pest management - Fine Gardening
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How-ToEriophyid Mites: What They Are and How to Control Them in the Home Garden
If you’ve ever battled rose rosette disease or encountered odd leaf deformities, you should care about eriophyid mites. I find the juxtaposition of their incredibly small size with the bizarre,…
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How-ToTips for Getting Rid of Slugs and Snails
Silvery trails give them away: snails stalking the garden, using their single foot to glide along. Like footprints, slime trails provide clues to the behavior of these mollusks: where they’re…
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How-ToPest Alert: Chilli Thrips
The chilli thrip (Scirtothrips dorsalis) has become a serious problem in Southern California. This is a small insect native to Southeast Asia that has made its way to the United…
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How-ToPest Alert: Kudzu Beetle
There’s a (relatively) new bug in town, and its favorite hangout is the plant not so affectionately known as “the vine that ate the South”—kudzu (Pueraria montana, Zones 6–10). The…
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How-ToHow to Be Safe With Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)
Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), a soil-dwelling bacterium, produces proteins that are toxic to certain immature insects. Several types of Bt-based insecticides have been approved for use in organic gardening and farming,…
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How-ToHow to Manage Pests Sustainably With IPM
Integrated pest management (IPM) may sound complicated, like something only professionals can do. But this commonsense approach to maintaining garden health is actually something we all can work into our…
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How-ToMidsummer 2019 Insect Update
In the Midwest, gardeners are generally an optimistic lot. If consistent heavy rainfall is the topic of conversation, a typical response is, “At least the weeds are easy to pull!”…
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How-ToEmerald Ash Borer Damage and Prevention
Change happens, especially in nature. The predictable type of change, like the rhythmic cascades of the seasons or caterpillars reinventing themselves as butterflies, are reassuring, even inspiring. But catastrophic changes,…
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How-ToPest Alert: Agave Snout Weevil
What is an agave snout weevil (Scyphophorus acupunctatus) you ask? We asked the same thing a few months ago when we noticed one of our American century plants (Agave americana,…
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How-ToHow to Fight Back Against Japanese Beetles
When summer begins in your garden, whether on the patio or in the landscape, an ecosystem of living organisms brings insects to the front and center. The appearance of Japanese…
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