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Not too long ago, killer bees or Africanized bee attacks were only a distant threat or unfortunate news story from some far away place. Not so anymore. In these southern states, they’ve been right in our own backyard for a while now, and as Woods Houghton states in the following article, they’re here to stay. So it’s a good idea to know a little bit about them to keep yourself safe.

For do it yourselfers and home owners who work outside a lot, this is important information. It’s one of the last things you would expect while gardening, landscaping, or mowing the lawn. So the first step to being prepared is simply being mindful and aware that Africanized killer bees are a possibility. Read the article below for some good information and safety tips.

In light of last week’s Killer bee headlines I thought I would reflect and review safety precaution involving all bees. Africanized bees are now part of our environment, like rattle snakes, cockroaches, and flies, we have to learn to coexist with them and limit adverse interaction with these insects. Last week we had a very serious incident which could have cost a man his life and did kill a dog and injured other animals. It was good to hear and read correct information being related about Africanized bees from the fire department and professional pest control operators. Good job guys. I publish this news release every year in hope of reducing such incidents.

Africanized bees are a much more aggressive honeybee than European bees domesticated to produce honey. These are wild bees and are not predators of humans and other life forms. They do not hunt down people to harm them. They do react very aggressively to what they perceive as an attack on their hive which contain their young. When they are swarming or when they are foraging for food they are not as aggressive as when they have established a hive nearby and are defending that hive. Their venom is no more poisonous then their European count parts. However, when they react to defend their hive the number of bees responding will be 15 to 30 times as many and can number in the 10s of -thousands. We no longer sample bees from Eddy County, the African bee genetics are in most feral, non-kept hives and have been for more than 5 years now.

What should you do about the Africanized bee? Take some common sense precautions:

Make a bee patrol around your home once or twice a week during swarming season (March to October). Listen for the sound of bees in the air. Persistent buzzing may mean a hive or swarm is nearby. This should be done prior to starting a lawn mower or other equipment. Lawn mowers and equipment with magneto ignition seem to integrate bees both African and domestic. Bee-proof your home by filling in potential nesting sites such as tree cavities and holes in outside walls. Put screen on the top of rain spouts and over water meter boxes in the ground. Remove piles of trash and junk. If you see a swarm, or a hive do not antagonize them by squirting them with anything or throwing rocks or start the above equipment.

If you discover a bee colony or hive, don’t disturb it. Find out who removes or destroys wild colonies in your area and report it to them. A list of pest control operators and beekeepers that have been trained to remove bees is available from the extension office. These businesses do charge for their services. The property owners where the bees are located are responsible for their removal. The fire department, the county vector control, and extension office do NOT remove hives unless it is an emergency, someone under attack. If you see a bee colony on public property notify the agency responsible for management of that property. If it is at a city park, call the city, if it is BLM land call the BLM etc.

If attacked by honeybees, your best defense is to run away as fast as you can. Seek shelter immediately in a building, a car, or heavy brush. Protect your face and neck the best you can. Standing still and calm does not work with Africanized bees as they are aggressive. Domestic bees are different in this behavior. DO NOT SWAT or KILL BEES that sting you or someone else. This will increase the ferocity of the attack.

The major immediate danger is being stung on the face and neck causing swelling and collapsing of the air way. The average 150 pound person can take about 200 stings before the venom toxin is dangerous, but it only takes a few stings to cause swelling and blockage of the air passage. Protect your face and neck! Insect repellent that contains DEET may repel them for a short period of time. Do not jump in water. The bees will wait for you to surface for air and sting your face causing airway obstruction.

If you are stung many times or have an allergic reaction seek medical attention immediately.

If you observe someone being stung, and they are unable to run or seek shelter, call 911 and report it. If you go to rescue them without protection, you will be attacked as well. DO not call 911 to report bees unless they are attacking. Then they are life threatening and DO call 911. This is only for life threatening situations where a person is being stung or has been stung and is in shock, respiratory failure etc.

If you are allergic to bee stings, or think you might be, consult your physician for the best precautions to take.

More people and animals probably will be stung by bees. These insects are established in Eddy County and will be part of our ecosystem for now on. They cannot be eradicated and they will not leave. Some individuals may be stung hundreds of times in only a few moments. The Africanized bees killer reputation is greatly exaggerated, but it does have basis in fact. People and animals have and will die from their attack. Most often the persons or animals that have died were not able to get away from the bees quickly.

It does not have to greatly change the way people live and work and play. People in south and Central America have lived with this insect for several decades without great difficulty, but some people are injured every year.

For more information Contact your Local County Extension office. Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.

Most soils, garden soils, and landscaping plots will never need the extremity of sterilization. However, in some instances such as nematode infestation, it may be desirable to completely sterilize the soil. The major drawback to this, whether naturally or chemically, is that it also kills soil organisms that are beneficial to garden and landscaping plants. However, depending on certain circumstances, it may be necessary.

It’s almost impossible to eliminate all weeds seeds, diseases, nematodes, and insects. And especially by organic or natural methods. However, it is possible to cut the population of most to just a few simply by using the heat of the sun in the hottest part of Summer. That is, in most climates. I’ll explain more on that later.

In the hottest part of Summer, usually August or July for most areas, it’s possible to raise soil temperatures over four inches deep to above 120 degrees. Kept at high temperature for several weeks, most unwanted soil elements will be destroyed.

