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Annuals/petunias

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Expert: - 8/19/2009


Question
I have small round black seeds on my leaves, what are they.  Also, I noticed that my petunias are getting sticky. What is happening.

Answer
Sherry,
Do these small black things crush easily? If so, they are aphids. This would account for the stickiness of the leaves as well - aphids suck plant juices and excrete excess, and what they excrete is sticky.  

If you can easily blow the black things off that might be caterpillar poop - if that's the case look for small larvae, most likely green.  

You can kill aphids with insecticidal soap and caterpillars with any product containing Spinosad.

I hope this helps,
C.L.

Annuals

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C.L. Fornari

Expertise

Annuals suggested for specific situations (sun, shade, windowboxes etc) New or unusual annuals are a particular interest of mine, and I grow many of these from seed. I am happy to help problem solve, answer questions about maintenance, and guide you to sources of unusual plants.

Experience

I am a garden writer/speaker/consultant and host of a weekly gardening radio program in the Northeast. I have been gardening all my life for my own pleasure, and started as a professional gardener and garden communicator 15 years ago. I work part-time at a garden center, selling and tending shrubs/trees/annuals/perennials...and doing some propagation and design work. I often think that all these professional activities serve to put a somewhat legitimate framework around a serious case of plant-lust.

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