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Pests/Questions Answered by Expert Mike Mascio
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Larvae | 12/27/2011 |
| Q: I'm pretty sure this is the same kind of bug. I don't like them. I've lived in the same apartment ... A: It is definitely the larvae of some type of bug. Since most larvae look the same, it is impossible ... | |
| Money Tree and fungus | 10/1/2011 |
| Q: My husband and I have a money tree plant we recently received for our new home. We transplanted in ... A: Your diagnosis regarding the over watering is absolutely correct. It is the primary cause of ... | |
| Whitefly | 9/23/2011 |
| Q: i'm from Malaysia and I recently planted 3 pots of bird eye's chilli from seed. They are all ... A: Insecticidal soaps are very safe, whether you mix your own or purchase it from the nursery. However, ... | |
| Grubs and grass | 8/11/2011 |
| Q: I have lost the grass on my septic field twice now from grubs. I did buy a load of nice topsoil the ... A: Although Grub-ex is a great short term control, it must be applied every year. This can be ... | |
| Beetles | 7/20/2011 |
| Q: i need your help to get red of lots of pests, i am living in Abha-Saudi Arabia there is many kinds ... A: Regardless of the species, Sevin is a highly effective control. I always prefer to start with ... | |
| Red and black worms. | 6/29/2011 |
| Q: For the last few years I have been having issues with pests eating holes through my plants and I ... A: Without seeing the worm, it is difficult to guess as to which it is. Regardless of its variety, the ... | |
| Fungus among us | 6/6/2011 |
| Q: I seen question regarding the yellow throwup looking fungus.sounds like what im seeing only for few ... A: It's basically the same thing as the yellow fungus, just from a different species of spores. If you ... | |
| Fungus on Mulch | 6/5/2011 |
| Q: I have noticed this type of yellow fungus in my flower beds this week. It has been very hot and ... A: Leslie, the technical name for this growth is Fuligo septica, more commonly referred to as vomit ... | |
| Impatients | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: I planted impatients yesterday and today I found some of them broken off at the root and stashed ... A: The likely culprits are cutworms. Cutworms are a common pest in the garden, especially in early ... | |
| Snails eating my annuals and perennials | 5/20/2011 |
| Q: Help! I have a snail problem in my garden. Early in the season, I sprinkled pellets to kill snails ... A: It takes several applications of slug and snail bait to kill off the entire population. At this time ... | |
| Burrowing pest eating bulbs | 3/31/2011 |
| Q: I live in Massachusetts south of boston (east bridgewater)something is burrowing in my flower garden ... A: Phyllis, the problem is a burrowing rodent; most likely field mice, voles, moles, woodchucks, or ... | |
| Green cutworm control | 2/14/2011 |
| Q: I've just discovered that green cutworms have been making holes in my sweet basil. How can I ... A: Cutworms are a common pest in the garden, especially in early spring. They are very small worms that ... | |
| Root Vegetables; Pests | 11/20/2010 |
| Q: sIn the roots of my garlic, tomatoes and all veggies there are these very small white pests about ... A: Your garden has most likely been infested with root maggots. The infested vegetables should be ... | |
| Money Tree Problems | 11/12/2010 |
| Q: My trees have done very well for the last 4 years. Some leaves are turning yellow and falling off. ... A: Most insects that infect the leaves of plants are extremely small, some so much so that they are not ... | |
| Egg Plants | 10/30/2010 |
| Q: For the last 3 years when the Egg Plants are ready to pick I find holes from the outside and ... A: Helen, the best organic control for worms and caterpillars is a product called BT, short for ... | |
| Caterpillers | 10/27/2010 |
| Q: Help!I live in yorkshire england, and for the first time have been infested with brown hairy ... A: For controlling caterpillars, you need to apply a product called BT, short for Bacillus ... | |
| Stink bugs | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: We live in north central Arkansas near Mountain Home and have a large garden. This season the stink ... A: Dave, you can start by covering the plants with reemay when they are young. Reemay is a material ... | |
| Red Bugs | 9/19/2010 |
| Q: I have red bugs, they kind of look like ants and aphids. Not sure exactly what they are. However, ... A: I couldn't decipher the bug because of the quality of the picture, but there are several organic ... | |
| White flies | 9/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a huge infestation of greenhouse white flies in my veg and flower garden. It seems almost ... A: A hard winter will normally kill them off. The only problem in mild winters is that their eggs will ... | |
| Lawn pests | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: I have grubs. Now I find plugs of dirt about half the size of my thumb all over the lawn I was told ... A: The animal that is eating the grubs are most likely moles. Moles feed off grubs and earthworms. If ... | |
| Peonias | 8/29/2010 |
| Q: I've had my peonias for 8 years already and I still havenīt had flowers. The flower buds form but ... A: Silvina, your soil is most likely lacking phosphorus, the one nutrient needed for blooming. ... | |
| Green Hornworms | 8/23/2010 |
| Q: Gadsden,Alabama. Have been attacked by Greenhorn worms on our tomato plants in pots on our deck. ... A: Tomato hornworms are actually caterpillars that chew large holes in the leaves of tomatoes, ... | |
| Tiny white bugs on cayenne pepper plant | 8/19/2010 |
| Q: I am a brand new gardner, and am having trouble with some aphids. I have a cayenne pepper plant that ... A: I apply the solution with a pressure sprayer once every three days until the aphids are eradicated. ... | |
