Posts Tagged ‘insects’
Oak Trees- Protecting From Beetles
Q: Not long ago my neighbor lost a hundred year old oak tree. The problem was diagnosed as ambrosia beetles. Is there any way I can protect trees in my adjacent yard? A: I recently attended a lecture presented by...
Container Gardening – Reusing Soil
Q: I did container gardening this year and used a lot of potting soil for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, spinach and romaine. Should I discard all of the potting soil or can I use some of it next year? A: Two...
Vegetable Garden – Natural Insect Killer
Q: Can you suggest something natural we could use in our vegetable garden when insects begin to eat holes in the leaves. We do not want to use insecticides. A: In my opinion, spinosad (Green Light Spinosad) is an excellent...
Aphids – On Tomato
Q: My tomatoes are covered with aphids. What in the world can I do to control them? A: Aphids damage tomatoes in two ways: they suck sap from the stem and leaves and they excrete honeydew, which covers nearby plant...
Hummingbirds – Eating Insects
Q: While watching hummingbirds with a friend, I saw a female bird eating what I call gnats. My friend said that hummingbirds eat nothing but nectar. Who’s right? A: Hummingbirds do eat insects. Nectar (or sugar water) supplies them with...
Winter Red Holly – Pollinator
Q: Will you please clarify for me the proper pollinator for my ‘Winter Red’ holly? ‘Jim Dandy’ was recommended as the male pollinator, but after more research I planted ‘Apollo’ in its place. Now I read that the proper pollinator...
Marbled Orb Weaving Spider – Identification
Q: My daughter and I found this guy in our yard. We’ve never seen a spider quite like him. He was pretty evil looking! A: Evil is in the eye of the beholder! To her boyfriends, this marbled orb weaver...
Roach Bait – Recipe
Q: I need a recipe for roach bait. I have tried the boric acid, bacon grease, onion, dough recipe but wondered if there isn’t a better one. I’ve tried bait stations but they didn’t work. A: The bait stations from...
Beautyberry plant – General Information
Q: While visiting my daughter in Texas I noticed beautyberry plants growing wild in the area. My daughter has two beautiful ones in her back yard and she thought they were trash plants. Could you give me some information so...
Mosquitoes – Removing Breeding Areas
Q: My neighbor’s backyard is a marsh and a horrible mosquito breeding ground. We neighbors have been talking about helping her clear out the bamboo and English ivy so it would benefit all of us in summer. Do you have...
Biting Flies (Midges) (No-See-Um’s) – In Atlanta?
Q: Your website says we don’t have No-See-Um’s in the Atlanta area, then what the heck seemingly invisible bug is biting me? I have a nice Emerald zoysiagrass lawn that seems to be infested with something that bites the fool...
Bats – Droppings
Q: I am curious about some animal droppings that are on my driveway and front porch. They are dry and full of nothing but bug wings it seems. Could it be an armadillo or a skunk? A: I’m thinking of...
Imperial Moth – Identification
Q: I can’t find any info as to what this visitor to my deck is. I am thinking he fell from either the pine tree or the black gum tree that hang over my deck. I am guessing the black...
Halofenozide – When to Apply
Q: I bought a product containing halofenozide to kill white grubs, hoping it would reduce our infestation of Japanese beetles. The instructions for application say that timing of the application is important, but then says to contact your local expert...
Peach Trees – Peach Scab
Q: Please tell me what to do with peach trees this time of year. Last year our trees were loaded with peaches but as they ripened they became covered with black blotches and were wormy. How can we prevent this?...
Soil – Reusing From Container
Q: I have many containers on my deck. I have recently read that you should dispose of last season’s soil and sterilize the pots before planting for a new season. Is that really necessary? Some of my pots are huge!...
Tansy – Deterring Japanese Beetles
Q: I read in a book that tansy is good for deterring Japanese beetles. I have roses and other flowers that the beetles have a good lunch on for a few months. I don’t like to use sprays due to...
Termites – Effect of Lawn Chemicals On,
Q: Since termites are always in season in the south, I have a question. Are any of the typical lawn chemicals effective on subterranean or Formosan termites? A: Yes, the chemicals in several lawn and garden insecticides are used to...
