View Full Version : Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 08:54 AM
For crawling, chewing bugs in the garden - boy have I got the answer for them...
Get yourself some whole cloves, bayleaf, crushed chili peppers, and some fresh or even granulated garlic. You now have the spices that will send the bugs packing! For earwigs and other creepy crawly critters, make a complete circle of torn pieces of bayleaf around the stem of your plant. The spices shouldn't touch the stem, but be pretty close. If the problem is severe, make the circle thicker.
On top of the pieces of bayleaf, or beside it, make another circle of the whole cloves which will deter ants and other bugs too.
Then add a thin layer of crushed chili peppers, and garlic, if you are really having a nuisance of a problem.
You must be on top of it the rest of the season, adding fresh spices once a week or every two weeks, depending on your results. You must also add new spices after it rains. It isn't enough to just throw some spice down and forget about it the rest of the season, because like anything, the spice loses it's potency over time and needs to be refreshed to be effective.
Not too sure about flying bugs, because they don't really bother my plants at all here. Putting some of the spices directly on the leaves can burn them. I would try a few cloves strewn about the leaves, just to get the smell going - maybe this could deter them. I would test one leaf first to see what effect the cloves have on it. I experiment all the time to see what works best.
I have 4 shrubs outside that are one of the bugs' favorites to munch on - Lycium Barbarum. If it weren't for my spices, I know they would be nothing but twigs! They are all growing completely untouched and unchewed because of the spices. I just love it. These shrubs to the bugs, are like steak to a lion, and they would have absolutely devoured them if I didn't do what I do.
Hope this advice helps you, because I've been doing it for years, with excellent results. Be consistent, and the bugs don't stand a chance.
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 08:56 AM
Snails, Caterpillars and Slugs:
I am told that putting a circle of crushed eggshells around the base of the plants will deter them because they don't like to crawl over the rough shells. Also adds a bit of slow-release calcium to the garden.
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 08:57 AM
As well...
Cinnamon is a natural antifungal remedy and it can assist in deterring fungus gnats, and it also helps to stop white fuzzy mold growth on top of the soil.
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 08:59 AM
Some of my extra information copied from another thread of the same topic...
Forget about commercial pesticides!
: O
Here's what to do about your aphid problem...
Get yourself a mist bottle filled with dish soapy water and spray the entire plant from top to bottom - getting the top as well as the undersides of the leaves, and stem and branches too.
Let the soapy mixture sit on the plant for 5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with a hard spray of water. Repeat in about 8-10 hours. This will rid them.
To prevent them from returning and building up, you must shower the plants 2-3 times a week until they see that you are not going to give up and they will move somewhere else. Consistency is the key. Sometimes daily showers are needed, if they are a real problem.
The regular showers will blast the few buggers that are trying to build up again right off the plant! They never have a chance to take over because you are always coming at them with water. Helps with mites too.
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 09:01 AM
Did you know you can buy lady bugs in large quantities, as well as other beneficial insects, and release them onto your plants to help rid the bad bugs?
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 09:01 AM
Please allow me to share my personal experience with commercial insecticides...
In a nut shell, they cost a whole lot of money, do a whole lot of damage, and still don't rid the problem entirely - sending you back to the store repeatedly, to shell out more money!
: O
Using natural deterrents such as the ones I described above, are far less expensive, far more effective over the long run, and wont damage your plants or soil. Do not waste time or money shelling out for insecticides, when dish soap will kill aphids just as effectively.
Plants that are susceptable to mites, aphids, or whitefly, should be showered once or twice weekly to prevent infestation from returning. In fact there is no better bug ridder or deterrant than a simple consistent hard spray of water! It will blast the bugs right off your plants. Be sure to spray the undersides of the leaves most especially, because this is where bugs tend to take up residence.
Keeping bugs at bay, is an ongoing process. Even pesticides do not prevent bugs from returning. I am as relentless as the bugs are, with my showering, dish soap, and spice concoctions. Frankly, bugs are a thing of the past for me, both indoors and out.
Hope you guys will try some of my tips and see for yourself. Just remember to be consistent and you will win the battle. It might not be easy, but it works.
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 09:03 AM
I even grow peppers and tomatoes indoors in Winter when bugs can be a real problem for plants, especially with no beneficial insects to thin the bad ones out. You won't find any bugs on my indoor plants, but I used to deal with them constantly.
I was always rushing to some greenhouse to buy the latest bug spray. Spent tons of money, but the buggers returned eventually. They can even build up a tolerance to some of the sprays.
I am just trying to show that there are other alternatives to using chemical sprays, and much less expensive ones as well.