| Meadow vole problem | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: Sir; I live in Divide, Colorado (http://www.parks.state.co.us/parks/mueller/Pages/MuellerHome.aspx) ... A: Curtis, since you have followed every measure and precaution I take against moles and voles, I am ... | |
| Worms in the trunk of lilac | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: I have lots of little holes in the trunk of my lilac and I am told they are worms & I need to get ... A: Dawn, the best deterrent for worms and other crawling insects is BT, otherwise known as Bacillus ... | |
| Hostas | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: for the 2nd year in a row my hostas are starting to look like something is feeding off of them. I ... A: Diana, hostas are favorites of slugs, flea beetles, aphids, and whiteflies. I always recommend ... | |
| peach tree pest | 6/14/2010 |
| Q: my young grape size peaches r falling off tree bcus of a small white worm inside them tree is 2 year ... A: Fruit trees need to be sprayed beginning with a dormant oil spray in late winter and then every two ... | |
| Robins | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: We are getting more and more robins every year and they haven't attacked my Vegetables and the ... A: I have never found robins to be a problem in my vegetable garden, but they certainly will nest in ... | |
| Zucchini Attack | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: Mike, I have a strange problem. My zucchini plants are being attacked. This past weekend I noted ... A: Benson, it sounds like you suspect an animal is invading your garden. If the root system is being ... | |
| Apple tree | 4/24/2010 |
| Q: it has started to shed its bark is is just peeling off. i did give it a feed on the trunk in the ... A: It is a normal process for trees to shed their bark, especially in early spring. This is all part of ... | |
| Moths in soil | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: I have been propagating palm seed for quite a few years without too many problems but in the last ... A: Moths can be controlled with powdered rotenone or sevin. However, to control the larvae, you must ... | |
| Black beetle on lemon tree | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: Mike, I have been in the PC Business for 37 years and have a degree in Ag. from U. Tn. with ... A: George, black turpentine beetles are common in Florida, but keep in mind there are over 50,000 ... | |
| Inchworms on Japanese Holly | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: I just noticed a crunching sound coming from a line of Japanese Hollies I have (possibly boxwood, ... A: Although oil spray is definitely one option, another is a product called BT. BT is an organic ... | |
| Root mealy bugs | 2/27/2010 |
| Q: I'm a novice gardener and have very recently started a little den garden. I'm proud to say all the ... A: Vanessa, I would start with insecticidal soap. You can purchase this commercially at most garden ... | |
| Aphids and Lady Bugs | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: Mike I have a number of evergreen that always attracts aphids. I have several questions. First is ... A: Ken, aphids can be controlled oranically with either a garlic spray or with an insecticidal soap. ... | |
| Worms in raspberries | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: Help !!!! i have the most beautiful tasty raspberries but i have found small, thin (approx 3mm long) ... A: Two great organic pesticides are pyrethrin and rotenone. Both are plant extracts which are non-toxic ... | |
| Aphids on Pepper plants. | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I saw an earlier question where you recommended someone use lemon dish soap mixed with water to get ... A: Yes you could, but just make sure it is non-concentrated. As I probably mentioned in the email you ... | |
| Draecena and worms | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: I have an old draecena tree with very woody bark. The nursery told me it was about 25-30 yrs old ... A: I can't say for sure how the worms got into the house except that a moth may have laid eggs near the ... | |
| Tiny greenish pests | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: I bought this plan(schfflera? looks like a big umbrella plant) a month ago from a reputable nursery ... A: I have never had success washing insects off plants. Many books claim this to be the first line of ... | |
| Worms in Peppers | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: I am growing jalapeno, habanero, and thai peppers. i found a tomato horn worm on one of them. now ... A: Shannon, it can be one of several worms that infest pepper plants. These include the pepper ... | |
| Tomatoes; white spikes | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 tomato plants in my vegetable garden outside. The second one wasn't very healthy when i ... A: I sounds like your plants have contracted a fungus disease called powdery mildew. This disease can ... | |
| Slimey goo on sunflowers | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: I have sunflowers growing in my garden. I have notice that there are white slimey goo near the ... A: The goo is most likely the excretion from slugs. Slugs leave a trail of their excretion on flowers ... | |
| Beetles | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: I have found some beetles that I think are eating my plants. They are eating them to the point that ... A: Beetles can only be controlled with an insecticide. If you prefer to stay organic, I would highly ... | |
| cutter ants and something else | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: We bought 3 beautiful climbing plants (Mandevilla Dipladenia)and placed them on ground next to ... A: Mary, you have no choice but to spread an insecticidal powder at the base of the Mandevilla. ... | |
| Bell Pepper Pest | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: Seattle, WA We have holes in our bell peppers, close to the stem. They appear when the peppers are ... A: The three pests that infest pepper plants are aphids, flea beetles, and leaf hoppers. All three will ... | |
