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| Doris Power talked about understanding bugs at the April Hort meeting. |
According
to Master Gardener, Doris Power, less than 1% of all bugs are “bad”! Throughout
her presentation at the April meeting of the Tweed and District Horticultural
Society, Doris emphasized the importance for
gardeners to develop an understanding of these bugs in our gardens.
to Master Gardener, Doris Power, less than 1% of all bugs are “bad”! Throughout
her presentation at the April meeting of the Tweed and District Horticultural
Society, Doris emphasized the importance for
gardeners to develop an understanding of these bugs in our gardens.
She
shared her knowledge about various “bugs” that many of the members have
experienced in their gardens.
shared her knowledge about various “bugs” that many of the members have
experienced in their gardens.
APHIDS…
·
Produce in masses
Produce in masses
·
Suck sap from plants and transport
diseases to other plants
Suck sap from plants and transport
diseases to other plants
·
Ants protect and even move aphids
Ants protect and even move aphids
·
Look for curling yellow leaves
Look for curling yellow leaves
·
Remove by hand, prune leaves, blast
from the hose, insect soap are way to get rid of aphids
Remove by hand, prune leaves, blast
from the hose, insect soap are way to get rid of aphids
COLORADO
POTATO BUG…
POTATO BUG…
·
Larvae feast on plants
Larvae feast on plants
·
Eat foliage of tomatoes, potatoes,
eggplant, peppers
Eat foliage of tomatoes, potatoes,
eggplant, peppers
·
Crush egg masses (located on underside
of leaf)
Crush egg masses (located on underside
of leaf)
·
Female can lay 350 eggs from June-late
July
Female can lay 350 eggs from June-late
July
CUTWORMS…
·
Vary in size and colour
Vary in size and colour
·
Come out at night
Come out at night
·
Place paper rolls around seedlings for
protection
Place paper rolls around seedlings for
protection
·
Plant sunflowers around perimeter of
garden to attract cutworms
Plant sunflowers around perimeter of
garden to attract cutworms
EARWIGS…
·
Important predator to aphids
Important predator to aphids
·
Like moist shady places
Like moist shady places
·
Can destroy vegetable seedlings and
ornamental plants
Can destroy vegetable seedlings and
ornamental plants
·
Need to be diligent to capture them
Need to be diligent to capture them
GARDEN SLUGS
and SNAILS…
and SNAILS…
·
Like vegetables and tender leaves
Like vegetables and tender leaves
·
Rough sand, copper bands, dry wood
ashes and dishes of beer at ground level(these must be emptied daily) are ways
to get rid of these pests
Rough sand, copper bands, dry wood
ashes and dishes of beer at ground level(these must be emptied daily) are ways
to get rid of these pests
4-LEGGED PESTS…
·
Moles, skunks, squirrels, chipmunks,
deer, dogs and cats
Moles, skunks, squirrels, chipmunks,
deer, dogs and cats
·
Fencing, human hair, orange peel (for
cats), live trapping (check municipal bylaws)
Fencing, human hair, orange peel (for
cats), live trapping (check municipal bylaws)
·
Certain plants that animals avoid
….rabbits-rosemary, lavender
Certain plants that animals avoid
….rabbits-rosemary, lavender
…squirrels-daffodils wrapped in mesh bags, chicken wire and mulch in
top
…deer-spruce, baby’s breath, snowdrops,
daffodils, snap dragon, dusty miller
Doris
also suggested planting marigold plants as they deter many insects and basil to
protect tomato plants…plant these throughout the garden. Soil preparation, crop rotation, plant
diversity, weeding, removing diseased leaves and plants, using pollinators and recording
keeping are all ways to control these pests that all gardeners talk about!!!
also suggested planting marigold plants as they deter many insects and basil to
protect tomato plants…plant these throughout the garden. Soil preparation, crop rotation, plant
diversity, weeding, removing diseased leaves and plants, using pollinators and recording
keeping are all ways to control these pests that all gardeners talk about!!!
COMING
UP….
UP….
May 3…Dawn Golloher from Gardens Plus will discuss easy
care perennials and this year’s hot new plants. Bring your money as there will
be plants for sale!
care perennials and this year’s hot new plants. Bring your money as there will
be plants for sale!
May 21…Annual Plant Sale
at Tweed Memorial Park @ 8 am.
at Tweed Memorial Park @ 8 am.
Plant
material for the sale should be there by 7am. Please label plants.
material for the sale should be there by 7am. Please label plants.
May 31 @ 5:30 pm…Planting the flower beds and planters
in town. Meet in the parking lot across from Valumart.
in town. Meet in the parking lot across from Valumart.
GENERAL
INTEREST EVENTS…
INTEREST EVENTS…
May 7…District 3 Spring AGM