Despite headlines of the past year detailing misuse of pesticides, most gardeners realize that some chemical control of plant pests is still necessary for plant health. If the headlines scare us into: … that is all to the good. But suppose the headlines scare us into giving up all garden use of chemicals and cause … Read more
Efficient spray equipment and power-packed pest controls are ours for the asking, yet despite them, we spend more effort protecting our plants from pests than our forefathers ever did. Many of our pest problems have been solved thanks to technical knowledge and skill. But there are many reasons why we can’t wipe out all pests … Read more
Whether you apply insecticides and fungicides as sprays, dust, mists, or aerosols, all parts of the plant must be covered for effective control. Fine Cone-Shaped Spray A fine cone-shaped spray under constant pressure is best, and a tong spray gun with an adjustable nozzle that can be turned up enables you to wet the undersides … Read more
Every home garden area in the United States harbors, on average, some 10,000 to 20,000 individual insect pests during the summer. This is more understandable when we consider that one single insect egg hatching on a tree can multiply into millions of insects within a few months or that one pair of insects can produce … Read more
Most garden diseases are caused by invisible agents — fungi, bacteria, and viruses. We cannot see them without a microscope, but we can see the diseases they cause, such as leaf spots, blights, and root or stem decays. If you have not yet seen evidence of the more common diseases in your garden, state and … Read more
The alert observer of the out-of-doors soon learns to expect the unexpected, but it. At first glance, it is difficult to believe that “pine cones” are growing on pussy willow twigs. Only careful observation will determine that the “cones” occasionally seen on the tips of willow twigs are not cones but are terminal buds that … Read more
Now that the leaves have fallen, examine bare stems of lilacs for oyster-shell-shaped scale infests several kinds of shrubs and trees and is especially fond of lilacs, Lombardy poplar, and ash. Heavily Infested Plants Heavily-infested plants are gradually weakened and may be killed if control measures are not followed. This scale is difficult to control … Read more
What is a DIY Bordeaux fungicide? For starters, there are three kinds of fungicide out there. Chemical fungicides are fast-acting but can harm beneficial plants and insects, with the risk of some plants building up a tolerance if one recipe is used too often. Organic fungicides, such as neem oil, take longer to work and … Read more
Among the many different kinds of organisms known to cause plant diseases, nematodes or eelworms are the least known to gardeners. They are, nevertheless, important disease-producers, and are frequently the cause of stunted growth, leaf might, and, occasionally, even death of many economic crops, trees, shrubs, and ornamentals. Small Size of Nematodes One reason why … Read more
There are all sorts, shapes, sizes, and prices of sprayers and dust guns to select from, as you know. Some apply tile control materials dry as dust, others wet as a spray. Each one has its devotees. Whether you dust or spray is like deciding whether to buy a box of pancake mix or mix … Read more