Comments for Phil The Gardener http://www.philthegardener.com How Does Your Garden Grow? Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:27:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Sprinklers Garden and Lawn by Gardening Calendar - August Gardening Tips_02 | Phil The Gardener http://www.philthegardener.com/sprinklers-garden-and-lawn/#comment-237 Gardening Calendar - August Gardening Tips_02 | Phil The Gardener Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:33:20 +0000 http://www.philthegardener.com/?p=300#comment-237 [...] Calendar | August Tips: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download In the last episode, we talked about water conservation and watering your lawn. Your container plants and hanging baskets need to be checked everyday on hot days and every other [...] [...] Calendar | August Tips: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download In the last episode, we talked about water conservation and watering your lawn. Your container plants and hanging baskets need to be checked everyday on hot days and every other [...]

]]> Comment on Choosing The Correct Weed Spray by Frank Kilgore http://www.philthegardener.com/choosing-the-correct-weed-spray/#comment-235 Frank Kilgore Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:06:24 +0000 http://www.philthegardener.com/?p=301#comment-235 Phil- Thanks Great help, suggestions, and advice. I'll look up the odd bug. Based on your reply, it appears that my pest is something like the tomato psyllid, but I'll check it out. Thanks again. Frank Phil- Thanks

Great help, suggestions, and advice.

I’ll look up the odd bug. Based on your reply,
it appears that my pest is something like the tomato psyllid, but I’ll check it out.

Thanks again.

Frank

]]> Comment on Choosing The Correct Weed Spray by Phil The Gardener http://www.philthegardener.com/choosing-the-correct-weed-spray/#comment-234 Phil The Gardener Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:49:43 +0000 http://www.philthegardener.com/?p=301#comment-234 Stink bugs are a beetle so it is tough to use some of the stand-by organic measures. Insecticidal Soap will work with direct contact on the nymphs. Carbaryl (Sevin) works well, I recommend you use the spray for best effectiveness instead of the dust. It is a non-selective insecticide this means it will destroy your beneficial bugs as well. Be aware of the withholding period after application. Read The Label If you have the time the organic method of thumb and fore finger squashing them works well with persistence. It does not get the eggs though. In California a parasitic wasp, Trissolcus basalis, has been introduced to control the southern green stink bug. These and other predators attack stink bug eggs. Keep cover weeds down where stink bugs can over winter. Of course you don't have much control over your neighbor's weeds. The other insect you are referring: If you could send a photo I may be able to better identify the red/yellow mosquito type bug. If it is a leaf miner it would have more of a fly appearance with a yellow triangle between the base of the wings. Or a tomato psyllid which resembles a miniature cicada. Thrips are tiny about 1/16 inch yellow to brown. They can cause dimpling in the fruit by inserting their eggs and are carriers of the spotted wilt virus. I think you should use organic measures as much as possible but when the populations of a pest get out of balance sometimes a chemical control is necessary to save your food crop. But be aware use of too many chemical can have a negative effect in the long run. Phil The Gardener Stink bugs are a beetle so it is tough to use some of the stand-by organic measures. Insecticidal Soap will work with direct contact on the nymphs.

Carbaryl (Sevin) works well, I recommend you use the spray for best effectiveness instead of the dust. It is a non-selective insecticide this means it will destroy your beneficial bugs as well. Be aware of the withholding period after application. Read The Label

If you have the time the organic method of thumb and fore finger squashing them works well with persistence. It does not get the eggs though. In California a parasitic wasp, Trissolcus basalis, has been introduced to control the southern green stink bug. These and other predators attack stink bug eggs.

Keep cover weeds down where stink bugs can over winter. Of course you don’t have much control over your neighbor’s weeds.

The other insect you are referring:
If you could send a photo I may be able to better identify the red/yellow mosquito type bug.
If it is a leaf miner it would have more of a fly appearance with a yellow triangle between the base of the wings.
Or a tomato psyllid which resembles a miniature cicada.
Thrips are tiny about 1/16 inch yellow to brown. They can cause dimpling in the fruit by inserting their eggs and are carriers of the spotted wilt virus.

