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Old 09-04-2009, 08:54 AM   #1 (permalink)
 
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Default Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

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.



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Old 09-04-2009, 08:56 AM   #2 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

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.


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Old 09-04-2009, 08:57 AM   #3 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

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.


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Old 09-04-2009, 08:59 AM   #4 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

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.


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Old 09-04-2009, 09:01 AM   #5 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

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?


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Old 09-04-2009, 09:01 AM   #6 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

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.


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Old 09-04-2009, 09:03 AM   #7 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

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.


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Old 09-04-2009, 09:04 AM   #8 (permalink)
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

I use castor seed to keep moles and voles out of certain areas.
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Old 09-04-2009, 09:04 AM   #9 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

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,


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Old 09-04-2009, 09:06 AM   #10 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

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.


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Old 09-04-2009, 09:08 AM   #11 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

Gonna use my chrysanthemums this year and make my own pyrethrin spray...


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Old 09-04-2009, 09:50 AM   #12 (permalink)
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Hollyberry Lady View Post
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).
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Old 09-04-2009, 09:57 AM   #13 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

Funny, I am growing those too!


: O


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Old 09-04-2009, 10:07 AM   #14 (permalink)
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Hollyberry Lady View Post
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.
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Old 09-04-2009, 10:11 AM   #15 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

Great Bencelest, but don't forget too...


Quote:
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.

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Old 09-04-2009, 10:18 AM   #16 (permalink)
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Hollyberry Lady View Post
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.
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Old 09-04-2009, 10:22 AM   #17 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

Thank you for the information, Richard.


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Old 09-04-2009, 12:08 PM   #18 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

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.

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Old 09-04-2009, 12:48 PM   #19 (permalink)
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

Thank you HBL!!
Am subscribed to this thread!
Appreciate you spending the time! ~Cheryl
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Old 09-04-2009, 12:49 PM   #20 (permalink)
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Default Re: Bug and Pest Ridding Tips...

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 ...
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