Organic Pest Controls: Webinar, Video and Stories
July is when all those critters start catching up to me. I’ve been good about squishing squash bugs eggs, hand picking Japanese beetles and covering my Brussels sprouts and broccoli plants from the Swede midge and cabbage worms. But no matter how hard we try in our garden, pests still happen. So, I thought it’s a good time to take a look at some pest controls you can do now to lessen the damage. These include for insect pests and diseases. I have many profiles of various pests on my website, but I selected four pests that might be most relevant right now. You can also find a lot more insect, disease and animal problems in my Organic Pest Control Webinar.
In this webinar, I cover the basics of IPM, where spraying is a last resort. I talk about encouraging beneficial insects, using covers, barriers and fencing to keep pests away and changing your planing patterns to avoid the worst of the pests. Of course, I walk through the most common insects, diseases and animals and their controls as well.
In this newsletter, I also provide links to another video and stories on my website about Japanese Beetles, Tomato Hornworms, and Squash Vine Borers for you to enjoy. Look for more information on my website.
Until next time I’ll be seeing you, in the garden.
Charlie
Organic Pest Control Webinar
In this webinar I talk about selecting pest resistant plants & varieties, design ideas to reduce the chance of damage, fencing, netting, row covers and other barriers, and traps and do they work. I also review targeted Organic Sprays for insects and diseases, animal repellents and how to use them and which home remedies work and which don’t work.
More on Organic Pest Controls…
Japanese Beetles
Watch my short video on Japanese Beetles. I talk about ways to control the adults now that they are out and munching away on over 350 different types of plants. I also talk about long term Japanese beetle controls including spraying beneficial or parasitic nematodes on lawn ares near where the adult beetles were feeding. This is where they lay their eggs for next year. The eggs hatch into small grubs and are more easily killed when you spray in late August or September.
Learn more about Japanese Beetles here
Tomato Hornworms
Read and listen about the basics of tomato hornworm controls. These monster caterpillars will find your tomato plants soon and overnight can munch down the tops reducing yields. For being a large caterpillar they are amazingly hard to see in the green foliage. I talk about how to find, kill and prevent them from attacking next year. Here’s a newish tip as well. Plant basil around your tomato plants and you’ll confuse the adult moth and she won’t lay eggs on your plants.
Learn more about Tomato Hornworms here
Squash Vine Borer
There’s nothing worse than growing a nice crop of summer squash, winter squash or pumpkins, only to see the adult plants wilt and die in mid summer. If you look closely at the stem, you’ll see signs of the squash vine borer. Read and listen for information on how to prevent damage and control them here.
Learn more about Squash Vine Borers here
