak in fall. As the weather cools, bugs like fleas, ticks, ants, stink bugs, and wasps move indoors. This is often called the Fall Crawl. Want to enjoy a bug-free holiday season? Below are 3 steps to get you ready.

 

What Bugs Peak in the Fall?

Fleas:

In most areas, fall is actually the worst time of year for fleas. As temperatures drop near 70°F and precipitation increases, flea populations explode.

Ticks:

Think ticks die in freezing temps? Think again. Not only can ticks survive the cold, some species, like blacklegged ticks and winter ticks, are most active in winter.

Ants:

Some types, like fire ants, become worse in fall. Others, which usually hibernate underground in winter, often sneak inside for food or shelter.

Stink Bugs:

Fall means stink bugs. These annoying and odorous pests move into homes throughout autumn, sometimes by the thousands.

 

How to Keep Bugs Outside: 3 Easy Steps

Spray doorways, windowsills, baseboards, fixtures, and other potential entry points with Cedarcide Original weekly. Seal any holes and cracks you find in the process.

Kill and repel bugs before they make it inside by applying PCO Choice to your lawn each month, including shrubbery. For larger pest problems, start with two applications, two weeks apart, then monthly after that.

Protect your family and pets from harmful tick & flea bites by applying pet-safe Cedarcide Original before outdoor activities. Need deep woods protection? Choose extra strength Tickshield (only for use on pets over 20 lbs.)

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page to let us know what you think!

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5 Ways to Deter Flies Without Harmful Chemicals

Make Your Own Natural Fly Trap

A quick and easy fly trap can be made by adding a few drops of natural dish soap to a saucer filled with apple cider vinegar.

The vinegar attracts the flies, the soap makes it so they can’t escape after landing. Simply place the trap in fly trouble areas and leave overnight.

 

Seal Your Home

If you’re commonly spotting flies indoors, chances are they’re getting inside through something other than just your front and back doors. The usual culprits are gaps around doors and windows, faulty screens, poor weather stripping, old caulking, etc.

Finding these potential entry points and sealing them is often enough to substantially reduce a serious indoor fly problem.

 

Eliminate Fly Attractants

From dirty dishes and spills to unsealed trash cans and pet waste, our homes and yards are filled with items that attract flies. Being diligent about household cleanliness is arguably the most important factor when it comes to fly control. At the minimum, consider the following:

• Never leave dirty dishes in the sink
• Clean up food and drink spills immediately
• Seal all food in tightly closed containers
• Avoid leaving pet food out after feedings
• Clean up pet waste as soon as possible
• Cover and seal all trash cans, both inside and outside
• Remove sources of standing water outside, such as leaky faucets, buckets, etc.

 

Use Fly-Deterrent Plants

Lavender, basil, lemongrass, mint, and rosemary are all said to repel flies.

Place these fragrant plants and herbs near windows, doorways, other fly hangouts, and where you and your family spend the most time outside.

 

Good Old-Fashioned Flypaper

It’s not elegant, it’s not pleasing to the eye, but it works.

It’s simple: Hang flypaper in the areas around your home with the most fly traffic. Replace as needed. This approach alone won’t solve a fly problem completely, but it will greatly reduce the number of flies you see indoors.

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page and let us know what you think!

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