November 2009
HOT TOPICS at HGIC
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Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
This fall, we have received many calls about Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSB) invading homes. This Asian native is a nuisance pest indoors and out. From early-mid September until the first frost, the adults seek overwintering locations. They are attracted to the outside of houses on warm fall days and seek entrance to homes via cracks around windows, doors, vents, and window air conditioner units. If small numbers occur indoors, they can be removed by hand or by using a shop-vacuum. It should be noted that if many of them are squashed or pulled into a vacuum cleaner, their smell can be quite strong. Read more....
Fall Garden Clean Up
Many gardeners call our toll free number at the Home and Garden Information Center this time of year to ask what they should be doing to get ready for the next gardening season. In some cases they remember a disease or pest that they encountered this past summer and want to know how to prevent the problem or know where the pests came from in the first place. While some pests migrate great distances, most come from your own garden or nearby areas where they've been living on weeds or plant debris. Some pests and weeds survive as seeds, rhizomes, bulbs, spores, eggs or pupae in the soil. You inadvertently bring others into your garden on contaminated seed, transplants, soil or equipment. Sanitation practices otherwise known as a good fall garden clean up can reduce or eliminate many common garden pests. Learn more.......
Frost/Freeze Dates for Maryland
While the HGIC staff cannot predict the exact day you will see frost in your area, our Fall Freeze-Date Table gives you a pretty accurate prediction for when the temperature will dip below 32 degrees F. Learn more...
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