Inside Urban Green

USDA « Getting Closer to a Better Biocontrol for Garden Pests

This is good. Now if they would just spend some money, time and effort on urban consumer food production methods other then dirt and drain holes.

via www.sciencedaily.com

ScienceDaily (Apr. 3, 2011) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have found strains of bacteria that could one day be used as environmentally friendly treatments to keep caterpillars and other pests out of gardens and cultivated fields.

Researchers with the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) surveyed the agency's bacterial collection and discovered that strains sharing the ability to produce a particular enzyme survive being fed to caterpillars longer than those that don't. Such survivability makes them better candidates for controlling crop and garden pests. The results, published in Biological Control, support the USDA priorities of agricultural sustainability and promoting international food security.

Edible Plant Pest Control

This post from the "Blogging Nurseryman" is thought provoking and troubling. Like many of us of a certain age I used to use pesticides regularly. Not any more. I have become a much better pest scout and Neem oil fan.

The watering and weed pulling time saved by using sub-iirrigated planters (SIPs) can be put to good use by learning more about plant pests and how to detect them. Carefull pest scouting is the first line of defense. Buy a hand lens if you don't have one.

via thegoldengecko.com

I signed up for the Home Depot garden club just to see what’s up. The latest one received was focused on edibles

"Honey, the lettuce tastes funny."

with the newsletter saying, “Recent surveys reveal that homeowners are embracing edible gardening with unprecedented enthusiasm. It’s not surprising—vegetable garden planning and planting is enjoyable and easy. Nothing compares to the freshness and flavor of home-grown vegetables and herbs. By harvesting your own food you can control the level of pesticides and herbicides used on them…”

To help you control those levels of pesticides Home Depot provided me with a coupon for $5 off Bayer Advanced Fruit, Citrus, and Vegetable Insect Control. Doesn’t tell me much about it, but it has to be safe or the garden experts at The Depot wouldn’t be offering me a coupon for it. Here is Bayer’s website where the label can be viewed. Unless you know where to look the ingredient list is hard to see. I know where to look! Read more...

Sub-irrigated Planters: No More Fungus Gnats

Use sub-irrigated planters (SIPs) and you will never be troubled by fungus gnats. With measured sub-irrigation, the soil surface is always dry and the gnats have no moist soil necessary to propagate their larvae. You can forget all the nonsense about yellow sticky traps, diatomaceous earth and pesticides. You will also have healthier plants in the process.

via www.guardian.co.uk

Those pesky little flies that hover around the base of your houseplants or plague your greenhouse are sciarid flies. Now before I tell you how to get rid of them, I think it's only fair to point out that they are an important group of pollinators, spreading mushroom spores and pollen around.

Growing Tomatoes? Hug A Bird Today!

An Eastern Bluebird consumes a meal of leaf-eating caterpillar. (Credit: Photo by Mike Onyon)

via www.sciencedaily.com

Makes sense! Who knew?

ScienceDaily (Apr. 7, 2010) — Add insect-feeding birds, bats and lizards to the front lines of the battle against global climate change.

Summarizing the results of more than 100 experiments conducted on four continents, UC Irvine ecologist Kailen A. Mooney and colleagues found that these insect-gobbling animals increase plant growth by reducing the abundance of plant-feeding insects and the damage they do to the plant life that helps mitigate global warming.

U of Delaware Extension: Spider Mite Control Options

Click on the chart for a larger view.

Houseplant season is here and time to be alert to pests, particularly if you moved your plants outside during the summer. Spider mites in particular can be one of the toughest houseplant pests to eradicate.

Mites are very small and difficult to see with the naked eye. Scouting for them with a hand lens is the best preventative. Don't wait until you see their webs. I have had them attack both Chamaedorea elegans (Parlor Palms) and Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig). Again, early detection is the best method of control. In many cases of severe infestation (visible webs), it's best to toss the plants(s).

Above is a good menu of control options. Many of these materials require an applicators license. Always read the label. I use Neem Oil and denatured alcohol as universal indoor pest management materials.

via kentcoopextension.blogspot.com