City of Victoria uses hanging baskets to add beauty to their city. They also use them to disperse aphid bio-control agent, Aphidoletes, around the city. No more sticky honeydew.
How Hanging Baskets Contribute to Aphid Control in Victoria, BC.
How to control the Coreopsis Beetle
Control of the coreopsis beetle is a multi-step process. First, get rid of the adults, and then prepare for the damaging larva left behind. This article explores non-toxic methods of coreopsis beetle control.
Garden Update: June 1 (week 23)
As promised: A thorough update of what's going on in the garden Days have been low 20's or high teens with lots of cloud and little bits of rain. Generally, good growing conditions. Plant growth is noticeable day over day right now, and that generally continues for another month until the low humidity kicks in... Continue Reading →
Week 19 Garden Update
An update on all 20 beds. What's growing and what isn't.
Why I Put Aphids In My Garden
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 →
Know Your Bugs: Aphidoletes aphidimyza – The Aphid Eliminator.
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 →
Summer in April: Week 17, 2021
I think we're on day 8 of clear skies and a dominant high-pressure ridge that has kept the South Coast warm....even hot depending on where you are. My personal weather station recorded the last 6 days as over 22C with the peak on my son's birthday, Saturday, at 24.6C. What's equally surprising is that we... Continue Reading →
How to Attract Beneficial Insects to Your Garden: Lesson 4 – Compost, patience and thresholds
If you’ve read along with my previous three posts on attracting Beneficial Insects and Mites, I thank you. And I think you’re prepared for something a little more academic, regarding Economic and Cosmetic Thresholds as well as tolerance and patience. Really, it takes little to attract good bugs. A healthy garden is all. But first,... Continue Reading →
How to Attract Beneficial Insects to Your Garden: Lesson 3 – Lawns and the No Till Garden.
Lawns Lawn is a waste of space. I know, I know…I love it too. It’s green in the winter and cool in the summer it looks tidy and it keeps nature on the fringes. I grew up with a lawn for playing and sledding on. It is my dogs’ recreation space, and I intend on... Continue Reading →
How to Attract Beneficial Insects to Your Garden: Lesson 2 – If you build it, will they come?
Lesson Two: If you build it, will they come? This lesson will focus on structures that promote (or claim to promote) beneficial insects in your yard. Some structures in the garden have been proven to aid organic gardens in a variety of ways. Most notable and obvious is keeping honeybees to promote pollination of fruit... Continue Reading →
