The weather has warmed and summer is here. Our plants are thriving, or at least we hope they are. Now we have to be on the lookout for damaging insects and other problems.

Some damage is very evident. Other problems may be harder to spot. I like to just stroll around the yard and garden looking for bugs or evidence of their damage, if any.

Once the pests or their damage is found, steps can be taken to solve the problem.

An active approach helps keep our yards and gardens pest free. Many plant diseases, if present, can also be found early. This makes them much easier to deal with.

Observation is key. You may even want to keep a notebook of your observations. This is a great way to follow trends from year to year. As years go by you’ll be able to look ahead to potential problems.

I’ll see you in the backyard!