solanaceae 1 year, 7 months ago said: Controlling Garden Pests Organically We've been talking about this in assorted threads so thought I would start it's own as it is an important topic. My favored organic pest control is through planting or releasing beneficial insects. I have not had much luck with herbal tinctures and don't like dealing with oils such as Neem.
Mosquitoes are a HUGE problem up where I live (they carry EEE/eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile Virus). Planting lemon grass, lavender, rosemary, geranium, painted daisy and catnip helps keep them at bay. At the family home we used to plant large planters of mixed herbs and flowers to place around the area/table we usually gathered at outside. It's pretty and functional BUT I will strongly caution that it's not a perfect solution. All of us use bug repellent and we run the skeeter-vac because EEE and WNV aren't anything to mess around with.
trigger 1 year, 7 months ago said: Controlling Garden Pests Organically I had the same fears about Mosquitoes too . these are great tips, thank you I will use them in addition to installing a Bat House I got as a gift.
solanaceae 1 year, 7 months ago said: RE: EEE & WNV We had several cases of EEE in humans last summer both near my home and near the family home. It really isn't anything to mess around with. Someone gave us Burt's Bees insect repellent last year and someone else gave us Avon Skin-So-Soft but we opted for the OFF just to be totally safe. The Burt's product just didn't hold up well when we were out working in the yard, it was oily and we had to reapply almost once an hour during peak sweating hours. It also was too drippy to use on our faces. We had similar issues withthe Avon product.
pointsevenout 1 year, 7 months ago said: Pest control Mosquitoes: Use a garlic spray. It can be bought over the internet in gallon jugs of concentrated garlic juice. Dilute it in your sprayer and apply it to your yard and garden.
For controlling other pests in your garden try planting a tobacco plant at each corner of the garden.
For controlling small rodents and animals try sprinkling fox urine crystals around the perimeter of your garden. It is the scent of a predator that keeps the small animals away.
You might ask, how do they get the fox to pee in the bottle? Fox are captured live and caged. Fed and watered well. The cage has a canted floor to a drain where the urine is siphoned off, collected and processed. The fox are released after a period.
pointsevenout 1 year, 7 months ago said: Garlic spray I'm not sure exactly how the garlic spray works on the mosquitoes, but my minds eye has drawn a connection between the blood sucking mosquitoes and vampires.
trigger 1 year, 6 months ago said: Rats in the garden This question was posted on my home page does anyone have a particular organic remidy for rat control?
Hbjason 1 hour, 4 minutes ago said: I have a ? for u. I have a small garden me self and am having a hell of a time with rats eating my tomatoes. I dont want to put out poison out of fear for my 2 dogs. any suggestions, magic voodoo dust?
trigger 1 year, 6 months ago said: Rats in the garden Trapping them is one way here is a resource on the web, or you could purchase a trap at your garden center.
Yardiac.com: Rodent Trap Designed to Trap Not Harm for larger animals such as muskrats, skunks, ferrets. For mice, shrews, and voles. Gravity-action doors at both ends give target animals extra confidence to enter the trap. Dimensions: 10" x 3" x 3".Preassembled.
I have heard that Human hair will keep rabbits out of your garden! Collect hair from your brushes and spread it around your garden but i do not know if it works for rats
pointsevenout 1 year, 6 months ago said: RE: Controlling Garden Pests Organically Fox urine crystals should work on keeping small rodents out of your garden. A rabbit fence will help too.
trigger 1 year, 6 months ago said: RE: Controlling Garden Pests Organically The 10 best plants for beneficial borders The 10 best plants for beneficial borders From Organic Gardening Magazine
Bachelor's Buttons or Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) This beautiful blue wildflower has extrafloral nectaries, which means the plant's leaves release nectar even when the flowers are not blooming. Research in Germany has found that bachelor button nectar has a very high sugar content of 75 percent. This nectar is highly attractive to flower flies, ladybugs, lacewings, and beneficial wasps. Sow easy-to-grow bachelor's buttons seeds directly in the garden in fall or early spring; plants usually reseed energetically.
