After a long, cold, wet Oklahoma winter, a homeowner’s thoughts turn happily to spring. The change of seasons and arrival of warmer weather is appealing, but it can also be challenging, especially considering the bane of many a homeowner’s existence — bugs and other landscape pests.
Oklahoma’s mosquitoes, flies, critters and other pests can add frustration to a homeowner’s life come spring and summer. But thankfully, there are several things you can do to keep your home’s lawn, gardens, and greenery looking great while keeping annoying pests at bay. Once you know these basic Tulsa landscaping tips, you’ll be in good shape for maintaining the landscaping you love.
Types of Pests that Affect Oklahoma Landscaping
Every climate is different, and it pays to understand Oklahoma’s most common pest issues. Your Tulsa landscaping is likely to face challenges from weeds and unwanted insects. Here’s what you need to know about each:
Weeds
Having soil that is rich in nutrients is great for growing the beautiful grass, flowers, herbs, vegetables, bushes, and trees that make your Tulsa landscaping pop from the curb. But healthy soil can also grow some greenery you don’t want — weeds.
Weeds can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Some may even look pretty. But they compete for nutrients and growing space with the plants you’ve intentionally planted. And they can quickly overtake your well-groomed landscaping, making it look ragged and unattractive, even choking out the plants you want to maintain.
Common Oklahoma weeds include:
- Dandelions
- Various types of clovers
- Stinkgrass
- Crabgrass
- Shepherd’s purse
- Sandbur
- Pigweed
- Ragweed
- Johnsongrass
Keep in mind: The longer you allow weeds to grow, the more likely it is that they will do damage to your healthy plants and weaken your grass.
Bugs
Unwelcome insects pose another challenge for Tulsa area homeowners. They buzz about us, distracting us when we’re trying to enjoy a night on the patio. They may bite, sting, or bother our beloved cats and dogs. These annoying bugs can even affect the health of our landscaping.
Look out for these problematic pests and keep them from making a home in your landscaping:
- Ticks — Ticks are most commonly found in areas that are overgrown or untouched, such as tall grass and bushy areas. To lessen tick encroachment, trim landscaping regularly.
- Spiders — Some spiders, like the common garden spider, are good for your garden. But others can be poisonous. To avoid attracting brown recluse spiders, for example, don’t accumulate piles of wood and leaves around the yard.
- Mosquitoes — These gather around water sources, especially stagnant standing water. So, if you have areas around your landscaping that collect pools of water after a rain, eliminate those spots. Move empty pots and watering cans to a roofed area where they can’t collect rain.
- Wasps and bees — These stinging insects often form their nests under porch eaves and near trees. Keep an eye out for new nests being formed, and get rid of them before they grow bigger.
Keep in mind: There are natural ways to address insect control, and there are many types of sprays available as well, depending on your preferences. Ask a professional Tulsa landscaping team for advice on what to use on your home.
Tulsa Landscaping Tips for Addressing Pests
To protect your carefully planned Tulsa landscaping elements from damaging bugs and weeds, take the following steps:
- Care for landscaping regularly — Mow weekly or every other week. Trim bushes as needed. Check your plants for signs of disease or damage. A consistent maintenance plan is essential to keeping your Tulsa landscaping beautiful all spring and summer.
- Remove weeds often — If you weed once a week, you’ll be able to keep unwanted plants at bay, without a lot of hours sweating in the sun.
- Use plants that naturally deter pests — A great way to deter bugs naturally is to use insect-repelling plants. Here are several that grow well in the Oklahoma climate and soil:
- Edible herbs — basil, rosemary, oregano, parsley, thyme, bay leaves, fennel, lemongrass, and mint are big turnoffs to mosquitoes
- Lavender — has an appealing fragrance and deters flies, mosquitoes, and fleas
- Citronella — its fragrant oils drive away many insects, including mosquitoes
- Chrysanthemum — this pretty flower turns away fleas, ticks, mites, and lice
- Petunias — easily maintained and available in many colors, petunias also repel many types of insects
- Marigolds — these golden flowers produce a fragrance that drives away mosquitoes and aphids
- Garlic — another plant with a strong odor that drives away insects
- Catnip — cats love it, but mosquitoes don’t. In fact, some studies indicate catnip can be more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET
- Employ a professional landscaper — Maintaining your landscaping to keep it looking neatly groomed, while also deterring bugs and weeds, can take a lot of time and effort. Pro landscapers who know Oklahoma’s weather, soil, plants, and pests can help you create a regular, consistent, effective plan to eliminate unwanted insects and weeds, giving you landscaping you love and can easily maintain.
Landscaping Services from Experts in Oklahoma’s Weather
The ups and downs of weather in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area don’t have to frustrate you and your landscaping dreams. When you’re ready to invest in professional landscaping services, contact the friendly team at Proactive Landscaping. Our team has over 20 years of experience with Oklahoma plants, grass, trees, weather, pests, and any other landscaping needs you may face.
We’re happy to offer Tulsa landscaping tips to help you achieve the lush, beautiful lawns and gardens you desire. Contact us for a free consultation and quote to start the process of getting home landscaping that looks great and is easy to maintain.
