Page 44 - Discover Summer 2020
P. 44
Weeder’s Digest CONTINUED
through roots, stems, leaves, and bark with knowledge and care. Some pesticides
to reach their food sources. Keeping remain active for days after the initial
a watchful eye for holes, skeletonized application. As a result, while they may
leaves, or limb die back will often alert help to control our pest problems, they
you to an emerging problem. Along with may also kill beneficials. Even though
visual identification of insects, physical a control may be organic, it will still
inspections of your plants are important. kill what is good, so seek advice and
Look for fine webbing, holes, and even follow directions. Something as simple
sawdust; they are clues to potential as applying early or late in the day may
problems. effectively control the problem at a
time when the beneficials may not be
We can also protect our plants with
physical impediments, such as plant present. Chemical protections can be
applied directly to foliage, and can also
collars for gypsy moths, sticky traps for be introduced through the soil. In liquid
aphids, and scent/pheremone traps for or granular form, they can be absorbed
Japanese beetles.
systemically through the roots, allowing
With or without our consent, nature the plant to control pests from the inside
is unrelenting. There have always been out.
checks and balances in nature that Diversity of different plant species in
biologically control the good and the bad. our yards can aid in the protection of all
A number of garden denizens work for us of our plants naturally; however, global
as predators. Such vertebrates as frogs, commerce has introduced many insects
toads, lizards, snakes, and birds, all patrol that have no natural predators. These
our gardens with voracious appetites. need to be identified and eradicated, for
Other insects, such as spiders, are some example: the Spotted Lantern Fly. We may
of the most efficient pest controllers. think that our yards are safe and pest free,
Among the most common predatory but just on the other side of the fence or
insects, ladybugs and praying mantises are thicket a problem may be lurking… so stay
a healthy sight to see. Some of our lesser alert and talk to your neighbors if you
known allies include beneficial nematodes see a problem, because the insects see no
for soil borne pests, and predatory mites borders.
and wasps. Although perhaps unseen, they
are all on the good team.
As a last resort we can turn to chemical
controls, as we often do. There is a
broad spectrum of products available
for us to mitigate or control unwanted
infestations. All of them need to be used
42 Discover Smith Mountain Lake SUMMER 2020
