NOT FOUND: bugsn'.jpgWow, another vegetable season has come and almost gone. I’d really love to hear and share your experience, secrets and success, or if you encountered some challenges or veggie catastrophes. As we approach the end of summer, it seems we are all having the same problems; insects in the gardens, flies, problem spots and patches in our lawns and the yellowing of leaves. I’ve had many readers seeking help. So for the insects in the veggies stick with Sevin or Ortho Garden Max (ready to use) for the smaller gardens or spot treating.
For the organic farmers you can use Organocide. Organocide concentrate I’ve mentioned before and I still do. More bang for the buck, especially good for large gardens, 16 gallons for $14.00 you can use it on your entire property. This is safe to use up until the day of harvest. For the flies we have several options, however, the one I recommend for outside is the Disposable that you add water to. Just hang it 20 feet from the door and be sure to change it after 2-3 weeks. I don’t have to tell you why, you will know. Cigarette butt tea sprayed on structures, fences etc. will deter them (without an odor!) Nicotine is one of the strongest natural insecticides known to man. The Orkin man shared this with me years ago. For really bad fly and wasp problems peel the paper off a bunch of butts, fill a spray bottle with water and soak the butts to leach out the nicotine and make a tea kinda’ like my turd tea for veggies.
NOT FOUND: bugsn'2.jpgExciting for flies inside, I honestly want to encourage EVERYONE to get a couple carnivorous plants – yes “Venus Fly Traps “ or the pitcher plant. Just keep them moist. Insects are attracted to a nectar they put off and when they land on them they either get trapped by the teeth or they slide down the throat of the plant where they get stuck and liquefied by enzymes and become the plant’s next meal. Plus they are a lot of fun for the whole family. They were huge in the ‘70s and ‘80s. But then again so were the original Chia pets. Ha, Ha. Hold on - so was tye dye and polyester. Ok, I’ll stop. Seriously, the assorted insect eating plants are about $5.00 or less and I have them in an inside garden.
Problem spots in our lawns – if you have already used the granular fungicide for lawns and you still have problems, now try some ammonium sulfate. If you’re done with ammonium sulfate already, now try the fungus control. This is the process of elimination I have been helping many of you with. Sometimes it is hard to tell without me seeing if it is bugs/grubs or a fungus. If you have yet to try either, start with one then the other. Now is the perfect time to deep weed and dethatch again. Do this then overseed now before the winter comes. This way the lawn will already be established and protected from the elements by a mature root system. Remember a thick lawn is almost impenetrable against crabgrass and when crabgrass goes dormant our new lawn replaces it. I jumped ahead some but I wanted to prepare you. Yellowing of leaves, you be the judge if it is too much or not enough water. Are you deep soaking once a week? Are you giving your established lawn and plants one inch of water per week? Are the light and P.H. requirements being met? These are some things we need to check.
I got the first shipment of Tulip and Daffodil bulbs in while I was on vacation. And besides dedicating this month’s column to Lois, I’d like to apologize to her and to all of you for going on a week’s vacation.
You have all guilted me and made me feel loved loud and clear. Almost four years, same Home Depot, same garden and the same wonderful all of you. I needed some me time. Thank you for missing me. The rest of the winter bulbs should be arriving soon as well as veggies for our winter gardens. So hopefully we have our compost piles and bins extremely active with nematodes and microbial activity at this time. As the summer veggies die off remember they are good when plowed under. Good nitrogen source to impregnate the soil with.
Well ya’ll I gotta make my deadline this month so I will now close. In closing I wish to thank each of you for your ongoing concern and prayer for my mother-in-law, Donna Joy Lindsey, as she laid down to sleep on the 30th of June. May we add another angel to the heavens.
God Bless,
Your Plant Lady