Garden And Home Improvement Ideas

There are many ways to repel pesky wild animals that are destroying your property. You can set up traps to capture them and re-release them into the wild far from your home. You can use an EPA-recommended animal repellant spray around the perimeter to leave a scent that is imperceptible to humans but a clear “Keep Out” message to animals.

Or you can use the Havahart 5265 Spray Away Motion Activated Water Repellent, which uses water to condition animals to avoid this displeasing experience of walking onto your lawn.

Consumers say the Havahart 5265 Spray Away Motion Activated Water Repellent has been very beneficial to a variety of situations. One man says roving gangs of raccoons were tearing up his sod all night long.

“I have not even seen a raccoon lately,” the buyer writes. Another man was tired of his neighbor’s dogs running through the neighborhood, leaving four to five piles of droppings in his yard constantly. “It works perfectly for my needs,” he admits. A third man was losing all his hibiscus trees to hungry deer.

He says, “It is noisy enough and sensitive enough to really work. In two weeks both trees now have good size leaves.” Consumers say that compared to other types of deterrents, the Havahart Water Repellent is odor-free, does not require reapplication every time it rains like the powders or sprays and lasts for months on one 9-volt battery.

Several people were dissatisfied with the quality of the Havahart 5265 Spray Away Motion Activated Water Repellent, admitting some frustration putting the parts together, connecting it to the hose or getting it to work as advertised.

They feel for such a high price, they should have a product that is easy to assemble and works great every time. Some consumers report that raccoons and geese actually seem to like their “baths” in the Havahart and that the motion sensor is better at detecting people than small cats.
The ideal use for this product seems to be for large, hungry, skittish deer.

To read more Keeping Animals Out With The Havahart 5265 Spray Away Motion Activated Water Repellent

After reading the manufacturer’s description of the P3 International Vibrasonic Mole Chaser #P7906, you can’t help but feel confident that this technology will be your pesky rodent’s worst nightmare.

How could it possibly stand up to “the secret weapon of golf courses and landscapers,” after all? The description of the Mole Chaser’s advanced technology and powerful vibrations seems infallible.

The “anodized rich gold tone” that is “crafted from a single billet of aluminum,” the “watertight cap” and the “patented battery cylinder” make it sound as though this product is virtually indestructible. Despite these “self-pats-on-the-back,” the consumers have spoken and this gizmo is not as it seems.

On Amazon, the P3 International Vibrasonic Mole Chaser #P7906 received a 2.5/5 star rating over the course of 55 consumer reviews. One consumer said they found “four or five fresh mounds within a few feet” of where the product was installed.

“I have seen zero effect on mole activity,” the Oregon consumer adds. “The gophers and moles have laughed over the winter, spring and the beginning of summer in Santa Barbara, California,” writes another dissatisfied customer. One Connecticut buyer thought “this thing actually summoned moles” to his yard.

Another Connecticut buyer echoed the same sentiment, complaining that he now “actually has more moles” than before and the moles are not only digging but eating flower bulbs and attacking garden plants.

Several consumers say that they resisted buying the P3 International Vibrasonic Mole Chaser #P7906 initially because of bad reviews, but after trying poison pellets, liquids, powder and caps, as well as traps, they finally caved. Much to their surprise, the Mole Chaser worked for them within a few weeks.

Many consumers were frustrated to see more mole mounds after buying the product, but this to be expected. According to the manufacturer’s FAQ section, “The most important factor is that the user will definitely notice increased mole or gopher activity when they install the units.

The signal from the unit will disturb their normal patterns and they will be very active. Patience and persistence are required before they move on. The Molechaser will persist, day and night, sending out the irritating signal. After a few weeks, moles usually leave the area for quieter locations.”

To read more Persistence Is The Key To Your Success With The P3 International Vibrasonic Mole Chaser #P7906

For over 30 years, Mantis has been the Gold standard for garden tillers. When the first lightweight red tiller was introduced in 1980, gardeners were amazed at how much easier this product made gardening. They no longer felt sore for days after ripping up sod. The tillers of the past were gargantuan machines that hurt the muscles to move around.

Yet this 20-pound wonder could be moved around single-handedly, letting the gas engine and patented tines do all the work. The mini-tiller went on to sell more than 1 million units, making Mantis the #1 leader in the tilling industry. The Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator is their most popular offering, selling at $349.

What consumers seem to like most about the Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator is its versatility. They love how easy it is to use and the different attachments that allow them to perform all types of jobs.

The lightweight nature and the predictability of where the tines are going makes precision jobs much, much easier, consumers report at sites like Amazon, Epinions and Viewpoints. Many individuals report owning their Mantis products for 10-25 years and never having trouble with the workmanship.

