For questions about controlling garden pests
7
votes
7answers
4k views
How do I get rid of pill bugs in my vegetable garden (or is it even the problem)?
I have had multiple plants in my vegetable garden that have seemed to just vanish from the garden over the period of about a week. I have notice pill bugs eating the remains of the plants. They seem ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
What's digging holes in my indoor potted plants?
I have a indoor basil potted plant in an office environment and over the weekend holes appeared on the surface of the soil, as if something dug them. The pots are next to a window, but it's closed at ...
2
votes
1answer
23 views
Control greenfly on strawberries
How can I get rid of greenfly on strawberries? I've used Rose Clear successfully on my roses but I don't really want to spray chemicals on something I want to eat.
1
vote
1answer
20 views
Is Rose Clear safe to use on Clematis?
I have greenfly on my clematis. Rose Clear worked well on my roses, but will it harm a clematis? The clematis has only just been planted into the ground this year, in case that makes a difference.
3
votes
1answer
26 views
Would more concentrated solutions of soybean oil be better for insect control?
If soybean oil is used in such low concentrations as .5%, why wouldn't using higher concentrations be better? Is there something preventing a higher concentration being useful or effective?
4
votes
3answers
441 views
My tree is a wasp magnet, what can I do to get rid of them?
There is a small tree (about 2 meters tall, maybe a bit more) at the front of my house that has become a wasp magnet in the last few weeks. I have seen at least 2 kinds of wasps hanging in there, and ...
7
votes
5answers
5k views
How do I get rid of ducks from my backyard?
There are a couple of ducks in my yard (male and female). I think they have come to my backyard to make a nest. I fear that if this happens half my backyard will become off-limits due to an angry ...
1
vote
1answer
31 views
Control of Boxwood Psyllids
Do I have to use an insecticide spray or will a detergent like Dawn be just as effective?
1
vote
1answer
40 views
What are these white arthropods infesting my succulents?
My attempts to grow succulents continue to struggle - two from my wedding, which had been doing fairly well, appear to have developed, fairly swiftly, an infestation with some sort of mite:
Any ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
How do I keep Grackle's from pooping on my lawn?
Below is what I think is grackle poop on my lawn. (It might not be but I haven't seen any other animals there except desert cottontail rabbits and I know what their poop looks like.) How can I prevent ...
14
votes
6answers
9k views
How to keep chipmunks out of my garden?
Forget rabbits, I have a fence around the garden, my real pest problem is chipmunks. I've got a fence, with some below ground barriers, to keep larger pests out and to keep them from digging but the ...
17
votes
2answers
9k views
How do I get rid of white flies on my basil?
I've recently noticed that my basil and other herb plants are infested by tiny white flies. They spread out like snow-flakes when I spray the plants with water, and there are scary looking number of ...
4
votes
1answer
65 views
How do I get rid of lawn grubs?
My lawn is progressively getting worse every year.
I've got large bare patches that just won't take seed, and in the spring and fall I've got racoons and skunks digging up grubs. There is also a ...
5
votes
1answer
92 views
How to flatten chicken wire?
We're trying to flatten chicken wire (for our raised bed fence) that came in a roll originally. Any tips?
8
votes
3answers
419 views
Indoor Garden Built - Now Little Flies!
We built this indoor "garden" in our office as a prank for one of our employees who was out for a stint. It was only meant to be temporary, however we have all grown a liking to it.
We ended up ...
2
votes
2answers
69 views
How do you organically handle lubber grasshoppers that destroy gardens?
Last summer I had a problem with black grasshoppers with yellow stripes on them, which I identified as Lubbers. Now I grow everything organically and all my plants are heirloom varieties, so last year ...
5
votes
1answer
106 views
What is the best way to keep deer away?
I've been contemplating putting up a fence, but I'm not exactly sure how high it should be. Can anyone point me to some instructions on what specs a good deer fence should have as well as how to ...
8
votes
2answers
407 views
Best practice to prevent aphids and spider mites?