: )
guerich
09-04-2009, 09:04 AM
I use castor seed to keep moles and voles out of certain areas.:ha::ha::ha::ha::ha:
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 09:04 AM
The choice is easy in wanting to be rid of them yes, but you don't need chemical sprays to do it. Here they are banned, and I hope they are everywhere soon.
Homemade sprays of garlic and chili peppers, with shavings of ivory soap is also a powerful killer of pests. Just be sure to rince very thoroughly with clear water after spraying.
Rubbing alcohol too, can rid many insects that are taking up residence on your plant leaves,
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 09:06 AM
More of my information...
If the one soapy shower doesn't work to rid them and you see them back within an 8-10 hour period, then it's time to give another soapy shower again, and so on.
Once you have rid them completely, be sure to shower with hard blasts of water as often as needed to keep them from returning. Check the leaves with a fine tooth comb, to make sure they are all gone from your plant.
If you are consistent and regular, they will never have an opportunity to build back up repeatedly. Again, be sure to get the undersides of the leaves most especialy because this is where a lot of the bugs are. Sometimes too when you're showering, you can use your fingers to go over the leaves and new shoots that aphids are clinging to and rub them off. Between your fingers and the hard spray of water, it is easy to make your plant completely bug and egg free. Once their off, it is even easier to prevent their return using nothing but consistent sprays of water.
I've been practicing these methods for years now and just I cringe when I hear of other people having the same problems that I used to have, and turning to expensive and half of the time useless, chemical pesticides! I know you will never have to buy a bottle of that crap again if you just take the time to shower your plants on an on-going basis.
They will grow better too because they like to be refreshed and have their leaves clean. I used to have mites everywhere, and aphids galore, to the point where I was spending 50 bucks a week on bottles of insecticides to spray my many plants with. It was absolutely ridiculous, and now that I know what I know, I refuse to spend even one dollar on them.
Just recently, they have been banned from Ontario, but I could care less because I have no use for them anyway and can protect my plants without them. You guys can too.
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 09:08 AM
Gonna use my chrysanthemums this year and make my own pyrethrin spray...
: )
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI0982.jpg
Richard
09-04-2009, 09:50 AM
Gonna use my chrysanthemums this year and make my own pyrethrum spray...
Unfortunately you won't find any significant amount of pyrethrins in flowers from the genus Chrysanthemum. Instead, you need to grow the more potent "African chrysanthemums" Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Dalmatia, Dalmatian insect-flower) and/or Tanacetum coccineum (Persian Daisy, Painted Daisy).
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 09:57 AM
Funny, I am growing those too!
: O
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI0985.jpg
bencelest
09-04-2009, 10:07 AM
Some of my extra information copied from another thread of the same topic...
Forget about commercial pesticides!
: O
Here's what to do about your aphid problem...
Get yourself a mist bottle filled with dish soapy water and spray the entire plant from top to bottom - getting the top as well as the undersides of the leaves, and stem and branches too.
Let the soapy mixture sit on the plant for 5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with a hard spray of water. Repeat in about 8-10 hours. This will rid them.
To prevent them from returning and building up, you must shower the plants 2-3 times a week until they see that you are not going to give up and they will move somewhere else. Consistency is the key. Sometimes daily showers are needed, if they are a real problem.
The regular showers will blast the few buggers that are trying to build up again right off the plant! They never have a chance to take over because you are always coming at them with water. Helps with mites too.
: )
Thank you for the tip HBL.
I am having aphid problem now wit one of my citrus Clemenule. I'll try your method.
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 10:11 AM
Great Bencelest, but don't forget too...
If you are consistent and regular, they will never have an opportunity to build back up repeatedly. Again, be sure to get the undersides of the leaves most especialy because this is where a lot of the bugs are. Sometimes too when you're showering, you can use your fingers to go over the leaves and new shoots that aphids are clinging to and rub them off. Between your fingers and the hard spray of water, it is easy to make your plant completely bug and egg free. Once their off, it is even easier to prevent their return using nothing but consistent sprays of water.
: )
Richard
09-04-2009, 10:18 AM
Funny, I am growing those too!
Great! From each 12 gallons of compressed (smashed) fresh flower heads you should be able to still (wood-alcohol setup) about 6 fluid ounces of essential oils. These oils will contain about 0.1% pyrethrins. The mixing rate for application is 1 to 2 fluid ounces per pint of water.
Alternately, you can obtain a 40 oz bottle of "Bayer Powerforce Multi-Insect Killer" from a nursery for about US $15. It contains 0.75% solution of the pyrethrin "Cyfluthrin" and the rest is inert ingredients. The mixing rate for it is 1 to 2 fluid ounces per gallon of water.
