New Here

Kenny1948 · 10-13-2009, 10:27 AM

Hi,
I'm new to this forum. I live in Bayonet Point Florida, where they arrest you if you don't keep your lawn green.

I moved here from the Northwest, and believe me all the horror stories I heard are true! I find gardening in this chemical and pesticide happy place, difficult at best.

I am hoping I can find some people here who share my desire to try and garden with earth friendly products, and not with toxic chemicals. Right now I have a terrible spider mite infestation on my lawn. Don't know what to do, as most things I could use cannot be sprayed in direct sunlight. Well guess what? This is Florida, and we get direct sunlight all day. What can I do? Everything here burns up. I have never lived in such a place! Then we are expected to have a lush and green lawn no matter what.

Richard · 10-13-2009, 10:34 AM

Welcome!

Many fertilizer concentrates are better for the earth than the so-called earth-friendly variety. Check out this article: Beer Is A Synthetic Pesticide.

cherokee_greg · 10-13-2009, 10:47 AM

welcome from California

LilRaverBoi · 10-13-2009, 12:41 PM

Welcome to the site! I've never heard of spider mites infesting a yard before...thought they were only prevalent on house plants and not outdoors. Guess not! Enjoy the site...sure you'll find plenty of great people here to share your love of plants with!

sbl · 10-13-2009, 01:07 PM

Welcome! You can have a nice garden here in Florida without toxic chemicals, if you really know what a toxic chemical is. You are obviously using horticultural oil, which is good for many of the pest--you can apply it late in the evening or early in the morning. Lime sulfur and soap are also useful against spier mites. I do use pesticides like synthetic pyrethroids, but rarely. The main reason I avoid pesticides that leave a residue is to avoid killing beneficials. I use soap a lot, because it only kills what I put it on. You can buy beneficials like lady bugs (they will eat mites). Learn to recognize good bugs, like assasin bugs, lacewings as well as their larvae.

CValentine · 10-13-2009, 01:19 PM

Diatomaceous Earth can be used on dry lawn to kill those nasty critters...and slugs, snails...etc...
I'm with sbl on the use of good bugs too!

Richard is a plethora of information on all things green & beautiful also!!
There's not much regarding Fert. & Pesticides he doesn't know about!!

Have a great week Kenny & Welcome!! Hope to see you here alot on the Org!

~Cheryl

Kenny1948 · 10-13-2009, 01:49 PM

Thanks to all of you for the hearty welcome.

Regarding my spider mite lawn. I had never heard of spider mites infesting a lawn before, but that is what it appears to be. There are webs among the blades of grass. This all happened overnight. At first I thought someone had sabotaged my lawn with weed killer, as it looks as if the grass has been burned. However on close examination one can see the tight webs all through the grass. This grass looked beautiful, and had finally begun to spread. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it yesterday. It has gotten worse today, also as soon as I started digging about I started itching. A sure sign of spider mites.

I was an interior plant tech for over twenty six years. So I pretty much am familiar with pests and chemicals. Just that here in Florida they seem to use stuff, we couldn't use up in Washington State. I heard some lady say she uses Kelthane! That stuff was banned years ago I thought. Avid likewise.

I guess we live and learn. I simply don't want to kill all the krittters in the neighborhood. Lots of squirrels and unfortunately cats that like to chase them. I had a pet that was poisoned by a neighbors overuse of pesticides once. Don't want to be the same way.
That was what I meant by using "toxic chemicals". I also have my own medical problems, due to exposure over the years. Don't care to add to them.

sbl · 10-13-2009, 03:00 PM

I agree with you on the kelthane--much of it is contaminated with DDT--way to persistient for me. Like you I have never heard of spider mites on lawns-- might want to take a sample to your extension agent or somewhere to get the pest identified.

Eric · 10-13-2009, 03:46 PM

Welcome aboard, Kenny

! Looks like you're already getting some great info to help with your problems. Not much I could add. It's a very friendly & info-packed forum. If ya have any questions about using the forum, just ask.
Good Luck with your lawn!

Btw, remind me never to move to Bayonet Point.

10-13-2009, 10:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kenny1948 Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2 BananaBucks : 3,597 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	New Here Hi, I'm new to this forum. I live in Bayonet Point Florida, where they arrest you if you don't keep your lawn green. I moved here from the Northwest, and believe me all the horror stories I heard are true! I find gardening in this chemical and pesticide happy place, difficult at best. I am hoping I can find some people here who share my desire to try and garden with earth friendly products, and not with toxic chemicals. Right now I have a terrible spider mite infestation on my lawn. Don't know what to do, as most things I could use cannot be sprayed in direct sunlight. Well guess what? This is Florida, and we get direct sunlight all day. What can I do? Everything here burns up. I have never lived in such a place! Then we are expected to have a lush and green lawn no matter what.