What is the best practice to prevent aphids and spider mites? I group them in one question because they make similar damage to plants.
I want to know the level of humidity for aphids and spider mites ...
4
votes
2answers
258 views
BEST Plants to attract Ladybugs and Praying Mantis, from your experience
I have looked around and I have seen some recommendations for plants to attract ladybugs, for example, a few sites list that alyssum works well.
I am hoping to find out others experiences about ...
2
votes
2answers
90 views
What are the effective home based pesticides?
Sometimes my plants gets infected by different insects, unless I notice it, it gets very late to save the plant.
Chemical based insecticide works well, but I am fearful while using\spraying and ...
5
votes
2answers
216 views
How to protect strawberries from “predators”
I'm starting to prepare my gardening year and I'm wondering what the most efficient and organic way is to protect strawberries from birds and slugs.
I'm not at all against sharing a part of my fruit ...
3
votes
1answer
129 views
Pine Borer Beetle Infestation
I cut down a tree that was infested with pine borer beetles. I don't want the beetles to infect other trees. Unfortunately, I can't burn the infested wood. And I don't have anywhere to haul the ...
2
votes
1answer
150 views
Fig tree mystery worm problem
A friend has a fig tree which seems to be the target of a worm. As far as I can see the leaves and fruit do not have any bite marks or worms/insects inside them, but the fruit born was less this year, ...
12
votes
5answers
6k views
How to get rid of insects on basil while leaving the leaves safe to eat?
With reference to this question: Insect infestation on my pepper plant, what do I do?
I have these insects in my indoor "kitchen window sill" basil and they do seem to be chewing it fast enough to ...
2
votes
1answer
210 views
What are these orange insects under the leaves of my mandevilla?
First, I'll set the scene:
Location: South Florida
Temperature: 75°F - 85°F most days
Rain: Had been fairly dry until the last couple days
Affected plant: Mandevilla with yellow flowers
Story:
...
5
votes
3answers
534 views
Are woodlice eating my carrots?
I lifted some carrots this evening. It being December these are carrots which have been in the ground some time. They're big and fat, they need cleaning up and the damage needs cutting out, but ...
7
votes
1answer
249 views
What's eating my Peaches?
Several of my peaches have this crystalised goop on the outside, as seen in the first picture.
Cutting the peach open reveals some kind of bug trail. The hole the bug made is full of the sticky ...
2
votes
3answers
134 views
fava bean beetle?
I've noticed this beetle on in our Fava beans. They crawl out and fly away, leaving perfectly circular little holes. Any idea what they are and what they do? Besides the little hole, the beans seem ...
3
votes
3answers
427 views
Ants and white/gray/brown spores all over my gardenia
I planted my gardenia four or five months ago.
I noticed, recently, that (a) growth has stunted, and (b) there are ants all over the plant (base, leaves, etc.).
There are also white little dots ...
8
votes
1answer
182 views
How do I prevent parrots from snacking on my fruit trees?
I live in a neighborhood in California that has a number of parrots that, presumably, escaped from captivity sometime ago and have since multiplied in number. They are all the same kind of parrot, ...
1
vote
0answers
37 views
What preventative action should I take against Fruit Fly?
I am in Sydney, Australia. This coming (arrived?) summer I have several fruit trees which will be bearing fruit for the first time. This includes a peach tree and nectarine (both of which already have ...
14
votes
6answers
2k views
How can I prevent squirrels (or other small mammals) from eating my tomatoes?
Something has been eating my tomatoes just as they begin to ripen. Each day I've been finding one or more tomatoes half-eaten but still attached to the vine. On a couple of days I've also found bits ...
2
votes
1answer
503 views
How can I protect my citrus tree leaves from being eaten?
A couple of years ago I planted a lemon and a lime tree in my garden. They've been growing quite well but recently I noticed the leaves are patchy and holey - something has been eating them. What's ...
3
votes
2answers
111 views
Are new caterpillar eggs added daily to a brassica that's already under attack?