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) This low- growing annual makes a lovely white, highly fragrant edging for flower beds, or a fast-growing, beneficial-attracting, weed- smothering ground-cover to interplant in vegetable beds. Numerous studies have confirmed that sweet alyssum is highly attractive to aphid-eating flower flies. You can start with seeds, or buy bedding plants for earlier flowering.
Borage (Borago officinalis) This annual herb has bright blue clusters of edible, cucumber-flavored flowers. Studies in Switzerland have shown borage to be exceptionally attractive to good bugs, with an average of over 100 beneficials found in just 1 square yard of borage. In addition, common green lacewings have a very strong preference to lay their eggs on borage. Look for borage on garden center seed racks and mail order seed catalogs.
Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) This 6 to 8 foot tall native perennial has a unique feature that makes it a star in Beneficial Borders. The leaves wrap all the way around the stems, forming a deep cup that collects dew and rainwater. Beneficial insects and small birds can easily use the leaves as landing pads, and then drink from the cups. Cup plant is an outstanding ornamental, with large attractive leaves and clusters of yellow flowers in mid to late summer that are highly attractive to many insects. It's hardy to zone 4 or 3. To start seeds, sow in fall, or store in damp sand in the refrigerator for 6 to 8 weeks before planting in spring.
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum or A. rugosa, aka Korean mint) Perennial, summer-blooming anise hyssop has fuzzy purple or violet flower spikes on 2 to 3 foot high plants with licorice-scented leaves. The nectar-rich flowers are very attractive to both butterflies and pest-eating beneficial insects. Anise hyssop is hardy in zones 6-9; Korean mint in zones 5-8.
Golden marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria) This long-blooming perennial produces bright yellow 2 inch daisies that are highly attractive to five key kinds of beneficials—ladybugs, lacewings, flower flies, tachinid flies and mini-wasps. It was the only plant out of 170 species to score this well in a 3-year study at botanical gardens in Colorado and Wyoming. Golden marguerite thrives in poor soils, growing 2 to 3 feet high and wide. Deadhead (remove spent flowers) to promote rebloom, and divide plants every 2 to 3 years. Hardy in zones 3 to 7.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) Long-lasting fennel flowers are extremely attractive to all nectar-feeding beneficial insects, and the feathery green or purple foliage looks wonderful in spring and early summer. Fennel is a host plant for the caterpillars of the anise swallowtail butterfly. The seeds and leaves are also eaten by humans, and are excellent in salads (leaves) or spaghetti sauce (seeds). The plants grow about 5 feet high and are perennial in zones 6-9.
Mountain mints (Pycnanthemum virginianum and P. muticum) Both of these native mountain mints (and many other members of the mint family) are excellent choices for Beneficial Borders. Short-toothed mountain mint (P. muticum) has broad clusters of small white flowers surrounded by unique, showy white bracts; it makes beautiful dried flowers. Mountain mints grow 2 to 3 feet tall and are hardy from zones 4 to 7. Not yet widely available, these plants can be ordered from Sunnybrook Farms, 440-729- 7232.
Pussy willows (Salix species) Willows are especially valuable because they produce pollen so early in the spring, when many beneficials are just emerging. Pussy willows are super-easy to grow and fun to cut for flower arrangements. Most garden centers will carry pussy willows in spring, or you can root cuttings from a neighbors' shrub in water.
Ornamental grasses All clump-forming grasses provide excellent summer shelter and overwintering sites for ground beetles, ladybugs and other beneficials. Studies in England found more than 1,500 predators per square yard in grass-covered "beetle banks" planted in arable fields.
Corn Corn tassels produce large amounts of pollen that is a nutritious protein source for many beneficials. And while we usually don't think of corn as an ornamental, it's actually very striking when planted in flower beds. Think of it as a very fast- growing, tall ornamental grass. And if you want an extra bit of beauty, try the 'Japonica' corn which has green, white and pink variegated leaves.
trigger 1 year, 6 months ago said: Hot pepper Spray Recipe Here is a recipe that I have found useful and was republished in Organic Gardening Magazine Hot pepper Spray Recipe: 1/2 cup hot peppers I use Habannero they are extra hot and I have learned the hard way to wear gloves. 2 cups water Pure peppers and water in a blender. Strain the liquid through a cheese cloth. Apply every 5 to 7 days until the pest are gone.
