Three gardens pests to watch for

(May 29, 2008) They outnumber us 200 million to one and they are waiting to eat everything in sight. In the last few decades we’ve been trying to win the war against garden pests with pesticides. It’s time to change our strategy.

The toxic garden
There is a growing body of research that links the use of pesticides with higher rates of cancer and diseases like leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Parkinson’s. Not only are pesticides harmful to children, pets and our wildlife, they also kills all the good bugs who make our garden healthier.

Fortunately there are natural controls for almost any pest out there that is expensive than pesticides and safer for everyone. Here’s three of the top destructive pests and natural ways to get them out of your garden.

APHIDS

Latin name: There are hundreds of varieties but more commonly known as plant lice.

Description: Small and soft bodied, pear-shaped, 2.54 mm (1/10 inch). Most common are green or black but can also be gray, brown, pink, red, yellow or lavender. All species have two tubes called cornicles extending from the back of their bodies. Amazing Insects has excellent pictures and facts on aphids.

Victims: They eat anything and everything. Some will stay on their host plants while others jump from plant to plant.

Control: Eradicate immediately. Fortify your soil and plants. Nasturtiums, alliums, petunias, anise, coriander, or garlic are repellents. Get rid of any sick or diseased plants and plant residue from cabbages. Ladybugs, lace wings, syrphid flies, spiders and soldier bugs as predators. The Bug Lady, Pest Control Canada and Richter’s are just a few of the many mail order businesses for ladybugs.

JAPANESE BEETLE

Latin Name: Popillia japonica

Description: Shiny, metallic green with copper brown wings about 9.5 mm (3/8-inch) in length. Always check the abdomen for white tufts under the wings and at the end of the abdomen since not all metallic beetles are this bug. The Federal Citizen Information Center in Pueblo, Colorado has an excellent fact sheet with pictures.

Victims: Feeds close to 300 species of plants, systematically defoliating its host plant. Favorites include roses, maples, elms, grapes and crab apples. They are most damaging in large numbers -- a few won’t hurt your garden.

Control: Once established they’re virtually impossible to completely get rid. Population control is your best strategy. Handpicking should be done in the morning when it's too damp and cold for them to fly away. Lay down plastic or a tarp and shake the beetles out of the plant or knock them into a jar of soapy water, starting at the top of plants. Larkspur is fatal attractant, borage can be used as a trap crop. Some gardeners have had luck using Beneficial nematode species Heterorhabdtis bacteriophora. Available from The Bug Lady.

SLUGS

Latin name: This is a huge species with many varieties. The most common garden slug is the yellow Arion distinctus or the gray Deroceras reticulatum.

Description: A snail without a shell. Comes in a variety of colours and sizes. All have a soft, slimy unsegmented bodies with a head that has a pair of upper tentacles bearing eyes. Find out more about these creepy crawler from The University of Florida, Department of Entomology

Victims: Anything that grows. This pest comes out at night to eat leaves, roots, stems and fruit leaving a sticky trail behind.

Control: Simplest control is to water in the morning so the garden is dry by evening. Put out beer in a saucer and let them die drunk. Lime, wood ash, hair irritate their skin while barriers of ropes, pine needles, gravel, crushed eggshells, cedar or oak bark are effective protection. Delphinium, foxglove, primrose or garlic will also repel them. Some gardeners have luck using copper screening, strips or bands. The tried and true method is to head out a night with a flash lights and drop them into salt water. Cats can also keep snails away.

With a bit of diligence and the right organic tools you can get rid of these unwanted guests!

Shelagh McNally is the editor of Green Living Online. She saves her beer for humans but does have an attack cat for the garden.




Tags: companion planting, gardening, gardens, pest controltag cloud.