| Hornworms | 6/19/2009 |
| Q: What Would Be A Good Way To Get Rid Of These! I Have Over 25 Variety Of Tomatoes Plants And Don't ... A: Oscar, tomato hornworms are actually caterpillars that chew large holes in the leaves of tomatoes, ... | |
| Squash Caterpillar | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: I am struggling to find the type of culprit that is plaguing my zucchini and yellow strait neck ... A: Jessica, I doubt the caterpillar is your problem. They will leave holes in leaves, but the symptoms ... | |
| Cats in our flower garden | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: How can we keep cats from using our flower garden as a catbox? A: Matt, there are many chemical repellents sold in local nurseries such as Ropel. Although most are ... | |
| Pests on broccoli | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: Ym mother is 82, she lives in south Fl. She has little red bugs on her broccoli plants. She wants to ... A: Vic, without seeing a picture, it is hard to say given the hundreds of garden pests common to ... | |
| Fungus growing in my garden | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if the copper fungicide works on all kinds of fungus in flower beds. Our fungus is ... A: Sarah, copper has proven to be the most effective control for fungus diseases. I personally use a ... | |
| Pests & Soft Touch (Japanese) Holly Bushes | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: I live in the mountains of North Carolina. I've got soft touch holly plants/shrub (also known as ... A: Joy, it is most likely a flea beetle or some other variety, but it is difficult to assess the exact ... | |
| Goutweed Bishops weed agerpodium(sp) | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: HELP. I have been fighting this weed for about 10 years now, and I'm literally at wit's end. Last ... A: Bishop's weed is one of the most invasive of weeds. Unless you use a vegetation killer, and make ... | |
| Garden pests | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: I live in Tucson, Az. I have recently begun a fruit and vegetable garden. I am growing tomatoes, ... A: Diane, it could be a 4-legged pest such as a rabbit, assuming it somehow is getting under the ... | |
| Plant insects | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: My outdoor flowers have just started producing their leaves and I already see evidence of their ... A: If you do not see any flying insects, the culprits are most likely slugs. Slugs only eat the foliage ... | |
| Insect infestation - Jacaranda Tree | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: Tree is about 5 years old and trunk is 8" at base. Tree is healthy and spring bloom underway. ... A: Unfortunately, both pests require different controls. If the worms are earthworms, they are ... | |
| Citrus tree; Beetles | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: I have large dark (2cm) beetle type insects on my lemon tree Are the good or bad insects A: Rudy, there are literally dozens of beetle species. Although some are beneficial insects, most of ... | |
| Houseplant Pests | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: I have several house plants. All of a sudden all of them started looking very bad. I looked at the ... A: Sue, it sounds like whiteflies or mites. Regardless of which pest has infested your plants, the ... | |
| Mealy bugs on indoor palms | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: I was just washing down my indoor palm for mealy bugs. They were all over me. Do they cause any ... A: Karen, they pose no threat to humans. However, since they can do damage to your plants, it is best ... | |
| Worm-like bugs in my lemon tree | 1/25/2009 |
| Q: what can I do naturally? Thanks for your help A: Chris, the best deterrent for worms and other crawling insects is BT, otherwise known as Bacillus ... | |
| Insects on Zucchinis | 1/22/2009 |
| Q: i have noticed miniscule black insects that bore into my zucchinis. the fruit appears normal on the ... A: Kym, the insect you described sounds like the flea beetle, but it is difficult to assess the exact ... | |
| Slugs | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: My herbs (sweet basil, chives and nasturtiums, the latter of which was planted as a companion plant) ... A: I, too, have had many heartaches over the damage slugs have done to my plants over the years. I ... | |
| Grubs | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering we have geranium plants in our classroom at school ......we have had them for years ... A: Grubs are the larvae of Japanese Beetles. It is very possible that the Japanese beetles flew into ... | |
| Kaolin to protect my veggies | 12/10/2008 |
| Q: I have read about a slurry of Kaolin (Surround) that you spray onto your apples to protect them from ... A: Surround will protect vegetables from most insects, but keep in mind that it also deters beneficial ... | |
| Gardenia; Insects | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: Good morning - something is eating into the buds of my gardenia before they open, leaving holes in ... A: Julia, two great organic pesticides are pyrethrin and rotenone. Both are plant extracts which are ... | |
| Apple tree bark insect | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: I have a large bee eating my apple tree bark. What insectacide can i put on the bark to protect and ... A: I would recommend pyrethrum or rotenone. Both are organic insecticides that are highly effective. ... | |
| Squash and Pumpkin Borers! | 10/4/2008 |
| Q: A couple weeks ago I was storing pumpkins and squash in my greenhouse for curing before moving into ... A: Carpenter bees will bore holes into wood and certain vegetables leaving a trail of sawdust behind. ... | |
| Ivy | 9/16/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to remove ivy from my garden as it is spreading everywhere. Is there anything that will ... A: Ivy is very difficult to kill. Unfortunately, there are no organic products that I have found ... | |