*Adapted from the Frugal Gardener: How to Have More Garden fro Less Money, By Catriona Tudor Erier
trigger 1 year, 4 months ago said: Wood Ash Application Due to the lightweight of dry ashes and their total neutralizing power, it would take a considerable amount of ash to make the soil too alkaline for good crop production. The Ohio State a report suggests that gardener's sample and tests the garden soil about every two years to monitor soils Ph.
I mainly use wood ash around the base of my squash and tomatoes as a pest deterrent. Wood ash can is used to repel insects, slugs and snails because it draws water out of these invertebrates. Sprinkle ash around the base of your plants to discourage surface-feeding insects. Once ash gets wet, it loses its deterring properties. Too much ash can increase pH or accumulate high levels of salts that can be harmful to some plants, so use ashes carefully.
Wood ashes can be used very successfully in the vegetable garden (except in the area where you plan to grow potatoes). Wood ash should never be applied to areas where potatoes will be planted as ash can promote potato scab. For most garden soil, 20 pounds (about a 5-gallon pail) per 1,000 square feet can be applied safely each year. That equals about 6 pounds of ground limestone applied to the same area.
Mix the ash thoroughly with your soil. Tomatoes seem to benefit especially from soil that has been mixed with a small quantity of wood ash.
I recommended using one gallon of ashes per square yard on loam to clay-loam soil, and half as much on sandier soils.
However, acid-loving plants such as blueberries, cranberries, rhododendrons and azaleas would not do well at all with an application of wood ash.
trigger 11 months, 1 week ago said: Home made solutions These above mentioned solutions are handy print them out and place them on your spray bottle for easy reference. Make up fresh batches and always shake well before applying so the mixture will be potent and not just water.
trigger 8 months, 2 weeks ago said: Garlic spray Try this everyone
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solanaceae 1 year, 7 months ago said:
Controlling Garden Pests Organically
We've been talking about this in assorted threads so thought I would start it's own as it is an important topic. My favored organic pest control is through planting or releasing beneficial insects. I have not had much luck with herbal tinctures and don't like dealing with oils such as Neem.
Mosquitoes are a HUGE problem up where I live (they carry EEE/eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile Virus). Planting lemon grass, lavender, rosemary, geranium, painted daisy and catnip helps keep them at bay. At the family home we used to plant large planters of mixed herbs and flowers to place around the area/table we usually gathered at outside. It's pretty and functional BUT I will strongly caution that it's not a perfect solution. All of us use bug repellent and we run the skeeter-vac because EEE and WNV aren't anything to mess around with.
trigger 1 year, 7 months ago said:
Controlling Garden Pests Organically
I had the same fears about Mosquitoes too . these are great tips, thank you
I will use them in addition to installing a Bat House I got as a gift.
solanaceae 1 year, 7 months ago said:
RE: EEE & WNV
We had several cases of EEE in humans last summer both near my home and near the family home. It really isn't anything to mess around with. Someone gave us Burt's Bees insect repellent last year and someone else gave us Avon Skin-So-Soft but we opted for the OFF just to be totally safe. The Burt's product just didn't hold up well when we were out working in the yard, it was oily and we had to reapply almost once an hour during peak sweating hours. It also was too drippy to use on our faces. We had similar issues withthe Avon product.
pointsevenout 1 year, 7 months ago said:
Pest control
Mosquitoes: Use a garlic spray. It can be bought over the internet in gallon jugs of concentrated garlic juice. Dilute it in your sprayer and apply it to your yard and garden.
For controlling other pests in your garden try planting a tobacco plant at each corner of the garden.
For controlling small rodents and animals try sprinkling fox urine crystals around the perimeter of your garden. It is the scent of a predator that keeps the small animals away.
