Lisa Graf writes…
What’s Bugging You? Oops, I mean your Plants.
We’re starting to see baggies with leaf & insect samples everyday. It’s time to check and treat your garden pests. Rainy days and prolonged humid periods create perfect conditions for garden pests and plant diseases like powdery mildew to prevail. Generally, they are easy to control and you can minimize damage if you catch it early. This week, we saw our first sample of Viburnum Leaf Beetle damage. The larvae chew holes in the leaves leaving behind leaf ribs & lacy looking foliage. This can be treated by pruning in the fall or now. You could choose to spray Malathion or apply Bayer Tree & Shrub Insect Control which has the active ingredient Imidicloprid. To learn more about this insect, OSU has an excellent Fact Sheet which you can find at: http://ohioline.osu.edu/sc195/013.html
I would encourage you to take a walk around your garden and landscape to inspect your plants for holes or discoloration. Look at your roses & other perennials for signs of powdery mildew or black spot. If treated early it is much easier to control & your plants will look good all summer. If you’re not sure, feel free to email us a photo at GardenExpert@GrafGrowers.com and we will email you back an ID and treatment plan viagra til kvinder. You can also bring in a sample for diagnosis. There are many ways to treat your plants including conventional & organic methods. We’ll be happy to help you find the best method of treatment should you need it. Finally, be sure to keep hanging baskets & porch pots well watered during these times of high temperatures & remember to snip back stringy stems & fertilize regularly to keep them looking their best.