This is the time of year when crickets are pretty much everywhere around us. They can come in your house or business and can be a pest with their constant chirping and leave a very bad odor when they die. And if that isn't bad enough, crickets can also feed upon clothing and especially clothing with food stains. Crickets can also cause much damage to your turf by tunneling just below the surface and exposing roots to the hot and dry conditions this time of year. The females can lay up to 400 eggs each time and there is usually enough time for three cycles of crickets every year.

The good news is Mole crickets, which are what we see most of, can be controlled. Make sure all trash and debris is picked up around your house. This can include bricks, rock, logs or larger sticks and tall weeds. Mainly anything providing cover for these pests. Crickets are also attracted to light so you may want to turn off porch lights or shut curtains at night.

Crickets can be treated with many of the same products used to treat grasshoppers. Seven Dust works well and Nolo Bait is a very good organic product to use. Diazinon or Dursban will also work and a product called Demon has been very effective in controlling them. Apply the product around the perimeter of your house and this should keep most of them from coming in.

My quote of the week comes from Robert Frost. It reads, "By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may get to be boss and work twelve hours a day."