First, till or spade manure into the surface soil as deep as you can get it. The manure will help to generate heat. Next, moisten the area and cover with clear plastic sheeting. Keep the sheeting on the ground and make sure all edges are tucked tightly, covered with dirt, or held down in another way. This will basically create an oven that will produce soil temperature often above 120 degrees. This will generally “cook” the largest percentage of unwanted soil problems. Keep covered and moist for at least four weeks.

In cooler climates where even Summer temperature don’t get very high, it’s possible that this method will actually help germinate some seeds and multiply unwanted soil diseases. It basically creates a cozy greenhouse atmosphere with good temperatures for germination.

For a smaller scale, small gardens, and smaller landscaping or garden design ideas you can have better success and possibly eliminate all unwanted diseases, weeds, nematodes, and insects. Placing soil in black pots, moistening, and covering tightly with clear plastic will produce soil temperatures in excess of 150-160 degrees. Keep covered for two weeks and make sure it stays moist. Not much can live in that.

Again, keep in mind that this also kills beneficial soil organisms. However, the tradeoff may be necessary. And you can rebuild the structure of the soil over time by adding lots of organics to the soil.

Ask me what’s behind the simplest and most functional landscaping planting ideas I’ve seen or created and I’ll have to say it is simplicity and repetition. Second to that is texture and the creative use of green foliage plants.

Now, if I was only allowed to give you one piece of advice on how to create your own planting idea or plan, it would be repetition (see examples of repetition). Pick a few plants, trees, and flowers, repeat them throughout your landscaping, and you have a framework and starting point. Or even possibly a finished plan.

In most (not all) of the designs I create, there will be at least one plant type, species, or color that I repeat throughout the entire design. While this may not always be my starting point, for you it may be a way to take the first step. And possibly to immediately add an element and direction to the plan.

In many cases it’s entirely possible to get your landscaping planting ideas simply by looking through pictures of landscaping or copying someone elses ideas. I’m all for the easiest way as long as the results are lasting. However, simply basing your plant choices on color, size, and whether a plant serves as a tree, bush, or flower, leaves a lot of room for error. If you’re not at least paying attention to whether or not a plant is even zoned for your area, you could be throwing money right out the window.

For creative and functional planting ideas in new and existing landscaping, you should first recognize all the functions and purposes plants can perform. Beyond simply adding color or curb appeal, plants can be used to create canopies, hedges, screening, wind breaks, erosion control, borders, fences, noise reduction, ground cover, and a number of other aspects.

Lay out a simple bubble graph like the one to the right to determine necessary areas and then define plant types (flower, tree, hedge, etc.) needed. To research for specifics and matches you can use the plant database list.

Looking at plants this way may make you have to go back and take another look at your design space and planned landscaping ideas. Another assessment of your ideas may give you other opportunities to use plantings in creative or necessary ways.

It may actually be easier for you to create a planting scheme if you first consider the plants in your design in regards to their function or purpose. Of course, all the plants in your landscaping will have a purpose even if it’s just to look pretty and take up space. However, for this definition we’ll say that functional is any plant that has a purpose such as a canopy, hedge, screening, wind break, border, groundcover, etc.

By considering plant functions first, you might be able to narrow the rest of your planting scheme down to a few cover, color, or fill areas. Of course, in the name of “simplicity” and “being done with it”, you could even cut the rest of your project down further by using professionally designed pre-planned garden designs.

Creating a thriving, functional, and long lasting planting scheme won’t be without any effort. Even though you can get planting layout and color ideas from pictures, gardens, and books, choosing the right plants, shrubs, flowers, and trees will require a little knowledge.

Primary Considerations For Choosing The Right Garden And Landscaping Plants

Plant Width and Height
should be figured by the mature size a plant will get to be in both up and spread outward directions. Overplanting and unerplanting are common mistakes. Most landscaping is planted in with immature plants so it’s easy to unintentionally overplant.

Overplanting smaller plants and bed areas doesn’t cause much problem and may sometimes be desirable as they can be thinned later. However, trees and larger plants and shrubs may also create a threat to surrounding elements and structures.

Trees, shrubs, and larger plants also need consideration for root space.

Again, you gotta know your stuff to keep from making some costly mistakes..

Secondary Conditions For Plant Choices

Other Considerations. Here are a few more things to think about.

Landscaping plants are a common choice to screen or hide areas of your yard such as a/c units and trash bins. However, in most instances, you don’t want to attract attention to these areas using bright colorful plants as the cover. Green tends to attract less attention to the area and so makes a better choice.

Large leaf plants -

Generally, large leaf plants work well in the shade. More leaf surface allows the plant to gather and use more light. However, for obvious reasons, large leaf plants aren’t the best choice for windy areas. Not only are they more susceptible to tearing in the wind, the more leaf surface releases more moisture to drying winds.

Colors and space -

To make a large area garden seem more intimate and cozy, use bright colorful plants. To make small gardens seem larger, use lighter colored plants. You can also transition shades of one color from lighter to darker or darker to lighter to give a sense of depth, more space, or less space.

Contrast and visibility -

Consider the colors of surrounding areas and base plant color choices on whether you want plants to contrast or blend with an area. For instance, white flowers against a red brick home will be highly visible while red Roses will blend in.

Further Reading And Ideas:
Step By Step Pre-planned Garden Designs
Plant Selection Ideas Page 1
Original Landscaping Pictures Gallery
New Landscaping Pictures Gallery
Free Landscaping Ideas Gallery