| Grubs in my vegetable garden | 9/15/2008 |
| Q: My whole garden was destroyed by large white grubs. I live in central Minnesota and am looking for a ... A: Grub-ex is by far the best product on the market for an immediate resolution to your grub problem. ... | |
| Bugs on green beans | 9/4/2008 |
| Q: I have little yellow, round, fuzzy bugs on my green beans, wax beans and limas. I also see tiny ... A: These are the larvae of squash bugs. You can control them with pyrethrum, an organic pesticide that ... | |
| Something keeps attacking my Lilac! | 9/2/2008 |
| Q: I have a lilac bush (Mme Lemoine variety) that is continually plagued by something that I can't ... A: Alice, are you sure the white substance is composed of insects? The reason I ask is that lilac ... | |
| bugs? | 9/1/2008 |
| Q: Please..."something" seems to eating the leaves and flowers off my various flowers in the flower ... A: Gail, it could be a variety of pests including beetles, slugs, or even 4-legged pests such as deer, ... | |
| Caterpillar or worm | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: I have a container garden for my tomatoes and I keep finding this green caterpillar about 1 1/2 ... A: Millie, what you are describing sounds like the tomato hornworm. Tomato hornworms are actually ... | |
| Outdoor plants | 8/18/2008 |
| Q: I have some potted plants I put out side this summer to receive more sun. I want to keep them by ... A: Shirley, if you suspect insects are on the plant, I would first spray them with a horticultural oil. ... | |
| Petunia; Caterpillars | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: My petunias have green catipillars on each flower and they are being eaten with hardly any blooms. ... A: Catherine, you need to treat the plants with BT. BT is an organic insecticide which is short for ... | |
| How to kill leeches and maggots | 8/13/2008 |
| Q: I was very unhappy to find maggots and leeches in a rock covered side yard and the infestation has ... A: While the maggots and leeches are still in the crawling stage, you can use one of several organic ... | |
| Gardenias | 7/28/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 potted gardenia plants that both bloomed. I also have a Plumeria, I am noticing white ... A: Denise, your plants have been infected with powdery mildew, a fungus disease that is especially ... | |
| Diatomaceous Earth | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: Ok, so I did not do my research before I sprinkled the DE Ant & Crawling Insect Killer (Safer ... A: Patti, the brand you used is still organic, as are all products comprised of diatomaceous earth. It ... | |
| Squash problems | 7/13/2008 |
| Q: Mike, I had some of my squash develop a black mold on the small fruit. Now, I am losing some of my ... A: Jerry, it sounds like your plants have developed a bacterial disease which is normally spread by an ... | |
| pests on my annuals | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: I have large pots planted with annuals: potato vines, New Guinea impatiens, ageratum, alyssum. Some ... A: Judy, the pesticide you are using is called pyrethrum. As you mentioned, it is derived from the ... | |
| pests | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: i have planted sun flowers and one by one they have gotten eatened.hey get cut right offat the base. ... A: Fred, unless you see what the culprit is, I can only surmise that the animal is a groundhog, rabbit, ... | |
| Brown bugs | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: I live in NC and we have had the worst garden ever, i have thses little brown bugs eating ... A: They could be flea beetles or mites, but it is very difficult to determine which insect it is ... | |
| tomato pest | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: Mike--We have a bunch of critters on our Roma Tomato plant(not on our other tomato plants)that are ... A: Although spider mites, thrips, whiteflies, and aphids are the most common pests that attack ... | |
| Raccoons in house | 6/12/2008 |
| Q: there is a family of racoons in my crawl space in the bathroom what can you do to take them out A: Trapping is really your only option besides poison if they are in the house. Trapping is relatively ... | |
| Red bugs | 5/31/2008 |
| Q: My name is luke I live in Southern Indiana and I am nine years old. I was out side sitting on ... A: Luke, there are literally hundreds of red insects, so it is very hard to give you a definitive ... | |
| Peach Tree + Pest = problem | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a sap on the base of the peach tree. I am thinking it may be bores. How can I treat this? In ... A: JoAnn, I would start out with a light horticultural oil to destroy any insects and their eggs. There ... | |
| big beef tomato plant | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: I bought a big beef tomato plant 3 feet high from Home Depot 5 days ago, and planted it in our yard ... A: Jen, I always recommend avoiding plants that large. I find that the seedlings that do best are the ... | |
| Gopher repellent | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: We live in rural California and my mom uses marigold plants to surround her garden area to keep ... A: Carrie, mature marigolds have been known to deter many pests, including rabbits and gophers. Most ... | |
| Unknown Predator | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: We live in north-central New Mexico next to a river and in the mountains/forest. We planted over ... A: Cynthia, without identifying the pest by sight, it is really difficult to determine which one is ... | |
| Black worms on houseplants | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: I just purchased a very large palm plant and I am in the process of repotting it. I noticed some ... A: Simone, cayenne pepper is a good deterrent, but it does not always kill insects. It simply provides ... | |
| tomatoes | 4/21/2008 |
