Posts Tagged ‘insects’
Leaf-Footed Bugs – On Tomatoes
Q: These insects are attacking my tomatoes. Please tell me what they are and how I can get rid of them. A: You’re seeing leaf-footed bugs. These insects are close kin to stinkbugs and have the same piercing-sucking mouthparts. They...
Tomato – Whitefly Control
Q: I have a problem bug that has been killing my tomato plants and caused them to have black fungus. The same insects have destroyed my garden every year. A: Whiteflies are having a feast at your expense! This prolific...
Cottony Camellia Scale – On Holly
Q: I was trimming up one of my holly plants and noticed these furry white blobs on the underside of some of the leaves. Can you tell me what it is and or if it is harmful to the plant?...
Peach – Japanese Beetle Control
Q: We have a peach tree that was covered in beautiful blooms. However, when the peaches ripen Japanese beetles cover each peach. I don’t like using insecticides but what can I do? A: This is why peaches are so hard...
Crape Myrtles – Protection
Q: At the end of last summer, we noticed our crape myrtles were covered with a black soot-like powder. It even discolored the pinestraw beneath. When we pruned back the trees recently we still noticed it. How should we treat?...
Yaupon Holly – Psyllid Gall
Q: My 7′ yaupon holly has been getting these weird things for two years now. They stunt the growth by taking over the new leaves. When you cut open the “pod”, there are tiny little light green bugs inside, like...
Pyrethum Plants – Will It Harm Bees?
Q: I am planning to grow pyrethrum plants in my garden to cut down on pesticide use. Do these plants harm bees and diminish pollination? A: Pyrethrum insecticide is produced from a particular chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium. A bug-killing dust can...
Strawberries – Protecting Against Bugs
Q: I have little bugs eating all my strawberries. When I disturb them they roll up into a ball. A: Sowbugs (roly-polies) are not usually a pest but they can be a problem on soft fruit that is close to...
Vegetable and Herb Garden – Available Seeds
Q: I am tackling a large new vegetable and herb garden. I want your opinion on the different varieties of seeds available, particularly heirloom seeds. A: You can find heirloom vegetable seed locally and online, but remember that there are...
Squash Protection
Q: My squash needs your help! Where can I buy sabadilla dust for squash bugs and borers? A: Sabadilla dust is derived from the seeds of Schoenocaulon officinale, a South American lily. It was once sold as a botanical insecticide...
Oak Sap – Causes
Q: For the past two years, the water oak over our deck has been raining sap in the spring. It creates a horrible sticky mess that turns black and dirty. What causes this? A: I think you have lecanium scale...
Creeping Fig – Brick Decoration
Q: I would like to grow creeping fig to give the brick on our house a more “aged” look. Is there any problem with this? A: I’m not a big fan of fig (or ivy) growing on a wall. The...
Pepper Plant – Crinkled Leaves
Q: My pepper plant has very crinkled leaves. Could you tell me what’s going on? A: Four things can cause distorted pepper leaves: sucking insects (aphids, whiteflies), cold soil, excess moisture, and herbicide damage. If you don’t see insects underneath...
Earwigs – Getting Rid of Them
Q: How can I rid my yard of earwigs? They are at my house by the thousands. A: Earwigs mostly feed on plant debris but if numbers build large enough they will consume living plants. The damage isn’t considered major,...
Rose Buds – Protecting and Treating
Q: Many of my rose flowers look like the buds are being eaten before they completely open. Just pink petals around a gooey brown center. A: I think you have an infestation of tobacco budworm. Despite its name, this caterpillar...
Bagworms – Finding Pheromone Lures
Q: Can you tell me where to find pheromone lures for bagworms? Our Leyland cypresses are covered A: As with Japanese beetle traps, bagworm lures are more useful for monitoring a pest population than for controlling it. There will always...
Ladybugs – Where to Buy
Q: Any suggestions on where I can find ladybugs for sale? I want to stay away from chemicals as much as I can A: In general, buying and releasing ladybugs is not effective for controlling insects. They tend to disperse...
Tomatoe Plants – Protecting Against Worms
Q: I discovered a worm on my tomato plants so I used an insecticide recipe I found online, a mixture of water, rubbing alcohol and dishwashing soap. The next day, my tomatoes had black streaks in the stalks, the leaves...