You might ask, how do they get the fox to pee in the bottle? Fox are captured live and caged. Fed and watered well. The cage has a canted floor to a drain where the urine is siphoned off, collected and processed. The fox are released after a period.
pointsevenout 1 year, 7 months ago said:
Garlic spray
I'm not sure exactly how the garlic spray works on the mosquitoes, but my minds eye has drawn a connection between the blood sucking mosquitoes and vampires.
trigger 1 year, 6 months ago said:
Rats in the garden
This question was posted on my home page does anyone have a particular organic remidy for rat control?
Hbjason 1 hour, 4 minutes ago said:
I have a ? for u. I have a small garden me self and am having a hell of a time with rats eating my tomatoes. I dont want to put out poison out of fear for my 2 dogs. any suggestions, magic voodoo dust?
trigger 1 year, 6 months ago said:
Rats in the garden
Trapping them is one way here is a resource on the web, or you could purchase a trap at your garden center.
Yardiac.com: Rodent Trap
Designed to Trap Not Harm for larger animals such as muskrats, skunks, ferrets. For mice, shrews, and voles. Gravity-action doors at both ends give target animals extra confidence to enter the trap. Dimensions: 10" x 3" x 3".Preassembled.
I have heard that Human hair will keep rabbits out of your garden! Collect hair from your brushes and spread it around your garden but i do not know if it works for rats
pointsevenout 1 year, 6 months ago said:
RE: Controlling Garden Pests Organically
Fox urine crystals should work on keeping small rodents out of your garden. A rabbit fence will help too.
trigger 1 year, 6 months ago said:
RE: Controlling Garden Pests Organically The 10 best plants for beneficial borders
The 10 best plants for beneficial borders From Organic Gardening Magazine
Bachelor's Buttons or Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) This beautiful blue wildflower has extrafloral nectaries, which means the plant's leaves release nectar even when the flowers are not blooming. Research in Germany has found that bachelor button nectar has a very high sugar content of 75 percent. This nectar is highly attractive to flower flies, ladybugs, lacewings, and beneficial wasps. Sow easy-to-grow bachelor's buttons seeds directly in the garden in fall or early spring; plants usually reseed energetically.
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) This low- growing annual makes a lovely white, highly fragrant edging for flower beds, or a fast-growing, beneficial-attracting, weed- smothering ground-cover to interplant in vegetable beds. Numerous studies have confirmed that sweet alyssum is highly attractive to aphid-eating flower flies. You can start with seeds, or buy bedding plants for earlier flowering.
Borage (Borago officinalis) This annual herb has bright blue clusters of edible, cucumber-flavored flowers. Studies in Switzerland have shown borage to be exceptionally attractive to good bugs, with an average of over 100 beneficials found in just 1 square yard of borage. In addition, common green lacewings have a very strong preference to lay their eggs on borage. Look for borage on garden center seed racks and mail order seed catalogs.
Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) This 6 to 8 foot tall native perennial has a unique feature that makes it a star in Beneficial Borders. The leaves wrap all the way around the stems, forming a deep cup that collects dew and rainwater. Beneficial insects and small birds can easily use the leaves as landing pads, and then drink from the cups. Cup plant is an outstanding ornamental, with large attractive leaves and clusters of yellow flowers in mid to late summer that are highly attractive to many insects. It's hardy to zone 4 or 3. To start seeds, sow in fall, or store in damp sand in the refrigerator for 6 to 8 weeks before planting in spring.
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum or A. rugosa, aka Korean mint) Perennial, summer-blooming anise hyssop has fuzzy purple or violet flower spikes on 2 to 3 foot high plants with licorice-scented leaves. The nectar-rich flowers are very attractive to both butterflies and pest-eating beneficial insects. Anise hyssop is hardy in zones 6-9; Korean mint in zones 5-8.