| Q: what kind of worm or bug puts a little hole in nearly ripe tomatoes that just about ready to pick? A: Ray, these worms are referred to as hornworms. Tomato hornworms are actually small caterpillars that ... | |
| Groundhogs | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: I live in N/W Indiana and was wondering if you had any suggestion how to get rid of a ground hog. I ... A: Jurgen, when dealing with pests such as groundhogs or other four-legged creatures, you basically ... | |
| Gnats on seedlings growing indoors | 3/18/2008 |
| Q: I have started my garden for this summer and have two indoor green houses with several dozens ... A: Diane, it sounds like you will need to resort to a more harsh insecticide. Since I am a firm ... | |
| Houseplant Pests | 3/11/2008 |
| Q: I am getting a bunch of little black gnat-like bugs around the soil top of several houseplants. The ... A: Carol, it sounds like flea beetles, but can also be mites attacking the plants. You can control any ... | |
| Apple Trees | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: Last year several large branches on one of my apples just died - in full leaf. When I was pruning ... A: Peeling bark is normal on trees over 10 years old. However, this condition can also be an indication ... | |
| Inchworms | 3/2/2008 |
| Q: We have had an over run of inch worms in the house. We find at least 5 every morning and then again ... A: There is no way of knowing what originally brought them in, but one thing is certain, they have laid ... | |
| indoor flying bugs | 2/29/2008 |
| Q: help! i have many house plants, some i take outside during summer, some are just to big to move. i ... A: I would venture a guess that it is either aphids, mites, or flea beetles attacking the plants. You ... | |
| house plant pests | 2/21/2008 |
| Q: In the dirt of my house plants are these tiny bugs, you can barley see them, they look silvery & ... A: Many insects, especially those found on houseplants, do little or no damage. But it still is a good ... | |
| Black Mites in herb garden | 2/9/2008 |
| Q: I am starting a herb garden and I found small Black mites with white spots. When I try to pick one ... A: I would definitely not purge the garden. Instead, I would wait it out and see if there are any signs ... | |
| Indentifying pest | 2/5/2008 |
| Q: I have had an improved Meyers Lemon in a container for a little over a year in a container, ... A: Although horticultural oil is the preferred method of killing pests and destroying their eggs, too ... | |
| Cayenne Pepper | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: I noticed some small white worms in some of my house plants. The plants are in planters that don't ... A: Elle, cayenne pepper, sprinkled in moderation, should not kill the plants. I use it often with much ... | |
| Diatomaceous Earth - Centipedes | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: We live in Canada and in the past week we found two *huge* centipedes in our living room. They ... A: Diatomaceous earth is an organic product composed of shaved remains of fossilized diatoms. Although ... | |
| bugs on my ming aralia | 11/12/2007 |
| Q: Five weeks ago, I bought a beautiful Ming aralia from my local garden center and it has recently put ... A: I would spray them with an insecticidal soap. You can purchase this product at most nurseries or ... | |
| Aphids | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: 1 question, is there a way to get rid of aphid organically? The plants are inside the house, so i ... A: Dustin, aphids can be controlled oranically with either a garlic spray or with an insecticidal soap. ... | |
| Sowbugs | 11/3/2007 |
| Q: i have a mega big problem with woodlice as we call them here in germany, i think everybody refers to ... A: Simon, in order to control these bugs, they must be killed at the source, which is outside. You must ... | |
| Muskrat Problem | 10/19/2007 |
| Q: I have a problem w/ muskrats around my fish pond. I don't want anything w/ anykind of chemicals ... A: Sandy, you have four options at this point. You can fence the area in, attempt to trap the animal, ... | |
| Grubs | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: We have a major grub problem (Japanese beetles). I used a product like Grub-ex earlier this year, ... A: Grub-ex must be applied between June and early August for maximum effectiveness. This product ... | |
| Love Bugs | 9/25/2007 |
| Q: I know love bugs only come in may and september and i haven't seen any until about two days ago ... A: Nicole, love bugs fly in swarms and usually number in the hundreds. They appear twice each year, ... | |
| Green Worm on Roses | 9/24/2007 |
| Q: This year, 2007, I have spotted several 1" long curled green worms eating the leaves of my roses. ... A: Deborah, this common garden pest is called a green hornworm. Hornworms are actually caterpillars ... | |
| Ants | 9/16/2007 |
| Q: What is the best remedy to rid the house of little black ants? A: Virginia, there are several controls you can use, but most of them involve chemicals. That is why I ... | |
| Grubs | 9/14/2007 |
| Q: I have grub worms and they are making brown patches in my grass. I understand detergent and water ... A: Bethany, you can mix 3 tsp. of dishwashing liquid per gallon of water to deter most pests, including ... | |
| Pest Control | 9/8/2007 |
| Q: H i Mike I live in Az. and have a rosemary plant that has these little worm like bugsall over it ... A: Mike, it is hard to say what the pest is without a photo, but it does sound like the funnel weavil. ... | |
| Yellow Jackets | 9/6/2007 |
| Q: There's an old grill permanently installed in our side yard. We don't use it but can't remove it. ... A: Grace, unfortunately there is no deterrent for bees, but there are ways to control them. Your best ... | |
| Vomit Looking Stuff on my Lawn! | 9/4/2007 |
| Q: I have a HUGE cow paddy like growth or mound that has appeared on my lawn. It has an orangy,foamy ... A: Donna, the substance you are describing is called slime mold. It is a fungus composed of thousands ... | |
