Author Archive for Cahri

Dormant oil spray is a non-toxic material that can be sprayed on trees and shrubs in the fall after leaf drop or in the spring before leaves or blossoms appear. It smothers overwintering bug eggs before they have a chance to hatch. If you have plants under trees or shrubs you plan to spray, then covering them is a good idea as it can hinder growth of perennials. You can buy dormant oil spray at home improvement stores, discount superstores and nurseries. Apply dormant oil before temperatures drop below 40 degrees F.

Oil-Away™ Supreme Insecticidal Spray from Gardens Alive is made from cottonseed oil that’s extracted the old-fashioned way, by squeezing or pressing. No chemical solvents, normally used in the commercial extraction process, are used. Unlike some dormant oil products, this one won’t burn or harm sensitive foliage if used in warmer weather. IMPORTANT: It’s best used in the fall after leaf drop or in the spring before leaves or blossoms and beneficial bugs appear. Ladybugs and other beneficial insects that migrate onto a plant after it’s been sprayed are not affected.

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Blossom end rot on fruits such as tomatoes occurs because the plant is deficient in calcium. It also attacks peppers, watermelon, squash, eggplant and sometimes cucumbers. 

Blossom End Rot (left)-University of Kentucky, Blossom End Rot on watermelon-Tom Isakeit

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Squash vine borer larvae are white with brown heads and about 2.5 cm long.

Squash vine borer larva (left)-Alabama Farmers Cooperative Inc, Larvae (right)-Kansas State University

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Crane flies are large (2.5cm), brown flying critters resembling very large mosquitoes. They are also called leatherjackets.

Crane fly adults-Natural Resources of Canada

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Botrytis is a fungus disease and is also known as gray mold. It is found where temperatures are cool, rainy in spring and a very mild summer.

Botrytis (left)-University of California, Botrytis on strawberry (right)-Cornell University

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Black spot is a fungus that attacks mostly roses and it survives in rose leaf litter and also overwinters in it. This condition can be deadly. It starts off with small black to purple spots that spread rapidly. Black spot can cause defoliation in no time if left uncontrolled. Black spot occurs in areas of high humidity and also places with high rainfall.

Black spot on roses (left)-Crocus Gardeners by Nature, Black spot (right)-R,C, Lambe

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Powdery Mildew is a Fungal Disease that spreads rapidly. It looks like white powder and starts in small patches. The spores of this fungus is airborne and can be transferred from plant to plant with insects. 

Powdery Mildew-New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, A serious powdery mildew infestation (right)-AgricoCanada

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Pyrethrum is a vegetable insecticide made from oils found in the plant Chrysanthemum cinerarifolium. It is very effective in killing aphids, ants, mosquitoes, flea beetles, weevils, sawfly caterpillars, leaf hoppers and many other insects. It works very quickly but only if the bug is in contact with the spray or powder. It loses it’s toxicity quite rapidly under sun and air. The EPA has widely approved it as the safest insecticide on the market. It also has been known to cause allergic reactions so wear gloves and wash well if you feel you need to use this substance.

Chrysanthemum cinerarifolium (Pyrethrum)-NCSU Horticultural Science

Indian meal moths (also called pantry moths or flour moths) larvae hatch in stored dry goods… flour, grains, seeds, cereal, chocolate, cake mixes, rice, nuts, dried fruit, dog food, birdseed, even tea, herbs and spices.

Adult flour moth & Pupa (left)-Alameda County Community Developement Agency, Adult Moth (right)-USDA Grain Marketing & Production Research Center
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Crickets can be awfully noisy and sometimes destructive. There are several types of crickets, three of the most popular are the house cricket, camel cricket and the field cricket.

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