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1) Editor's Comments:For our subscribers using Yahoo.com addresses: For some reason all newsletters last week were rejected by Yahoo. This is the second time this has happened and we just can't figure out why. It must be something to do with filtering by Yahoo. If you wish to see last week's issue, feel free to visit http://rexseedco.com/gtt and click on Vol. 1, Issue 23. We appologize for these problems. This week we continue with Part II of our series on Garden Insects. Remember, not all insects are bad. As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop us a note. Rex Gregor Tom Krueger 2) Garden Insects (Part II):Last week I told you that NOT all insects are "Bad Guys." It is a known fact that at some point most every gardener will have pest problems. Unfortunately, we have been conditioned by advertising to grab a can of some type of insecticide -- hold our nose and spray and 'KILL THEM DEAD.' Ecologists, environmentalists, entomologists, and medical doctors have been warning us about toxic chemicals. Slowly but surely those who respect our health and environment are making headway by using fewer chemicals. Many of the 'bad pests' that we have been trying to kill are developing a tolerance to chemicals. Thus, they are becoming harder to control. And then the 'good guys' that help control the 'bad guys' are also being killed at a faster rate by those chemicals. There is an alternative known as 'natural alternatives' using 'beneficial insects.' Most people who are starting to use beneficial insects do so because they have safety and health concerns. As we learn to use the 'good guys' we soon discover that the cost is very competitive to that of chemicals besides the fact that we are receiving better long term results. More and more gardeners no longer use harmful chemicals. The world's natural predators such as Ladybugs and Green Lacewing, and other good guys, will help us build a new and safer ecology.
You should know that Ladybugs will leave your garden if they are not happy. If you purchase lady bugs to control the 'bad guys' in your garden, I strongly recommend that you release them in the early evening or at dusk. Ladybugs do not fly at night and this will give them a chance to settle down before dark -- and they'll also have a chance to find some food. Ladybugs also need to have a drink of water daily. You do that by spraying your garden with a garden mister during the day. By misting your plants droplets of water will remain on the leaves, and you will befriend your ladybugs. It is also a good idea to plant some pollen bearing plants in your garden since ladybugs will enjoy the nectar and/or pollen. Remember, keeping them happy will continue to make Ladybugs the best 'good guy' in your garden. Treat them with kindness and they will work hard for you.
A Mantis will lie in wait for their food, and when the prey gets close enough, the Mantis will snap it up with lightning movements of their strong forelegs. It has been determined that it can move twice as fast as a housefly. The Praying Mantis has an enormous appetite, eating such 'bad insects' as aphids, leafhoppers, mosquitoes, caterpillars and other soft body insects. When the Mantis becomes full grown it will eat larger insects such as beetles, grasshoppers and crickets. Chances are you will never have a problem with crickets if you have a Praying Mantis around. If you have ever had a cricket in your house at night you know why you want to get rid of them.
The Green Lacewing is a 'good guy' insect also known as the Aphid Lion. It got its name because of its voracious appetite. There is no other better predator to use to consume vast quantities of eggs and soft bodied insects like aphids, mealy-bugs, spider mites, leafhopper nymphs, caterpillar eggs, scales, thrips and white flies. The Lacewing will attack the eggs of most 'bad insects' and if the adult 'bad insect' is not fast enough it will find itself as a meal for the Lacewing. I suggest you purchase lacewing eggs. These eggs will arrive in a package of about 1,000 eggs -- enough to take care of a 200 square foot garden. The eggs will hatch a few days after being placed in your garden producing tiny gray-brown larvae. They have the look of an alligator with pincers. This 'good insect' will attack its prey very vigorously, injecting a paralyzing venom, and then drawing the fluids out of the body of its helpless victim. Depending on the climatic conditions in your garden, the adult Green Lacewing will live about six weeks attacking its prey and laying new eggs. If it does not find new prey it will live on nectar, pollen and honeydew. If these sources are not available, it will simply leave in search of prey and end up laying its eggs elsewhere.
Mosquito Dunks will kill mosquitoes before the mosquito becomes old enough to bite. Mosquito Dunks aren't insects, but an environmentally harmless donut shaped product. It can be used in bird baths, rain barrels, old automobile tires, unused swimming pools, tree holes, flower pots, roof gutters, ponds, ditches, or wherever stagnant water collects. Mosquito eggs are very hardy and manage to live under almost all conditions. When the water temperature is right, the eggs hatch and become mosquito larvae. In about a week they become full- grown and will start looking for somebody to bite. Mosquito Dunks contain no poisonous chemicals and are harmless to other living things -- they are completely biodegradable. While floating in the water, mosquito dunks will release a natural mosquito-killing bio-control agent. This agent will gradually settle in the water where it will be eaten by the mosquito larvae which will be killed dead! Mosquito Dunks can be used in all types of standing water sites where mosquito larvae grow before becoming adults. If used in an area that dries up, the alternate wetting and drying will not reduce their effectiveness. Mosquito Dunks contain no poisonous chemicals and are harmless to other living things. Each Dunk will treat about 100 square feet of water surface during most all of the summer. Unused dunks will remain active indefinitely.