| Ming Aralia (houseplant) dying suddenly | 9/1/2007 |
| Q: I have a wonderful Ming Aralia, which was, until about a week or so ago, quite healthy. I admit that ... A: Micah, you have really answered your own question. Over-caring for house plants is the number one ... | |
| Tomatoes; Hornworm | 8/31/2007 |
| Q: Whatis the large green caterpillar that eats tomato plants in Wilmington, NC A: Jane, this common tomato pest is called a green hornworm. Tomato hornworms are actually caterpillars ... | |
| Zucchini; Red Bugs | 8/17/2007 |
| Q: I have little red bugs on my zucchini. I think they might be some sort of spider because they have ... A: Joshua, these are most likely red spider mites. You can use an organic pesticide to control these. I ... | |
| Insects and White Powder on Flowers | 8/13/2007 |
| Q: I planted Marigolds and Silvia and they were doing great. Now I have noticed a white poder on the ... A: Bonnie, it sounds like your marigolds have contracted powdery mildew, a fungus disease that infects ... | |
| Gnats | 8/12/2007 |
| Q: I live in Lawndale, a suburb of Los Angeles. Last summer and, again this summer, my backyard ... A: Judie, the only solution is to fill a pressure sprayer with an insecticide according to the ... | |
| spider mites | 8/11/2007 |
| Q: We live in central Indiana - a drought summer & unusally hot - there are farm crops on 3 sides of ... A: Pam, spider mites can be easily controlled in a small garden by using yellow sticky traps. Larger ... | |
| Squirrels | 7/28/2007 |
| Q: This is my first summer in a new house and we have squirrels! I planted a nice little container ... A: Sara, you basically have two options with squirrels. Either trap them or use a deterrent to keep ... | |
| Diatomaceous Earth; Slugs | 7/26/2007 |
| Q: I'm trying to use an organic product to rid my garden of snails and slugs that are piggin out on my ... A: Kim, diatomaceous earth is an organic product, but not if it is mixed with silicon dioxide. ... | |
| Slugs and Caterpillars | 7/23/2007 |
| Q: it worked at first and now I'm not catching any). They're tearing through my broccoli and I'm afraid ... A: Catherine, there are two separate controls for slugs and caterpillars. Let's start with the ... | |
| Insects on Roses | 7/22/2007 |
| Q: I have a rose bush that insects are eating the leaves. I can't see them with the naked eye. What can ... A: Albert, you probably have aphids infesting your roses. Insecticidal soap is effective and can be ... | |
| Carpenter Bees | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: We have a new home built in the middle fo 75 acres of woods. The Vinyl siding on the porch has ... A: These are most likely carpenter bees. The are large, black, and fuzzy with a yellow stripe. Although ... | |
| Grasshoppers | 7/16/2007 |
| Q: How do I get rid of grasshoppers that are eating my marigolds? A: Carolyn, grasshoppers are one of the more difficult pests to control. There are chemicals such as ... | |
| Japanese Beetles | 6/22/2007 |
| Q: we have been having a problem with these nasty insects for 2 years now, going to 3. i live in NJ ... A: There are several insecticides that will kill Japanese Beetles, including rotenone and pyrethrum. ... | |
| What is Killing my Sunflowers? | 6/20/2007 |
| Q: I'm in Portland, OR. My sunflowers are about 3 feet tall. A week ago, one was gnawed off at about ... A: Jeff, it sounds like rabbits based on your description. They normally feed in the evening or very ... | |
| Pests - Eating Everything! | 6/19/2007 |
| Q: backyard, and something is eating everything in sight! The leaves on my mint, beans, basil and even ... A: Joanne, I doubt that the sowbugs are eating the plants. Their primary diet is decaying plant matter, ... | |
| Caterpillars??? | 6/18/2007 |
| Q: This is a two-part question. a)I noticed that the leaves of my hibiscus plants were being eaten. ... A: Mollie, I always recommend organic controls, and the best on the market today for caterpillars is ... | |
| Japanese Beetles | 6/17/2007 |
| Q: I was walking around the house checking my new plants and saw hundreds of beetles mating on my holly ... A: Georgeann, the most likely cause of your problem is grubs. Grubs are the larvae of what eventually ... | |
| Chipmunks | 6/16/2007 |
| Q: Help!! Something is nibbling at my portulaca. It looks as though it's a chipmunk or a squirrel ... A: Sherry, I have found planting garlic, marigolds, and aromatic herbs nearby usually deters most ... | |
| Grasshoppers | 6/12/2007 |
| Q: We just moved into our new home in January. This past week, we have been infested with ... A: Angela, grasshoppers are one of the more difficult pests to control. There are chemicals such as ... | |
| Red Bugs in Lawn | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can help me. I live in Mass and I was outside today playing with my son. I had put ... A: Amy, although it is difficult to identify an insect without seeing it, the only red insect that ... | |
| Aphids and Ants | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: I believe we have aphids on a couple of our plants. We also have ants in our eggplant. Will the dish ... A: Jessica, unfortunately, insecticidal soap is not very effective against ants. It does, hewever, work ... | |
| Pests - Organic Controls | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: I was weeding in one of my flower gardens and when I disturbed leaves at the base of a rose bush, ... A: Lauri, they will harm your roses over time if left unattended. Two organic controls are pyrethrum ... | |
| Bees on Plants | 5/21/2007 |
| Q: The Cotoneaster plants in our small front garden have always attracted a few bees, but this year it ... A: Jackie, you can purchase a bee trap at any home improvement center or nursery. Basically, these are ... | |
| white spots on impatiens petals | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: I recently purchased starter plants at my local nursery. I got mostly impatiens, brought them home. ... A: Ann, these are probably mites. You can treat them with one of several organic controls. These ... | |