10-13-2009, 10:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 994,995 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,537 Times in 4,719 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: New Here Welcome! Many fertilizer concentrates are better for the earth than the so-called earth-friendly variety. Check out this article: Beer Is A Synthetic Pesticide. __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

10-13-2009, 10:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
cherokee_greg Love those bananas cherokee_greg's Photo Gallery Location: Fresno,CA Find me on the map! Zone: zone 9 Name: Greg Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,357 BananaBucks : 382,610 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 8,066 Times Was Thanked 3,946 Times in 1,665 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 335 Times	Re: New Here welcome from California __________________ Greg zone 9 Fresno,CA http://gardenjot.com/garden/view/1980/Gregs-Banana-Farm

10-13-2009, 12:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 160,225 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: New Here Welcome to the site! I've never heard of spider mites infesting a yard before...thought they were only prevalent on house plants and not outdoors. Guess not! Enjoy the site...sure you'll find plenty of great people here to share your love of plants with! __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

10-13-2009, 01:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
sbl sbl's Photo Gallery Location: Pensacola, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8/9 Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,013 BananaBucks : 91,907 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 177 Times Was Thanked 733 Times in 395 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 154 Times	Re: New Here Welcome! You can have a nice garden here in Florida without toxic chemicals, if you really know what a toxic chemical is. You are obviously using horticultural oil, which is good for many of the pest--you can apply it late in the evening or early in the morning. Lime sulfur and soap are also useful against spier mites. I do use pesticides like synthetic pyrethroids, but rarely. The main reason I avoid pesticides that leave a residue is to avoid killing beneficials. I use soap a lot, because it only kills what I put it on. You can buy beneficials like lady bugs (they will eat mites). Learn to recognize good bugs, like assasin bugs, lacewings as well as their larvae.

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10-13-2009, 01:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
CValentine Prolific Epistemologist CValentine's Photo Gallery Location: Bell County, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Che Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 3,846 BananaBucks : 224,687 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 7,127 Times Was Thanked 1,782 Times in 625 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 362 Times	Re: New Here Diatomaceous Earth can be used on dry lawn to kill those nasty critters...and slugs, snails...etc... I'm with sbl on the use of good bugs too! Richard is a plethora of information on all things green & beautiful also!! There's not much regarding Fert. & Pesticides he doesn't know about!! Have a great week Kenny & Welcome!! Hope to see you here alot on the Org! ~Cheryl __________________ When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix

10-13-2009, 01:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
Kenny1948 Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2 BananaBucks : 3,597 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: New Here Thanks to all of you for the hearty welcome. Regarding my spider mite lawn. I had never heard of spider mites infesting a lawn before, but that is what it appears to be. There are webs among the blades of grass. This all happened overnight. At first I thought someone had sabotaged my lawn with weed killer, as it looks as if the grass has been burned. However on close examination one can see the tight webs all through the grass. This grass looked beautiful, and had finally begun to spread. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it yesterday. It has gotten worse today, also as soon as I started digging about I started itching. A sure sign of spider mites. I was an interior plant tech for over twenty six years. So I pretty much am familiar with pests and chemicals. Just that here in Florida they seem to use stuff, we couldn't use up in Washington State. I heard some lady say she uses Kelthane! That stuff was banned years ago I thought. Avid likewise. I guess we live and learn. I simply don't want to kill all the krittters in the neighborhood. Lots of squirrels and unfortunately cats that like to chase them. I had a pet that was poisoned by a neighbors overuse of pesticides once. Don't want to be the same way. That was what I meant by using "toxic chemicals". I also have my own medical problems, due to exposure over the years. Don't care to add to them.

10-13-2009, 03:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
sbl sbl's Photo Gallery Location: Pensacola, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8/9 Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,013 BananaBucks : 91,907 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 177 Times Was Thanked 733 Times in 395 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 154 Times	Re: New Here I agree with you on the kelthane--much of it is contaminated with DDT--way to persistient for me. Like you I have never heard of spider mites on lawns-- might want to take a sample to your extension agent or somewhere to get the pest identified.

10-13-2009, 03:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
Eric Banned Eric's Photo Gallery Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2,759 BananaBucks : 184,695 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,364 Times Was Thanked 856 Times in 421 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 163 Times	Re: New Here Welcome aboard, Kenny ! Looks like you're already getting some great info to help with your problems. Not much I could add. It's a very friendly & info-packed forum. If ya have any questions about using the forum, just ask. Good Luck with your lawn! Btw, remind me never to move to Bayonet Point.

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