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 10:22 AM
Thank you for the information, Richard.
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 12:08 PM
Lettuce earwig tip...
I have never been able to completely deter earwigs from taking up residence in head lettuce. They don't eat much, but instead seem to use up the heading lettuce as a bunkhouse! If you have the same problem - here's what you can do...
As soon as you cut a head, put it in a bucket of cold water. Most of the earwigs will float out. You may find others hidden in the outer leaves, and they can easily be shaken off. Also putting pieces of bayleaf around the base of the lettuce will deter wigs too.
: )
CValentine
09-04-2009, 12:48 PM
Thank you HBL!!
Am subscribed to this thread!
Appreciate you spending the time! :) ~Cheryl
Richard
09-04-2009, 12:49 PM
The darn earwigs hatch directly from eggs into nymphs and never go through a larvae stage. So your lettuce heads are being used for brooding houses ...
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2009, 01:44 PM
Not anymore - the bastards!
: O
Richard
09-04-2009, 03:05 PM
Not anymore - the bastards!
: O
Ha Ha! :ha:
They like the controller boxes in my orchard. I spray the boxes about every two months with Cyfluthrin. Instant death. However, in two months there's a whole new thriving colony :D
The Hollyberry Lady
05-26-2010, 12:28 AM
Well, it's that time once again, eh? :discocrazed:
I recently picked up a large bag of chili peppers, bay leaf, and whole cloves, in preparation for the bug season...I mean gardening season ahead. :ha:
I find mites are bad this year and I'm showering my plants twice as much. Aphids are persitent too but nothing a little dish soapy water can't handle.
: )
cucurbits
05-26-2010, 06:13 PM
Thank you for the tips. I will try the bay leaves around my plants to deter the earwigs.
The Hollyberry Lady
05-26-2010, 07:01 PM
Great, Curcurbits! :03:
Be sure to make a complete circle of torn pieces of bayleaf all around your plant. If there are a lot of wigs, make the circle fairly thick (2"). Add more in a couple weeks, or after it rains. This should send them packing!
Good luck! :ha:
: )
Richard
05-28-2010, 01:09 AM
I have earwigs in my Bay leaf plants.
The Hollyberry Lady
05-28-2010, 07:11 AM
If this is true Richard, it's highly unusual. Bay leaves when cracked release a powerful aroma that turns earwigs completely off.
Don't use the leaves from your tree Richard (save them for cooking), but buy some store bought ones and place broken pieces in a complete circle all around the base of your Laurel's.
: )
Richard
05-29-2010, 07:51 PM
If this is true Richard, it's highly unusual. Bay leaves when cracked release a powerful aroma that turns earwigs completely off.
: )
That might be true of the earwig strain in your area. I operate a nursery and have at least a 1/2 dozen bay leaf plants in 1 and 5 gallon pots. The earwigs in my area show no issue with burrowing in the pots, climbing on the plants, etc. with or without broken leafs scattered about.
A similiar situation exists for the one or more variety of slugs we have here. They will repeatedly crawl over copper strips un-affected.
The Hollyberry Lady
05-30-2010, 10:25 AM
Interesting. So what do you do to control them, Richard?
: )
Richard
05-30-2010, 08:10 PM
For slugs and snails, I use "Sluggo" (iron phosphate pellets) which are beneficial to plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish but deadly to mollusks.
For earwigs and other minor insect pests I use Evergreen EC-60 -- a certified organic pesticide containing 6% distilled extract of African Chrysanthemums (pyrethrin) and 60% distilled extract of sassafras (piperonyl butoxide), plus water and a plant oil surfactant. I don't mind having a few bugs around, and in fact a few earwigs in your garden is a good thing. But typically every three to four weeks I notice the population growing and spray all of my nursery plants (over 4,000).
rich985
05-30-2010, 08:24 PM
A great product I've used in the past is Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth. It's a natural powdered rock that does an amazing job at pest control. The powder absorbs lipids from the exoskeleton of insects and dehydrates them, and quickly die from water pressure deficiency.
It's also safe for humans and animals.
Richard
05-30-2010, 09:52 PM
A great product I've used in the past is Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth. It's a natural powdered rock that does an amazing job at pest control. The powder absorbs lipids from the exoskeleton of insects and dehydrates them, and quickly die from water pressure deficiency.
It's also safe for humans and animals.