| Balcony plants | 5/7/2007 |
| Q: HELP!!!i have, it seems, many simultaneous problems. First of all, i m not in the US. I live in ... A: Vassia, there are organic controls available to deal with insects. Organic alternatives include ... | |
| Black Ants | 5/6/2007 |
| Q: I live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Every May, when the weather becomes warmer and spring is upon ... A: Jean, the best organic solution for ants is diatomaceous earth. Basically, it is a mineral product ... | |
| Organic Pest Control | 4/29/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Mascio, My wife and I have a small apartment patio garden - Potted plants. We have started to ... A: Arnold, my recommendation is to use an oil spray. These products are organic and will suffocate all ... | |
| Bumble Bees | 4/24/2007 |
| Q: We moved into our present home this past December. This Spring was our first here. There are 2-3 ... A: Mark, your best bet is a bee trap. These are cylindrical contraptions that bait the bees in with ... | |
| Balcony Pests | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: I live in a third-floor, southwest-facing apartment about five mile inland in Los Angeles. On my ... A: I never advocate the use of chemicals, but sometimes when the infestation gets really bad, there ... | |
| Spruce Trees - Insects | 4/1/2007 |
| Q: I live in Maryland. Something is eating the needles off the ends of my spruce trees. What can I do ... A: Frank, it could be one of many insects. The most prevalent, however, include spruce miners and tree ... | |
| Worm-like Critters | 3/30/2007 |
| Q: We live near Mtn. Home, Arkansas - north central part of the state. We recently added compost to ... A: Cabbage worm and loopers can be controlled with BT. BT is an organic insecticide which is short for ... | |
| Worm-like Critters | 3/29/2007 |
| Q: We live near Mtn. Home, Arkansas - north central part of the state. We recently added compost to ... A: Dave, what you are describing are pillbugs. These insects do little damage to plants. They will ... | |
| Fungus Growing in Flowerbeds. | 3/12/2007 |
| Q: I have some kind of pink, brown, yellow nasty foam/dog barf looking stuff growing in my flower beds. ... A: Kristie, the technical name for this growth is Fuligo septica, more commonly referred to as vomit ... | |
| Corn; Low Yield | 2/12/2007 |
| Q: I planted a high yielding disease resistant variety of corn, proper land preparation and pest and ... A: The most probable reasons are a lack of phosphorus in the soil; poor drainage; interplanting of ... | |
| Moss on Patio | 1/24/2007 |
| Q: Moss growth on my brick patio (on concrete slab on grade) keeps me power washing it off and it only ... A: David, chemicals are your only option given the fact the moss is on your patio. In the garden, I ... | |
| impatiens | 1/7/2007 |
| Q: I have some impatiens planted in outside in a mostly shaded area. They grow very large and with ... A: Ann, the symptoms you described are a sign of too much water or poor drainage. Impatiens, like most ... | |
| garden pest | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: "I live in the midwest (Chicago area) and have a problem with regular old everyday type garden ... A: Rick, the best control for worms in or away from the garden is BT. BT is an organic insecticide ... | |
| sweet violets | 12/12/2006 |
| Q: I think my plants caught a bug called leaf curl. It started as little yellow spots, progressed ... A: Inconsistent watering and/or poor drainage is the primary reason for leaf curl. The water in the ... | |
| white flies | 11/21/2006 |
| Q: First time gardner, I had white flies everywhere in the garden especially on the tomatoes. Tried ... A: Chemicals are always an option, but definitely not the safest way to control insects, especially on ... | |
| pests | 11/9/2006 |
| Q: what if i sprayed vineger on the plant?i keep finding these little light green worm things on ... A: Vinegar can serve as a short-term solution. However, the smell dissipates quickly, and the pests ... | |
| pests | 11/6/2006 |
| Q: i keep finding these little light green worm things on severel of my plants!what can i do so that ... A: Coleen, if you do not want to kill them, you need to hand pick them. Unfortunately, they will ... | |
| tree and ants | 10/13/2006 |
| Q: I just got a home for the first time. it has a large (for me) lime tree (or are they lemons? cant ... A: Tim, you definitely want to get rid of the ants. Whether or not they do permanent damage depends on ... | |
| plant disease | 10/13/2006 |
| Q: I live in West Covina California. My gardenia plant has a serious problem. I have tried several ... A: Ann, it sounds like your gardenias have contracted a fungal disease. It's hard to tell which one it ... | |
| identifying pests | 10/7/2006 |
| Q: I find on my rosemary plants a white sticky globule, is this a pest? If so which one, and how can I ... A: The only two pests that generally infest rosemary are aphids and mites. Either can be treated with ... | |
| green pepper pests | 10/4/2006 |
| Q: Portland, Oregon I went out to check on my peppers and discovered that they all have a small (maybe ... A: Eggplant and peppers are both members of the nightshade family. As such, they are susceptible to the ... | |
| Tunnels in my lawn | 9/22/2006 |
| Q: I live in Northeast Ohio and just mowed my lawn and found soil quite soft in many spots and have ... A: Bill, you either have moles or voles tunneling in your lawn. First, make sure you have properly ... | |
| larvae egg | 9/12/2006 |
| Q: we live in louisville,ky and we have a flower garden,we have found several small egg like things,we ... A: Jerry, there are literally hundreds of species of caterpillars, so I cannot really identify it with ... | |
| slugs | 9/11/2006 |
| Q: ok this isnt exactly garden related but i thought you might be able to help. i have recently moved ... A: Rob, slugs are a big problem here in the midwest, especially in the early spring when it is cool and ... | |
