How Safe is Your Backyard?

1. Dangerous Grill Placement

A charcoal grill next to combustibles (say, a wooden deck rail or low-hanging tree branches) is a leading cause of BBQ fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

EASY FIX: Always make sure to leave a 10-foot clearing between your grill and deck rails, the side of the house, and overhanging plants, says David Markenson, MD, chairman of the American Red Cross Advisory Council on First Aid and Safety.

2. Toxic Plants

More than 68,000 people a year are poisoned by plants, reports the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Most end up with nothing worse than an upset stomach or an itchy skin rash. However, some plants can be fatal, especially to pets and small children.

EASY FIX: Do your homework before choosi

ng backyard vegetation, says Amy Stewart, author of Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers. A few common plants require caution: Oleander, datura (also called jimson weed), and castor bean are all dangerous if swallowed. For a complete list of toxic plants, check out prevention.com/links.

3. Tiny Pools of Water

Even the smallest amount of standing water can give mosquitoes a hospitable place to multiply, which raises your risk of bites — and infections such as West Nile virus. "I've seen mosquitoes breeding in a soda bottle cap," says Joseph Conlon, technical advisor for the American Mosquito Control Association.

EASY FIX: Do a weekly check of buckets and plastic covers and dump any water to keep pests away. Also change the water in birdbaths and fountains.

4. Not-Quite-Extinguished Charcoal

Charcoal may feel cool to the touch, but if you throw away coals while the insides are hot, you risk starting a fire.

EASY FIX: When you've finished grilling dinner, soak coals with cold water and then place them in a noncombustible metal can for safe disposal. Keep the can on a nonflammable surface, such as the driveway or a cement patio.

5. An Unfenced Pool

According to the Home Safety Council, nearly a quarter of all drownings in the United States happen near home. Even if your kids are older, consider this: Easy access to your pool may lure neighborhood children or pets into the water when you're not around.

EASY FIX: Whether your pool is built in or above ground, install a four-sided fence that is at least 5 feet high, with a self-latching gate. Don't use the house as one side of the fence, because an open door provides an easy entry, and never place patio furniture close enough to the fence that it could be used to scale the barrier.

6. Pesticide Residue

Homeowners often use too many pesticides — conventional or natural — or apply them incorrectly, says Jennifer Sass, PhD, a senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council. This not only wastes money but, in extreme cases, allows chemical levels to get high enough to cause flu like symptoms, she adds.

EASY FIX: Cut down on pests naturally by attracting birds and insects that eat the bugs that are attacking your prized roses. Install a birdhouse designed for bluebirds, which feed on insects ($23; backyardbird.com). Or grow plants — such as those in the parsley and sunflower families — that attract predatory insects such as assassin bugs and parasitic wasps. Despite their ominous-sounding names, these critters do your garden good; predatory insects don't hurt plants or people but destroy the bugs that do. Growing plants native to your region, which are less susceptible to infestation, can help, too, advises Kimberly Rider, author of The Healthy Home Workbook.

7. A Weather-Worn Deck

If you don't waterproof your deck every 2 to 3 years, moisture can seep in and warp the wood, upping your risk of falls.

EASY FIX: Inspect your deck every spring, paying extra attention to the ledger board, the place where the deck attaches to the house — it's the most vulnerable to water damage. Keep your eyes peeled for splits and cracks — signs that moisture has gotten in. If you can easily penetrate ¼ to ½ inch of the wood with a screwdriver or ice pick, the wood should be replaced.

Question: Jimmie, could you address the best process for bringing houseplants from the patio back into the house before the cold weather sets in?  we moved to Prosper end of May, some pothos plants (and couple of others) were put outside until finding the right place for them, but they were doing so well (and still undecided about where to put them), they are still out there.  But...I'm afraid bringing them in they will also be harboring many of the creatures we've seen in our yard/patio...grasshoppers, spiders, ants.

Do I take them out of the pot, remove the dirt and repot with fresh dirt after rinsing the leaves/stems off with water, do I apply a product...? Enjoy your column and look forward to hearing from you. Rebecca T. in Prosper

Answer: Hi Rebecca, welcome to Prosper! I see you and your plants are still acclimating.

Your best and easiest solution for your concerns are to simply spray "Neem Oil" or an "Insecticidal soap" on your plants before bring them in for the winter. Most of these type of products also offer a Organic alternative but those usually require more treatments before bringing plants inside where as the Neem Oil is one shot and your done.

Before placing plants in a more permanent location (perhaps in the spring) that would be the correct time to remove and replace soil into larger container for future root growth etc.. Until next time...Happy Gardening!! Visit our new website at www.absolutelybushedlandscaping.com