Waukesha County Home

There is nothing more frustrating then putting time, and labor, into growing your own vegetables or flowers, only to have them decimated because of an insect inva- sion. It can be very frustrating. But don't dismay! There are some simple cultural guidelines that will help alleviate, or at least reduce, the problems that may arise. To control insects, remember that dam- age results from the interaction between three main components; the plant, the pest and the environment. By focusing on what we can influence, we can reduce the prob- lems we encounter. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Let's start by looking at the plants we choose. When purchasing plants, there are a cou- ple of things to consider. The first is plant health. Always look for healthy, disease-free plants. Weak plants are more susceptible to attacks by pests. Trust your instincts. If a plant doesn't appear healthy to you, don't buy it. The second thing to consider is the attributes of the plants themselves. Many plants handle insect attacks better than others. Some plants have physiological attributes like fuzzy leaves or natural chemical compounds in them that deter insects. For example, herbs contain volatile oils that can deter certain insects. That is why I like to mix them in all my beds, ornamental or edible. I like plants that do double duty. They help protect my plants and are tasty at the same time. Now, how can we influence the pests themselves? The most obvious way is the actual phys- ical removal of pests when we encounter them. Picking the actual insects, or their egg masses, from the plants is an effective control, at least in smaller areas. Barriers and traps can also be used. Sticky tapes and row covers are good examples of barriers. Traps are also useful. For example, put- ting some beer in a shallow container is good for catching slugs. There are a pletho- ra of home remedies out there that work well along with commercial retail traps on the market. Biological controls are another alterna- tive. Predators, parasites and bacteria that exist naturally, or introduced by us, can help keep pests in check. Ladybugs, adults and larva, and lacewing larvae are fero- cious predators of soft-bodied insects such as aphids. Get to know your beneficial bugs from your bad bugs. You can purchase beneficial insects or you can also focus on planting some plants that attack them naturally. Flowering plants such as Yarrow and marigolds are good and a few herbs would include dill, cilantro and even dandelions. Also, get to know your good and bad bacteria. Bt and Spinosad are example of bacteria that work against insects. This might be a new world for you so let the friendly folks at your local garden center help. What about the environment? Weed control is important. Weeds harbor insects and play a role in the movement of them throughout the garden. Sanitation and garden cleanup during the growing season and at the end of the year is also crucial. Insects hibernate in debris over winter. Sanitizing your tools and equipment throughout the season is also a good idea. It is important to maintain a healthy soil so your plants can grow healthy and fight off these attacks naturally. Also, excess moisture is an insect magnet, so don't over water the environment. Pesticides, organic or synthetic, should always be the last straw. Many of these can hurt good insects as well so consult the experts at your local garden center for the best advice. By implementing these practices you should be able to manage these damaging insects. Even if you give just a few of them a try, you should see some improvement. Happy gardening! (Michael Timm is chief horticulturalist at Ebert's Greenhouse Village in Ixonia.) MAY 2021 HOME 7 Garden insect control: The good, the bad and the ugly MICHAEL TIMM Gardeners count them among the "bad" bugs: aphids. Earwigs also make the bad list. The praying man- tid feasts on soft- bodied insects, making it a good bug to have in the garden. Mantises are an order of insects that con- tains over 2,400 species in about 430 genera in 30 families. The largest family is the Mantidae. Among the beneficial insects in gardens are lacewing. They are seen in the larva stage, on the left, and as an adult with lacey wings, right.

• Cover