Archive for Organic Garden Pest Control
It’s A Season Of Marigolds. Marigold’s Secret Mission
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Marigolds truly live up to their name – a sea of molten gold flowers that have many more uses besides being beautiful in your garden. They are made for summer.
To meet the demands of their native lands–chiefly Mexico and Central America–members of the marigold family had to flourish in hot sun as well as tolerate poor soils and infrequent rain.These qualities make them one of the most foolproof summer annuals, whether you plant them in the ground or in a container.
Their leaves have another bonus: Like other plants whose foliage contains volatile oils, such as lavender and rosemary, marigolds seem to repel many harmful insects while attracting beneficial ones. Recent research indicates that marigolds contain compounds toxic to root knot and other plant-parasitic nematodes (microscopic round worms that damage plant roots).
If nematodes are bugging your crops, you won’t see them, but you’re sure to see the damage they cause: stunted, yellow, and/ or wilted plants, often with distinctly knotted and possibly rotting roots.
There’s no safe chemical cure for these microscopic, soil-dwelling worms except French marigolds.Plant them in rows or blocks between your crops (you have to plant a lot of them to get the benefit), and you’ll enjoy their flowers all season long. Marigolds suppress nematodes only when they are planted thickly and allowed to grow for many weeks. Read More→
The Garden Saver: Good Bye To Moles?
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If you have moles in your garden don’t panic, they aren’t going to kill your lawn or anything like that.
While this looks bad, are moles really harmful to your lawn? The answer is absolutely not. The fact is that their co called “damage” is purely cosmetic and temporary.
In the long run their digging is actually quite beneficial to your lawn. As they dig, they are actually aerating your grass, allowing air and water into the soil.
They are also ridding your lawn of harmful pests like grubs. Since for the most part they are strict insectivores, they do not disturb your grass’ roots.
Mostly, they eat insects, and among their favorite foods are fat, juicy grubs. Those grubs are so fat because they are dining on the roots of your plants, mostly lawn grass. And, Read More→
Several Things You Need To Know About Dandelions
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Dandelions are a sure thing in this uncertain world. We can be certain that they will grow and thrive every year, and we know with equal certainty that we will do everything in our power to prevent them from conquering our lawns and gardens.
We also know with equal certainty that none of our prevention will make a dent and they’ll be back as surely as taxes.
It is impossible to stay angry at the dandelion. It’s permanent. People change, but dandelions don’t. There’s a lot of comfort and hope in a dandelion.
Medicinal Uses
Practically everybody’s grandmother knows from herbal lore that dandelions must be eaten every spring as a tonic. Their bitter taste certainly seems cleansing, all right! And, Read More→
Neem Oil For The Garden Ahead!
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Neem oil is an organic pest control remedy that is simple and very effective. Neem oil is pressed out of the seeds obtained from neem trees.
Many gardeners use it for garden pest control of soft bodied insects like aphids, thrips or whitefly. The oil coats the bugs and they suffocate.
Insects would rather die than eat plants treated with neem oil. It disrupts insects’ hormonal balance so they die before they molt to the next life stage. And, Read More→
Let Nature Care For Your Garden With Pine Needles
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It is wise to let Nature care for your garden with pine needles. They appear to grace the garden with very little effort on your part.
Pine needles make up some of the most effective organic mulch you can use in your garden. Ever notice how damp the area under a pine tree is, where the needles have landed?
That is because the pine needles are a naturally occurring barrier of water preservation. The waxy coating on pine needles allows water to bead and slide of the needle into the soil.
But, that same waxy coating also prevents rapid evaporation and keeps water beneath the needle layer and in the soil. And, Read More→
