Sharing ideas on gardening and life.
Happy Victoria Day, Patriot's Day or regular weekend, depending on where you are. What a weekend it was for the garden. Sun and warmth until Monday when we got overcast and - I hate to say it - some much needed rain. First, a few pests to mention: My cherry is unhealthy to begin with,... Continue Reading →
An update on all 20 beds. What's growing and what isn't.
Warning: This is not for beginners. If you like the “squirt squirt” of a spray bottle, don’t even read this. I’m in a unique position working with aphid and other plant pest control in commercial crops. With my experience comes an understanding/tolerance for pests: I can tell if a pest population is something to worry... Continue Reading →
Aphidoletes aphidimyza (common name: Aphidoletes [a-fid-o-lee-tees]) is among the most used aphid controls in agriculture, horticulture, landscapes, greenhouses and especially ornamentals. Like all the best biological control agents, Aphidoletes works with a combination of eating lots, but also by multiplying quickly, overcoming the pest. Aphidoletes larva searching for aphids Where it comes from: Aphidoletes were... Continue Reading →
Fruit Tree Pest Control Pests in trees usually come and go. Seldom will a tree die from regular pest pressure. When they do, there is a reason: An introduced pest with no natural enemies, or a stressed tree suffering from something else. In fact, when someone has shown me a tree dying of a normal... Continue Reading →
No one knows how many whitefly species there are, but most of the ones we are concerned about seem to arrive to North America via Florida, and the bad ones stay. If you’re not a total bug-geek like me and you have chosen to read this article it is likely because you are familiar with... Continue Reading →
Disclaimer: This is in no way intended to dismiss the fact that there is peer-reviewed research needed on the interaction between cannabis varietals and invertebrates. I have noticed, first-hand, some common cannabis-related factors that are limiting, or preventing the success of beneficial insects - and in some cases, even killing them. In most of these... Continue Reading →
All this wet weather we’ve had has provided an opportunity for aphids to get a foothold in many local gardens - mine included. I have found black aphids on a sunflower and cabbage aphids on - well - my cabbages. As there is often a mid-summer push of aphids, I thought it was time to... Continue Reading →
There is a revolution taking place in people’s gardens. The demand for Organic products; mistrust of chemical companies; the longing for a simpler time; near complete chemical resistance in some pests; and an adjusted sense of what constitutes garden productivity have all played a role in the major increase in demand for biological controls like... Continue Reading →
How to control aphids in your home garden No gardener exists that isn’t familiar with aphids. But few gardeners achieve effective control of these pests. I can help. Important information about aphids: Aphids do best when temperatures increase, but humidity remains high - most often in the spring. They are phloem-feeders, meaning they use mouth... Continue Reading →
