VIDEO - CBS "The Early Show" The Good, The Bad & The Buggy! with William Moss, Master Gardener
07/01/2010
Summer is the prime time for insect pests (the bad guys) in the yard and garden. Mosquitoes and ticks feast on us, and the garden also can have problems. Aphids suck the life out of the tomatoes. Japanese beetles decimate the roses. Not only can garden pest damage fruits and flowers, they can spread diseases that kill entire plants. Fortunately, there are lots of green, sustainable options available to protect our selves, crops, and landscapes without degrading the environment or harming beneficial wildlife.
Repelling Pests
The best way to handle pests is to keep them out of your yard in the first place. Inspect your flowers and veggies closely before bringing them home, and add a variety of herbs. Rosemary, thyme, chamomile, sage, lavender, etc… are offensive to many garden pests and biting insects. Plant them in ground or in containers near seating areas. Herbs have the extra benefit of being both ornamental and edible. However herbs have a limited range and typically you are going to need more coverage. Fortunately, there are OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) approved and natural products that work well. You don’t have to poison yourself just to fight bugs. Safer offers Grub Killer that repel adult beetles from an entire area while killing the grubs. As always, follow the directions for best results.
Green Insecticides
Sometimes you don’t want to repel a bug; you want to kill it. Even then choose products that aren’t going to harm you or the habitat. Look for OMRI products approved for organic gardening to keep your landscape as healthy as possible. Remember the goal is not to have an insect-free yard. Many insects are fascinating, friendly, and fun to have around, like butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, and lightning bugs. You can use “green” insecticides (follow the directions) without hurting them or other beneficial insects. Remember to spray underneath the leaves where most pests hide.
Beneficial Insects
These are the good guys that eat the bad pests. Ladybugs and lacewings are voracious aphid eaters. Parasitic wasps are tiny but effective caterpillar killers. Praying mantis are general hunters and will eat anything they can catch including mosquitoes, grasshoppers, and beetles.
Beneficial insects are becoming a more popular gardening tool. They are available at garden centers and online. Using them is a fun way to involve kids in gardening and the outdoors. Children can learn about ecology and the food chain as they release ladybugs and watch them hunt the aphids and mites. (Check out www.williammoss.tv for videos on ladybugs and pollinators.)
With a little planning it is easy to keep the bad guys from bugging you and still be green, healthy, and natural.
pests hide.