I've got a few broccoli plants which are under attack from caterpillars. They aren't currently netted.
I manually "weeded" all the caterpillars off the most distressed plant (and some of the other ...
3
votes
2answers
328 views
How can I keep a dog out of my vegetable garden?
I have a small vegetable garden and a small dog. I'm looking for advice on the best way to keep the little guy out of the veges. Advice on the following would be appreciated:
Is there anything I can ...
24
votes
8answers
588 views
How do you safely and effectively stop a cat from pooping in your yard?
Our neighbor's cat keeps pooping in our mulch and around our yard. Is there a safe and effective way to stop neighborhood pets from doing so? Has anyone used a method that works well?
15
votes
9answers
427 views
What is the best organic way to defeat slugs?
Most of the seedlings I have planted out this year have been eaten by slugs within a day.
I have my final two runner bean plants that need to go out.
How can I prevent these from being the next ...
2
votes
3answers
106 views
how can I keep snails off my Day Lilies?
I have never had a problem with snails, but since planting a large swathe of day lilies I have found between twenty and fifty snails a day in that patch. I have been disposing of every one, to no ...
3
votes
1answer
125 views
Bag worm infestation on small pine trees
I noticed that some of my small pine trees (4 ft.) started turning brown and upon closer inspection I noticed 100's of bag worms all over the trees. I spent quite a bit of time pulling off the bags. ...
6
votes
2answers
365 views
What's the best way to kill cucumber beetles after I've started harvesting?
My yellow squash and zucchini are infested with both striped and spotted cucumber beetles. I don't think I can use Sevin Dust anymore because I've already started harvesting them. I tried food grade ...
3
votes
1answer
53 views
Holes in our landscaping
Something's digging in the shredded bark, unearthing our shrubs/roses/perennials. What is it and what's it after? It's July in Michigan -- a little late for grubs, right?
8
votes
3answers
907 views
How can I kill or remove insects from cut flowers that I bring inside?
When I cut flowers (typically daylilies) from my garden and bring them inside, I often find I am treated to a barrage of flies over the next few days. I'm going to guess that there are maggot larvae ...
0
votes
1answer
87 views
How do you get rid of a swarm of cicadas?
I noticed a swarm of large amber coloured bugs on my walk home today. I think they were cicadas (they were moving too fast and it was too dark to take a picture). They seemed to be swarming around ...
9
votes
1answer
292 views
Tomato plant looks like it has grains of salt - what is it and how do I treat it?
My cherry tomato plant has been showing some yellowing of leaves over the past week or so. Just today I noticed the formation of these cluster of white granules - not sure if it's connected to the ...
4
votes
1answer
146 views
How can I stop vine borers from killing my squash?
A few of the squash plants in our garden started wilting for no discernible reason late last week. We lost three sweet meat squash plants before we figure out that vine borers were attacking the ...
7
votes
2answers
248 views
Can anyone identify this abnormality that is on my dwarf citrus?
I recently noticed what looks like small beetles on our dwarf citrus tree. Can anyone identify this abnormality?
Click image for full size
Is this something harmful that I should attempt to ...
3
votes
1answer
104 views
Orange tree has pest or blight
A few leaves on my orange tree have this.
What is this?
What can I do about it?
8
votes
3answers
728 views
How can we protect a fig tree's fruit from birds?
We have a fairly large and productive fig tree, but we never get to enjoy the fruit because the birds always get to it first.
What can we do to take advantage of this tree before my wife makes me cut ...
4
votes
1answer
392 views
How can I keep spiders out of the shed?
I've got a small shed in my garden, and it used to be a great home for many spiders (and two mice). Walls are thin wood, floor is solid concrete, and eternit roofing.
A few months ago, my father ...
6
votes
2answers
278 views
What's the best way to control squash bugs
Help! I need to get rid of squash bugs.
I know Sevin will kill them, but I would like to use a less toxic method.
I have been destroying them manually, but I am losing the battle.