Golden marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria) This long-blooming perennial produces bright yellow 2 inch daisies that are highly attractive to five key kinds of beneficials—ladybugs, lacewings, flower flies, tachinid flies and mini-wasps. It was the only plant out of 170 species to score this well in a 3-year study at botanical gardens in Colorado and Wyoming. Golden marguerite thrives in poor soils, growing 2 to 3 feet high and wide. Deadhead (remove spent flowers) to promote rebloom, and divide plants every 2 to 3 years. Hardy in zones 3 to 7.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) Long-lasting fennel flowers are extremely attractive to all nectar-feeding beneficial insects, and the feathery green or purple foliage looks wonderful in spring and early summer. Fennel is a host plant for the caterpillars of the anise swallowtail butterfly. The seeds and leaves are also eaten by humans, and are excellent in salads (leaves) or spaghetti sauce (seeds). The plants grow about 5 feet high and are perennial in zones 6-9.
Mountain mints (Pycnanthemum virginianum and P. muticum) Both of these native mountain mints (and many other members of the mint family) are excellent choices for Beneficial Borders. Short-toothed mountain mint (P. muticum) has broad clusters of small white flowers surrounded by unique, showy white bracts; it makes beautiful dried flowers. Mountain mints grow 2 to 3 feet tall and are hardy from zones 4 to 7. Not yet widely available, these plants can be ordered from Sunnybrook Farms, 440-729- 7232.
Pussy willows (Salix species) Willows are especially valuable because they produce pollen so early in the spring, when many beneficials are just emerging. Pussy willows are super-easy to grow and fun to cut for flower arrangements. Most garden centers will carry pussy willows in spring, or you can root cuttings from a neighbors' shrub in water.
Ornamental grasses All clump-forming grasses provide excellent summer shelter and overwintering sites for ground beetles, ladybugs and other beneficials. Studies in England found more than 1,500 predators per square yard in grass-covered "beetle banks" planted in arable fields.
Corn Corn tassels produce large amounts of pollen that is a nutritious protein source for many beneficials. And while we usually don't think of corn as an ornamental, it's actually very striking when planted in flower beds. Think of it as a very fast- growing, tall ornamental grass. And if you want an extra bit of beauty, try the 'Japonica' corn which has green, white and pink variegated leaves.
trigger 1 year, 6 months ago said:
Hot pepper Spray Recipe
Here is a recipe that I have found useful and was republished in Organic Gardening Magazine
Hot pepper Spray Recipe:
1/2 cup hot peppers I use Habannero they are extra hot and I have learned the hard way to wear gloves.
2 cups water
Pure peppers and water in a blender.
Strain the liquid through a cheese cloth.
Apply every 5 to 7 days until the pest are gone.
*Adapted from the Frugal Gardener: How to Have More Garden fro Less Money, By Catriona Tudor Erier
trigger 1 year, 4 months ago said:
Wood Ash Application
Due to the lightweight of dry ashes and their total neutralizing power, it would take a considerable amount of ash to make the soil too alkaline for good crop production. The Ohio State a report suggests that gardener's sample and tests the garden soil about every two years to monitor soils Ph.
I mainly use wood ash around the base of my squash and tomatoes as a pest deterrent. Wood ash can is used to repel insects, slugs and snails because it draws water out of these invertebrates. Sprinkle ash around the base of your plants to discourage surface-feeding insects. Once ash gets wet, it loses its deterring properties. Too much ash can increase pH or accumulate high levels of salts that can be harmful to some plants, so use ashes carefully.
Wood ashes can be used very successfully in the vegetable garden (except in the area where you plan to grow potatoes). Wood ash should never be applied to areas where potatoes will be planted as ash can promote potato scab. For most garden soil, 20 pounds (about a 5-gallon pail) per 1,000 square feet can be applied safely each year. That equals about 6 pounds of ground limestone applied to the same area.
Mix the ash thoroughly with your soil.
Tomatoes seem to benefit especially from soil that has been mixed with a small quantity of wood ash.
I recommended using one gallon of ashes per square yard on loam to clay-loam soil, and half as much on sandier soils.
However, acid-loving plants such as blueberries, cranberries, rhododendrons and azaleas would not do well at all with an application of wood ash.
trigger 11 months, 1 week ago said:
Home made solutions
These above mentioned solutions are handy print them out and place them on your spray bottle for easy reference. Make up fresh batches and always shake well before applying so the mixture will be potent and not just water.
trigger 8 months, 2 weeks ago said:
Garlic spray
Try this everyone