Mulch ... Choose the right plants ... Contain pests

Mulch, Mulch, Mulch! You will reduce weeds, save water and nourish the soil.

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Choose the Right Plants: Pick hardy varieties that can stand up to disease, pests and dry weather. Choose many types of plants because too many of the same kind makes your garden vulnerable to pests and disease.

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Don't Panic at the First Sign of a Pest: Just because you see aphids doesn't mean you have to grab a bottle of bug spray. If the damage is only minor, there's no need to act. Sometimes natural predators or a weather change will fix the problem for you.

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)