The beneficial nematodes will only attack soil dwelling insects and will leave your plants alone. These 'good guy' nematodes will enter the host insect through body openings or by penetration of the body wall. Once inside, they will release a bacterium which kills the host within 48 hours. The 'good guy' will continue to reproduce and its offspring will seek out a new host. Beneficial nematodes are a totally safe, biological control parasitic insect organism. These 'good guy' beneficial nematodes are so safe that the EPA has waived registration requirements for their application. These 'good guy' nematodes are perfectly harmless to humans, animals, plants, and healthy earth worms -- they aggressively pursue the 'bad soil dwelling' insects. It has been found that several generations of 'good guy' nematodes may live in the dead pest, emerge and seek more 'bad guy' pests in the soil. These beneficial nematodes will search for the 'bad guys' wherever they can find them. They are effective against white grubs, Japanese Beetles, Northern Masked Chafer, European Chafer, Rose Chafer, Fly larvae, Oriental Beetles, June Beetles, Flea beetles, Bill- bugs, Cutworms, Army worms, Black Vine Weevils, Strawberry Root Weevils, Fungus Gnats, Sciarid Larvae, Sod Web-worms, Grildler, Citrus Weevils, Maggots, Mole Crickets, Iris Borer, Root Maggot, and Carrot Weevils. These 'good guys' are also effective against termites, German Cockroaches, flies, ants and fleas. If your cabbage or broccoli plants die for no reason at all, the chances are a cutworm, a June Beetle, or some other root weevil has been attacking your plants. Beneficial nematodes could come to your rescue. I invite you to become friends with the 'good guys' -- the biological alternatives -- and forget the 'Poisonous Chemicals!' 3) Humor for Today:A little boy was afraid of the dark. One night his mother told him to go out to the back porch and bring her the broom. The little boy turned to his mother and said "Mama, I don't want to go out there. It's dark. The mother smiled reassurringly at her son. You don't have to be afraid of the dark," she explained. Jesus is out there. He'll look after you and protect you." The little boy looked at his mother real hard and asked, "Are you sure he's out there?" "Yes, I'm sure. He is everywhere, and he is always ready to help you when you need him," she said. The little boy thought about that for a minute and then went to the back door and cracked it a little. Peering out into the darkness, he called "Jesus? If you're out there, would you please hand me the broom?" 3) Humor for Today:A little boy was afraid of the dark. One night his mother told him to go out to the back porch and bring her the broom. The little boy turned to his mother and said "Mama, I don't want to go out there. It's dark. The mother smiled reassurringly at her son. You don't have to be afraid of the dark," she explained. Jesus is out there. He'll look after you and protect you." The little boy looked at his mother real hard and asked, "Are you sure he's out there?" "Yes, I'm sure. He is everywhere, and he is always ready to help you when you need him," she said. The little boy thought about that for a minute and then went to the back door and cracked it a little. Peering out into the darkness, he called "Jesus? If you're out there, would you please hand me the broom?" 4) Where is the Hottest Place in the US?
Not to have the night have all the glory, Death Valley also holds the record for all-time highest daytime temperature. On July 10, 1913, the temperature hit a horrid 134 F! Daytime highs average 116 F. in July, the hottest month. 5) How to Make Your Own Potpourri:
The first step is to collect and dry your material -- flowers, leaves, branches. Be creative and try anything that will work for you. We suggest you collect your material in the early morning, just after the dew has dried from the plants. However, if it has rained within the last couple of days it's best if you wait for a day or two before you harvest your material. The most often used flowers are rose petals (fragrant type), lavender, herbs, verbena, rose geranium, etc. Do not hesitate to try different varieties. To dry your material, place it on a suspended window screen -- this allows for air movement all around your potpourri. To keep the material from blowing away, cover it with another window screen. Do not place your material in direct sunlight. The sun might bleach some of your leaves and you will lose some of the great color -- for us a good potpourri mixture includes good color. Let the material dry for about two weeks. Look over what you have and select the items to give you the visual effect you want to accomplish. Next, select the aromatic essence that pleases you. Remember, you can also visit your spice cupboard to find great aromas. Also, many garden shops carry nature's flower essences to make potpourri -- this could be a good place to help nature along. The Internet is always a great place to find the information on what might make a great potpourri -- just search for potpourri! It won’t be long before your friends will ask you how you did it! WILD FLOWER (Blue Flag Iris)
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Did
you know that just one Ladybug is capable of consuming up to 60 aphids
per day. They will also eat a variety of other 'bad insects' and larvae,
including scales, mealy bugs, leaf hoppers, mites and various types
of soft-bodied insects. Ladybugs are known to eliminate the aphid population
of an average size garden in just one day! Aphids are one of the most
active 'bad guys' in your garden. Ladybugs will search for aphids from
dawn to dusk for food.
Praying
Mantis is an "adored" insect as a general predator of most
'bad guy' insects. If you purchase some, you can release them in your
garden after the last frost -- they will work for you all summer. The
Praying Mantis is the most interesting and enjoyable beneficial insect
you can have in your garden. It is the only insect that can turn its
head and look over its shoulder.
Beneficial
Nematodes will seek and kill immature (larval and pupal) soil-dwelling
insects before they become adults. Nematodes are microscopic, non-segmented
worms naturally occurring in the soil all over the world. There are
literally thousands of strains that exist with different life-styles.
The
hottest place in the US is Death Valley, CA. How does a summer nighttime
temperature of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit sound? For the whole
year, the average night-time low is 89 F.
It
is very easy and enjoyable to make your own potpourri. We, of course,
assume that you are going to use plants from your own or your friend's
garden.
One
thing plants don't like is to have their feet wet all the time. Unfortunately,
many people have an area in their yard where water tends to accumulate.
I don't mean areas such as a pond or even a marsh, but a spot that is
almost always squishy.
How
often has this happened to you -- you grab the tape measure, make your
measurement and walk over to the saw to cut wood to length and forgot
what you just measured -- or measured the window to cut fabric for curtains,
or measured whatever for whatever reason and you simply forgot what
length you just came up with.