I think you should use organic measures as much as possible but when the populations of a pest get out of balance sometimes a chemical control is necessary to save your food crop. But be aware use of too many chemical can have a negative effect in the long run.

Phil The Gardener

]]> Comment on Choosing The Correct Weed Spray by Frank Kilgore http://www.philthegardener.com/choosing-the-correct-weed-spray/#comment-233 Frank Kilgore Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:00:47 +0000 http://www.philthegardener.com/?p=301#comment-233 Phil- Insect control in a tomato garden. What do you recommend for insect control of the insects that look a lot like stink bugs (and also a little feisty red / yellow mosquito type bug) that have played havoc with my early tomatoes this year? Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated. Frank Phil-

Insect control in a tomato garden.

What do you recommend for insect control of the insects that look a lot like stink bugs (and also a little feisty red / yellow mosquito type bug) that have played havoc with my early tomatoes this year?

Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

Frank

]]> Comment on Agapanthus by Garden Compost http://www.philthegardener.com/agapanthus/#comment-232 Garden Compost Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:31:49 +0000 http://www.philthegardener.com/?p=298#comment-232 Gardening Which, fingered family member, has named its best compost of the year. <a href="http://garden.blogtells.com/2008/06/17/four-steps-in-making-and-using-good-garden-compost/" rel="nofollow">Garden Compost</a> Gardening Which, fingered family member, has named its best compost of the year. Garden Compost

]]> Comment on Installing A Drip Irrigation Valve by Watering Bonsai Trees http://www.philthegardener.com/installing-a-drip-irrigation-valve/#comment-231 Watering Bonsai Trees Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:25:28 +0000 http://www.philthegardener.com/?p=292#comment-231 I am always looking for good relevant information and latest news about Watering Bonsai Trees . Just found your blog, thx for the info! I am always looking for good relevant information and latest news about Watering Bonsai Trees . Just found your blog, thx for the info!

]]> Comment on Earwigs by Phil The Gardener http://www.philthegardener.com/earwigs/#comment-230 Phil The Gardener Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:41:14 +0000 http://www.philthegardener.com/?p=295#comment-230 I sure appreciate you suggesting a name for my book on Earwigs. Just put it in the comment box below here. Oh yeah you have to be logged in as a subscriber to Phil The Gardener I sure appreciate you suggesting a name for my book on Earwigs. Just put it in the comment box below here. Oh yeah you have to be logged in as a subscriber to Phil The Gardener

]]> Comment on Planting Bulbs Right Side Up by SEO Boot Camp http://www.philthegardener.com/planting-bulbs-right-side-up/#comment-225 SEO Boot Camp Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:12:03 +0000 http://www.philthegardener.com/?p=280#comment-225 I enjoyed your writing style and I've added you to my Reader. Keep these posts coming. I enjoyed your writing style and I’ve added you to my Reader. Keep these posts coming.

]]> Comment on Use A Sprinkler Timer For Water Savings by water gardening http://www.philthegardener.com/use-a-sprinkler-timer-for-water-savings/#comment-224 water gardening Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:07:23 +0000 http://www.philthegardener.com/?p=286#comment-224 [...] [...] [...] [...]

]]> Comment on Squash Blooms by Frank Kilgore http://www.philthegardener.com/squash-blooms/#comment-223 Frank Kilgore Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:42:32 +0000 http://www.philthegardener.com/?p=288#comment-223 Hi Phil- I had no idea there were both male and female blooms on such plants. I always thought the male and female parts were both in the bloom. Now, I understand why I get fruit from some of the blooms and others I do not. Thanks for the information. Frank p.s. I think I'll start carrying a Q-tip around with me since I really don't think my bubble bee pollinators know about male and female blooms. Hi Phil-
I had no idea there were both male and female blooms on such plants. I always thought the male and female parts were both in the bloom.
Now, I understand why I get fruit from some of the blooms and others I do not.
Thanks for the information.

Frank
p.s. I think I’ll start carrying a Q-tip around with me since I really don’t think my bubble bee pollinators know about male and female blooms.

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