[BostonRich]

Never understood why the black racers stay in my hedges while I am trimming them. They will run away when they see you out in the open but stay in the hedges with all the noise and movement of the trimmer. I know people who have cut them in half because they didn't see them.

[life is fun]

Sounds like chiggers

[JoeinFL]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Bit off subject, but.
Played golf with a couple a few years ago, and the chap played from rough by a fire ants nest.
Within seconds they were all over him and he had to leave to go to the hospital.
I have great respect for Fire Ants!

That brings the “play it where it lies” rule into a whole new light.

[rlcooper70]

I left my black snake "alone" knowing it is good for the environment ... until I found it curled up in my bedroom. Disgusting. Scary.

[airstreamingypsy]

Originally Posted by bragones

I constantly get spider bites while working on weeding and trimming. They don't appear until the next day. They look like mosquito bites and itch but I think they are spider bites and hopefully not harmful but just annoying. I now always cover my full body when doing that type of work, no matter how hot the temp is. There are also a lot of bees if trying to do this work mid day but they are not there or dormant in the early morning and later afternoon.

>

You are describing chigger bites.

[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by mvbird

I like doing my own weeding .... But down here in Florida I worry about what's in the bushes when I put my hands in. I've read messages about black widow spiders, snakes, Round-up, even gators in the ferns. What have you seen? What do the landscapers do ? Thrash the bushes with a rake first to see if anything comes out? Wear long gloves in the heat?

Black snakes are not poisonous but do have a nasty bite, as a kid I love catching snakes. But beating the bushes is a good idea to do first. Snakes try to avoid humans. I fear the fire ants & spiders more, they’ll defend themselves. Just wear gloves for protection!

[sallybowron]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Bit off subject, but.
Played golf with a couple a few years ago, and the chap played from rough by a fire ants nest.
Within seconds they were all over him and he had to leave to go to the hospital.
I have great respect for Fire Ants!

When we first moved to TX my daughter was bitte by at least 90 fire ants. She needed a trip to the hospital.

[DonnaNi4os]

Originally Posted by mrfixit

..... 50 years ago my then 70 year old neighbor and friend showed me how to get rid of snakes etc.
without harming them.....

Simply pour or spray some household liquid ammonia around in the areas
where you want to work TOMORROW.
YES I do shake the bushes with a rake before I start trimming.

The critters will return in a few days...unless you do this weekly.

I do this and sometimes see the snakes and critters leave immediately.

.. if I need to leave the garage door or exterior pass doors open ....
....I pour a line of ammonia just outside the openings.

Good to know. Thanks!

[mvbird]

Villagers have posted pix of coral snakes curled up on top of the propane tank under the grill, and also in the grill. What do you do with them ?
... just scare them away with a stick and hope they go toward the neighbor's house?

[DeafDeaf]

I cannot help - every time when I mow the lawn, sometimes I kill the frog or snake - cannot help - cannot see them until it happens!

[Gmomlaura]

I don’t worry and have been here 15 yrs. I do my own weeding and just do my thing.

[REDCART]

I was outside yesterday mid-day with Joe Tucker, the sprinkler guy when a 3’ black racer slithered by about 2’ from my feet. Couldn’t believe how fast it moved. Joe commented that he’s never seen a poisonous snake in TV. I’m not comfortable around snakes and seeing one up close was kinda unnerving.

[Topspinmo]

My concern about bushes are yellow jackets or wasps. I spray the bush with water hose before I trim them. This way I know if wasps have made nest and the water runs anything else out of bushes. I’ve been stung twice first year I was don’t here. Learned very quickly how not to get stung.

[mollyb]

Our black snakes are a helpful pest/gardening tool

[Barbara Beveridge]

I use my leaf and grass blower and blow before weeding and trimming, I’m hoping that scares critters away. It eases my mind, whether it’s doing the job, I don’t know but haven’t come across the visiting black snakes when weeding.