Praying Mantid - Good Guy
If you are overrun with bugs in your garden, you may wish to consider looking for the predators before you spray. Try hosing off the bad guys with a spray of water. If you see a lot of predators give the good guys a little time to do their job if the damage isn‘t too great. Here’s a great link to show you who are the good guys. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/index.html
Ladybug Larvae - Goodguy
Patience…. Japanese beetles can make some ugliness out of that first crop of roses. They burrow inside and chew away. They seem drawn to white and the light colors and do go after a few other plants as well. Consolation – They’ll hit the road when the weather gets warmer. Hose them off, cut off the affected roses etc. until then. A systemic rose food sometimes works if it gets into the plant before the beetles arrive.
If you see damage, then by all means, head out to the garden center and know that there are good choices in insecticides that are safe to use and even organic if that‘s important to you. Go where the experts can help you and read the labels. I am definitely not anti-product. I love garden products! They are life savers.
Keep in mind that many of the organic gardeners are on this kick for diatomaceous earth. It’s a fine powder used to control crawling insects. It can irritate the lungs if inhaled and irritate the skin. In my opinion, properly used, even sprays that aren’t organic can be much safer to use and will give you great results.
Lastly, it’s a big year for snails. The prettier the annual, the more they seem to like it. Put that snail bait down on the same day you plant the annuals. The snails also feast on lilies, agapanthus and hostas. Dropping a snail bait down inside those plants will be helpful. There are people and pet safe snail baits available so always read the labels. Your other sprays etc. will not work for snails.
Happy Planting!
Aside from aphids on my roses, I am “bugged” at the fact that all of the plants I’ve planted near my shaded front door have died. It’s very peculiar, the plants not thriving due to a lack of sun thing.
There are some really cool shade-loving plants out there. Good soil is always where you start. Most shade plants like slightly acidic soil and most others will tolerate it well. That said, use a liberal mix of azalea (acid) planting mix (bagged soil) and mix it into the exisiting soil. This will improve the soil consistency. Good drainage is important.
If you work from the soil up, you should have great luck. Choose some nice shade loving plants (there’s lots of pretty choices in a good nursery) and use a good organic starter fertilizer with mycorrhizae. Don’t waste time on B1. When choosing plants, play around with your selections on the cart until you find the combo that you like.
You will spend perhaps a little more when you invest in the soil and proper fertilizer but, this way you should only spend it ONCE and that will make a big difference.
PS… Acid planting mix is one of the few planting mixes that can also be used as a potting medium. This is not recommended for other planting mixes; which should only be used in the ground.
When you say “mix it into the existing soil” does that mean sprinkle it on the top of the soil, or rototiller everything together? (Hoping it’s the former.)
I just bought my third attempt and planted it this weekend…some “Gold Dust Aucuba.” Hopefully they’ll like me more than the lavender and ferns did.
And thanks for the organic fertilizer tip! I’ve gotta get that next.
I say turn it into the soil as best as you can where you plant. Amend the soil just as deep and twice as wide as the root ball of the new plant. You can put a top-dressing of mulch (about 2″) everywhere else to give the illusion that you tilled and to suppress the weeds. Then lie to your friends and tell them how hard you worked.
Ah.. lavender and ferns like two different things. Lavender likes lots of sun and will not take too much water. Blackening and wilting in the center is a sign of too much water. I guess you could say it almost thrives on a little neglect. (still amend the soil and trim it occasionally to keep it full looking) Good drainage is important and in our (for most of us) heavy clay soil, that means adding mulch/compost.
The ferns like shade and a moist well drained soil that is not soggy. Ferns will take a little sun but only light amounts and only to mid morning. If it gets only 2 hours but it’s at 3pm, fuggettaboutit. That’s hot sun baby!
99.99% of plants (no scientific data to back up those stats) will NOT forgive being planted too deeply. Don’t bury the crown of your plants and keep those trunks clear of debris, soil and weeds. It’s a very common mistake and we’ve all made it. Resist the temptation to push those babies deep in the ground and you’ll have better luck.
Have fun Clare! Big Fun!
Great advice, Annie…thanks! I love gardening.