In California and many other states, Diatomaceous Earth is considered an environmental hazard and illegal to apply as a pesticide.
sunfish
05-30-2010, 09:58 PM
Diatomaceous Earth, Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth, Perma-Guard Wholesale Priced (http://www.earthworkshealth.com/)
rich985
05-30-2010, 10:11 PM
Richard, I'm talking about Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth, which is EPA approved against indoor and outdoor insects. It's also USDA approved as an anti-caking agent for animal feed and FDA approved for internal and external use. Food Grade is actually used for animals to eliminate hookworms and also for human consumption, it is perfectly safe for the environment.
Richard
05-31-2010, 11:00 AM
In California and many other states, Diatomaceous Earth is considered an environmental hazard and illegal to apply as a pesticide.
Richard, I'm talking about Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth, which is EPA approved against indoor and outdoor insects. It's also USDA approved as an anti-caking agent for animal feed and FDA approved for internal and external use. Food Grade is actually used for animals to eliminate hookworms and also for human consumption, it is perfectly safe for the environment.
I'm also talking about Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth, which I have a state license to purchase but I am forbidden from selling in California and several other states as a pesticides, due to laws citing environmental hazards.
The Hollyberry Lady
07-22-2010, 10:18 AM
Hope everyone's gardens are well and not over-run with bugs! :waving:
If you want to grow low maintenance plants that are ignored by mostly all pests...
Marigolds and Geraniums are excellent choices that also provide constant color until frost. I think I'm going to grow more of both next year because this season they're really doing superbly for me with no pest problems whatsoever.
:woohoonaner:
: )
notrecruiting
01-21-2011, 10:54 PM
since we've started our "gheto garden" alot of our friends assume that we've got green thumbs and have brought us some seeds to sprout and dying plants to revive. One of the dying plants (infested gift in my gallery) was brought to me with some critters in the soil. I didn't even know they were there. I transplanted it from the container she brought it in and added some of my bagged potting soil. One day when watering, the soil started moving....ew. I'm hoping that these burrowing beetles are beneficial, but from the way the plant looked, I'm thinking they eat roots and are not a good thing to have in my container. The plant actually has some new growth and seems to be doing better in the bigger container after some pruning. Anyone know what these little black/brown beetle looking burrowers are?
notrecruiting
01-21-2011, 11:08 PM
Oh I kinda hope that they are not beneficial, or if they are, then hopefully the soapy veg oil water spray I used didn't kill them all. I haven't been watching too close, but the last time I watered there was still movement. I've only sprayed one time and it obviously didn't kill all of them if it did anything at all. I think I'll wait to spray again until I'm sure they're bad guys. And what about springtails? Bad, good, or neutral? Sherry, with all the showering of your plants don't they end up overwatered? I'm afraid I would end up with a huge fungus problem, although I think I tend to overwater anyway as is. Thanks in advance for any input.
The Hollyberry Lady
01-22-2011, 01:07 AM
Good Lord I'd be worried about those beatles in your soil, and I'd get rid of them, and fast!
Try pouring hot boiling water throughout the soil, without the plant in it obviously, and this could kill the soil critters and make things sterile.
No my plants are never over-watered because I lay them down in my bathtub and only shower the leaves. The problems come when I don't shower my plants, not when I do. ;)
It's best to start with a good sterile mix indoors, to avoid bugs in the soil that can harm your plant or it's roots.
Good Luck!
: )
notrecruiting
01-22-2011, 02:25 AM
Hmmm, I don't think I could do the boiling water thing. They were in the roots of the plant when I put it in the new pot....I know this cause it's the only plant that has them and I've used the bagged potting soil in all my plants. She gave me a buggy plant and I just hope they don't spread to my other plants. Any other suggestions? I over watered already last night and have fungus now....I put cinnamon on it as I saw one of your other posts mention that as a fugus cure. While I was spicing up my soil I added some cayenne powder thinking that might get the beetles. Hope it survives.....I'm a newb. I guess I'll find out soon enough. Like I said it's got new growth after the pruning so...
The Hollyberry Lady
01-22-2011, 03:04 AM
If it was mine, I'd take the plant out of that pot and shake off all the infested soil and beatles, and re-pot it into a sterile medium which can be acquired from most greenhouses.
I am fanatical about dirty soil, and only use the best. I have enough bugs to worry about when my plants are in clean soil, so I like to control as much as I can and keep the pest populations to a minimum.
It's not a good idea to keep that infested soil around as it could easily spread to other plants and pots. :eek: Then you'd have a real huge problem that you don't want. :(
As for fungus...
Scrape it off first, then apply the cinnamon. Water from the bottom until Spring when you can open the window again and get some air circulation going on. ;)
: )
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2020, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.