Other than blasting aphids away with your hose set to jet, insecticides offer the quickest way to kill aphids on contact. Protect other insects and critters by choosing a natural insecticide for your garden, which can be as effective as a synthetic one.

Trees that provide a habitat to bats and an abundance of bugs—their main food source—will attract bats to your yard. Because the North American landscape has changed so much in recent years, bats have a harder time finding trees with cavities to shelter in. If your yard has a dead or dying tree with a lot of sun exposure, bats will likely be drawn to it because trees with those features are less common.

As with anything ingested by animals, there is always a chance that mushrooms will be toxic. Clearing the tops of mushrooms from the soil to prevent them from being eaten by pets is always a good idea. Since poisonous mushrooms can be deadly, we recommended that any mushroom ingestion is treated as a veterinary emergency. Watch for signs of lethargy and digestive distress in any animal suspected to have eaten a mushroom and contact your vet immediately.

Scent deterrents like ammonia, vinegar, mothballs, and pepper can help keep coyotes away, but these are best used in tandem with other preventative measures. Remember that ammonia and vinegar can kill your plants and/or grass, so it’s best to soak rags in these substances or spray them on hardscaped areas to avoid damaging your landscape.