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Dear Friends:
I thought that some of you might like reading this.
Most bugs are beneficial for plants, including ladybugs, earthworms, lacewings and praying mantis. We can control pest bugs with organic solutions that do not affect negatively the balance in our garden.
ANTS
They are not actually a pest of plants. Ants found on plants are generally gathering honeydew created by aphids (a common sight on peonies). The solution is to eliminate the aphids.
Carpenter ants may build a nest in old rotting wood, but they do not attack live wood. Ants make large colonies in the ground, especially in sandy areas, and are simply a nuisance. Here is a recipe for ant control:
1 litre water
1 tsp. boric acid (available at drug stores)
1 cup sugar
Soak cotton balls in the solution; place the balls in an old margarine container with holes punched in the lid so the ants can get in; place in locations where ants have been seen. The ants will take the bait back to the nest and pass it on to the colony.
APHIDS
These ******* insects are common garden pests often found on the new growth of plants. The damage created by aphids includes wilting and deformity of new growth.
Aphids are soft-shelled and are easily controlled with insecticidal soap or a pyrethrum-based product such as Aim. These are natural organic sprays that have no harmful effect on humans or pets.
If the infestation is extreme, place the plant in a plastic bag after spraying, secure the top and leave for 24 hours. This will prevent aphids flying to other plants and starting the cycle again.
BEETLES
Many types of beetles attack plants, and they usually eat the leaves.
Eggs are usually laid on the plant in late fall or early spring. The larvae hatch, eat the leaves and then pupate, emerging as beetles. The beetles also eat the leaves of the plant, later in the season, causing a second round of damage. Spraying dormant oil spray early in the spring can help kill the eggs before they hatch. Aim will bring them under control if you make contact with the insect.
CATERPILLARS
Caterpillars are a common sight on trees and shrubs and are often present in the spring. They are chewing insects and can completely defoliate their hosts.
Spraying at the first indication of damage will eliminate them before they do too much damage. An organic spray, often referred to as BTK, contains bacteria that only harms caterpillars. Insecticidal soaps such as Aim and Trounce can also be used.
To prevent caterpillars from migrating onto trees, a band of sticky Tanglefoot can be placed around the trunk. (It is a type of glue that can be spread or sprayed.) For natural control, lacewings, praying mantis and trichogramma wasps can be introduced into the garden.
EUROPEAN LILY BEETLE
The adults lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves until late June. The distinctive larvae emerge to feed on the back of the leaves for two to three weeks, then enter the soil to pupate. Young adults appear about three weeks later. They feed until the fall, then enter the ground until spring, when they emerge to mate.
Picking off and squashing the bugs (or dropping them into a pail of water) seems to be the only organic solution, but it is a small price to pay to save your precious lilies from total defoliation and extinction. Squash the egg masses with your thumb and fingers (don't forget to wear your gloves!)
LAWN GRUBS
Control of white grub, which is the larval stage of the June beetle, or European chafer (grey grub) can be managed successfully once the ground temperature has warmed to above 15C. A biological control such as Lawn Guardian can be used. It contains millions of microscopic worms called nematodes that are watered into the lawn. The nematodes seek out the grubs and use them as a host for their eggs. When the nematodes encounter the grub, death occurs within about 24 hours.
Nematodes are harmless to humans and pets, and are benign for the environment.
With patience and a little knowledge, most bugs can be eliminated from your garden naturally, without causing harm to the beneficial insects.
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I thought that some of you might like reading this.
Most bugs are beneficial for plants, including ladybugs, earthworms, lacewings and praying mantis. We can control pest bugs with organic solutions that do not affect negatively the balance in our garden.
ANTS
They are not actually a pest of plants. Ants found on plants are generally gathering honeydew created by aphids (a common sight on peonies). The solution is to eliminate the aphids.
Carpenter ants may build a nest in old rotting wood, but they do not attack live wood. Ants make large colonies in the ground, especially in sandy areas, and are simply a nuisance. Here is a recipe for ant control:
1 litre water
1 tsp. boric acid (available at drug stores)
1 cup sugar
Soak cotton balls in the solution; place the balls in an old margarine container with holes punched in the lid so the ants can get in; place in locations where ants have been seen. The ants will take the bait back to the nest and pass it on to the colony.
APHIDS
These ******* insects are common garden pests often found on the new growth of plants. The damage created by aphids includes wilting and deformity of new growth.
Aphids are soft-shelled and are easily controlled with insecticidal soap or a pyrethrum-based product such as Aim. These are natural organic sprays that have no harmful effect on humans or pets.
If the infestation is extreme, place the plant in a plastic bag after spraying, secure the top and leave for 24 hours. This will prevent aphids flying to other plants and starting the cycle again.
BEETLES
Many types of beetles attack plants, and they usually eat the leaves.
Eggs are usually laid on the plant in late fall or early spring. The larvae hatch, eat the leaves and then pupate, emerging as beetles. The beetles also eat the leaves of the plant, later in the season, causing a second round of damage. Spraying dormant oil spray early in the spring can help kill the eggs before they hatch. Aim will bring them under control if you make contact with the insect.
CATERPILLARS
Caterpillars are a common sight on trees and shrubs and are often present in the spring. They are chewing insects and can completely defoliate their hosts.
Spraying at the first indication of damage will eliminate them before they do too much damage. An organic spray, often referred to as BTK, contains bacteria that only harms caterpillars. Insecticidal soaps such as Aim and Trounce can also be used.
To prevent caterpillars from migrating onto trees, a band of sticky Tanglefoot can be placed around the trunk. (It is a type of glue that can be spread or sprayed.) For natural control, lacewings, praying mantis and trichogramma wasps can be introduced into the garden.
EUROPEAN LILY BEETLE
The adults lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves until late June. The distinctive larvae emerge to feed on the back of the leaves for two to three weeks, then enter the soil to pupate. Young adults appear about three weeks later. They feed until the fall, then enter the ground until spring, when they emerge to mate.
Picking off and squashing the bugs (or dropping them into a pail of water) seems to be the only organic solution, but it is a small price to pay to save your precious lilies from total defoliation and extinction. Squash the egg masses with your thumb and fingers (don't forget to wear your gloves!)
LAWN GRUBS
Control of white grub, which is the larval stage of the June beetle, or European chafer (grey grub) can be managed successfully once the ground temperature has warmed to above 15C. A biological control such as Lawn Guardian can be used. It contains millions of microscopic worms called nematodes that are watered into the lawn. The nematodes seek out the grubs and use them as a host for their eggs. When the nematodes encounter the grub, death occurs within about 24 hours.
Nematodes are harmless to humans and pets, and are benign for the environment.
With patience and a little knowledge, most bugs can be eliminated from your garden naturally, without causing harm to the beneficial insects.