There is great satisfaction with the Mantis warranty and customer service for those who are admittedly “hard” on their machinery and needed a replacement tine after a run-in with a rock. “I had the tines replaced for free after digging deep ditches in rocky clay,” says one buyer.

Even though consumers give rave reviews to the Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator, some people admit they got blisters from extended use without gloves (despite the “ergonomic” handle) and others mention that lots of roots and debris get tangled up in their tiller at the start of the season.

Not everyone likes the idea of mixing gas and oil together to run this tool, which could be solved by purchasing the Mantis 4-cycle or the Mantis Electric tiller instead. To order this machine, you can visit www.mantis.com, where it sells for $349 and includes free shipping.

If you’re looking for a great deal, you can find it at www.amazon.com for $290 plus shipping too.

To read more Making Gardening Easier With The Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator

Charlemagne, King of the Franks, once said, “A herb is the friend of physicians and the praise of cooks.” Using fresh herbs in your recipes can add extraordinary flavor to some of your favorite dishes and allow you to cut back on salt, fat and sugar.

Researchers have long praised herbs for their antioxidant properties and their ability to improve the body’s functioning. Some of the most commonly grown herbs include basil, which is great in pasta sauce and any tomato dish; chives, which goes into many dips, potato dishes and alongside tomato; and oregano, a compliment to tomatoes and peppers. You can find all three of these delicious herbs in the Italian Herb Garden Trio: Indoor Garden Gift Set for less than $20.

Consumers say the Italian Herb Garden Trio: Indoor Garden Gift Set makes a great present for spouses, friends and newlyweds. The drip tray is a convenient way for people to water the plants without destroying the house and to retain moisture during the dry winter.

The reusable pots can hold cat nip or other spices if you’d like, which buyers seem to like. They can sit on windowsills, countertops or office desks to add a little bit of life to your space. The plants can grow to four or five inches if you take care of them and be used to garnish sauces, potatoes, veggies and meats. Most online reviews appear favorable, as people relish in their gift finding abilities.

Some customers were slightly dissatisfied with their Italian Herb Garden Trio: Indoor Garden Gift Set because they felt the pots were “too small” for what they wanted to do, although satisfied customers liked the small “windowsill” size. Other malcontents said their seeds didn’t grow, but they admitted that they may have “needed sunlight,” which the manufacturer does verify.

A couple merchants from Amazon did not provide people with fresh seeds, or even seeds at all, on occasion, which aggravated a few people. For the most part, since the price has come down half-way, consumers seem very satisfied with the cute little pots and herb garden starter kit, though.

To read more Improving Your Indoor Gardening With An Italian Herb Garden Trio: Indoor Garden Gift Set

To read more Improving Your Indoor Gardening With An Italian Herb Garden Trio: Indoor Garden Gift Set

It’s no secret that a flower is a fragrant, beautiful and calming thing. Yet flower garden experts will tell you that the flower varieties you choose to grow can also be a wildlife magnet, attracting breathtaking butterflies and hummingbirds too! Selecting flowers that butterflies like is easy, but you will likely be disappointed if they never come.

To creature an enduring butterfly garden, you’ll need to provide some of the plants that caterpillars like to feast upon and hiding places where they can lay their eggs. Don’t worry, while it may sound undesirable, larvae do not cause excessive damage to most gardens and they’ll sprout beautiful wings in no time.

To create the flower patch that butterflies favor most, you’ll need to add some less attractive “host plants” that the caterpillars can eat, cocoon in safely and where butterflies can lay their eggs. Usually, butterflies lay their eggs on trees or plants.

Monarchs like milkweed and dogbane; swallowtails like cow parsnip, fennel, dill, cottonwood, wild cherry, willow, maple and alder; mourning cloaks live on cottonwood and willows, and painted ladies like thistle or pearly everlasting. Once the host plants are in place, you can add the more beautiful flowering blooms, such as dogbane, lilac, red clover, lantana, goldenrods, blazing stars, ironweed and tickseed sunflower for monarchs; blueberry, blackberry, lilac, redbud, red clover, viper’s bugloss, verbena and dogbane, phlox, azaleas, dame’s-rocket, petunias, verbenas, lupines, California buckeye, yerba santa, brodiaeas, and gilias for swallowtails; oak trees or rotting fruit for mourning cloaks; and aster, cosmos, blazing star, ironweed, joe-pye weed and red clover for painted ladies.

After the flower planting and habitat planning is finished, you’ll surely enjoy your floral bouquets with butterflies perched, feeding and exploring. To get the most from your flower garden, look for warm midday swarms between 10 am and 2 pm during the summer months. Hopefully, you’ve planted the taller flowers toward the back so you can watch all the butterflies feeding.

To read more Attracting Butterfiles To The Flower Garden