How do I get rid of the mice invading my patio?

Q I have seen mice from time to time in the area around my backyard patio. I think that they’re attracted to the water in my fountain and also to my barbecue grill. I haven’t seen them at all in my house, which is only 5 years old. I want to get rid of the mice, but putting out poison frightens me because I have a dog. So what do I do about them?

A: They’re probably inside your house, as well as outside. You need to put out traps to catch them because they can multiply very quickly. You can use tamper-resistant bait stations that will avoid problems with your pets. Hiring an exterminator may be an option to be sure the job is done safely.

Q: If I have a concrete block home, as opposed to a wood-framed house, am I safe from having termite problems?

A: Many homeowners with block homes think that termites won’t invade their property. But that’s not true. There is still a lot of wood and cellulose in your block home that will attract termites, including the door jambs, the drywall, and the furring strips, pieces of wood that were put on top of the blocks and then used to hang the drywall. Termites can often travel up into an attic as well to feast on the wooden trusses above your ceilings.

Q: I did something stupid in my backyard. The water in my swimming pool was very cloudy, and a pool company told me that it needed to be pumped out and replaced with fresh water. So I decided to pump it out a little at a time using a sump pump. Then I drained the water over some shrubs and plants in the yard and now some of the leaves are falling off. What do I do now?

A: It’s unlikely that you have severely damaged your plants. Some of the foliage may have been slightly burned due to contact with the chlorine in the water. Larger plants like mesquites and oleanders shouldn’t suffer any serious damage. You wouldn’t want to run the water into flower beds or vegetable gardens, however. You can probably bring back the damaged plants by giving them a long, slow watering using the regular water from your outdoor irrigation system.

Q: We have a ton of tiny black bugs in the house ever since we brought some potted plants into the house to get them out of the summer heat.

A: Those insects are often called “nuisance gnats.” They’re not hurting the plants, but they are annoying to have around. You might cut back on the water you put in the plants; the soil may be overly moist. You can also sprinkle a little diatomaceous earth over the soil to deter the bugs.

Q: Can I put a coat of some kind of cool decking over the concrete pavers in my backyard? They’re dark-colored pavers, and they get too hot in the summertime. Would a coating of some kind stick to the pavers or not?

A: Covering the pavers this way would be a very difficult and time-intensive project. The coating would also be difficult to maintain as well. Interlocking pavers now come in lighter colors; so in the end, you might consider replacing them.