| yellow catapillars | 9/11/2006 |
| Q: mom has big sunflowers next to house-leaves being savaged by yellow hairy ... A: Dave, without a picture, it is next to impossible to identify what type of caterpillar is infesting ... | |
| loss of tomato leaves | 8/14/2006 |
| Q: I'm in Charlotte, NC and planted late tomatoes. They seem to be healthy and are producing. ... A: Penny, you didn't mention how tall these plants are, but it sounds like some type of animal is ... | |
| tomato plant pest | 8/14/2006 |
| Q: I found several green catapillars on my tomato plants. They were green with what looked liked white ... A: Nicole, it sounds like your tomato plants are infested with hornworms. Tomato hornworms are actually ... | |
| Beetles | 8/13/2006 |
| Q: I live in the Channel Islands off the coast of France in the English Channel. This year, we seem to ... A: Tommy, I would definitely use an organic control to prevent any harm to your dogs. Two proven ... | |
| Salad Leaf problem | 7/28/2006 |
| Q: I'm in london, England. I have been growing salad veg, i.e. rocket,various lettuce etc in pots and ... A: I would suspect aphids or whiteflies have infested the plants. To control these insects, spray the ... | |
| Hornworm | 7/27/2006 |
| Q: I took it off the plant, what should I do with it? Also, are there more or does the moth just lay ... A: Just drop it in soapy water or move it out of the yard completely. It's hard to say how many you ... | |
| Slugs in outdoor potted plants | 7/26/2006 |
| Q: I'm an 2nd story apartment dweller. Last year I set out pots of flowers and veggies on the ... A: Kathleen, slugs are a big problem here in the midwest, especially in the early spring when it is ... | |
| worms on lanai | 7/26/2006 |
| Q: I live in Bonita Springs, FL. Everytime we get a heavy rain, I get hundreds of very small worms on ... A: Phyllis, the best control for worms is an organic product called BT. BT is an organic insecticide ... | |
| little red bugs | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: On 8/8/05 Vanessa asked you about little red bugs on her tomato plants. We also live in Nothern VA, ... A: Rudi, it's hard to say without actually seeing the insect. There are literally thousands of insects, ... | |
| Zucchini | 7/3/2006 |
| Q: My plants have a white powder on them and its killing the leafs.. Plant is still producing new leafs ... A: Randall, what you are experiencing is a fungus disease called powdery mildew. The disease is spread ... | |
| organic zuchini pest control | 5/13/2006 |
| Q: I live near Pittsburgh PA.. Do you know of an effective organic way to protect zuchini plants from ... A: Vince, the larvae you described is the larvae of the squash borer. The moth lays the egg in the ... | |
| Worms on tomatoe plants and squash | 5/9/2006 |
| Q: I have discovered green horn worms on my tomatoes and small worm holes in my squash. Is there a ... A: Tomato hornworms are actually caterpillars that chew large holes in the leaves of tomatoes, ... | |
| Snails and Slugs | 4/22/2006 |
| Q: We get a LOT of snails and slugs, front and back, and some of them are huge, too (where do they come ... A: Marci, snails and slugs are attracted to garden beds that supply hiding places during the day to ... | |
| Need a natural repellant for cutter ants | 2/4/2006 |
| Q: Mike, Thanks for the reply. However, most things that are readily available to people in the U.S., ... A: Annie, you can make some home made remedies that are very effective. Probably the most effectives ... | |
| Need a natural repellant for cutter ants | 1/26/2006 |
| Q: We live in Cozumel, Mexico and have a big cutter ant problem in our garden. We just planted some ... A: Annie, I personally use Diatomaceous Earth to control many crawling insects, especially ants, ... | |
| cats | 1/2/2006 |
| Q: you may not be able to help but i hope you can. our neighbours have 2 cats who have been ... A: Chris, cats are probably the most difficult animal to control. In the vegetable garden, it is a ... | |
| Cats ruining garden | 12/4/2005 |
| Q: We have two outdoor cats in Baton Rouge, LA. They constantly play in our large front yard garden ... A: Melissa, I also have two male cats that love to dig in the garden. I have tried many deterrents, ... | |
| Insects in Palm Tree soil | 11/14/2005 |
| Q: I live in Southern Ontario, Canada. I bought a Palm Tree that is a little over 5 feet tall. It was ... A: Mary Jane, I would try to resolve the bug issue before giving up on the tree. You need to apply an ... | |
| Hobo Spiders/Centipedes | 9/14/2005 |
| Q: I live in Preston Idaho and seem to be the new living space for hobo spiders. How can I control the ... A: Diane, most crawling insects such as spiders and centipedes can be controlled with powdered ... | |
| Gardenias | 8/23/2005 |
| Q: My gardenia bush is in serious trouble. It has stopped blooming, there are little white specks on ... A: Ann, the white specks are either hundreds of small insects or the eggs they have laid. Without ... | |
| hybiscus insect/worm | 8/20/2005 |
| Q: I have a very small, very fertile furry white worm on my hybiscus and it appears to be laying ... A: Susan, without seeing the worm, it is very difficult to identify it. However, an effective control ... | |
| whiteflies | 8/18/2005 |
| Q: Im in Florida and I'm having a terible time controling whiteflies,or at least i think they are ... A: Peri, since you have identified them as whiteflies or some other type of an insect, and not a ... | |
| little red bugs on my tomato plants | 8/8/2005 |
| Q: I live in Northern VA, about 1/2 hour outside of DC, and have just noticed some tiny red bugs on one ... A: Vanessa, I doubt the bugs are your problem, although from your description it sounds like one of ... | |
| Catapillars | 8/7/2005 |
| Q: I found 2 catapillars on my tomato and pepper plants.....they were green and blended in perfectly ... A: Kevin, it sounds like your tomato and pepper plants are infested with hornworms. Tomato hornworms ... | |
| Yellow Squash Problems | 7/10/2005 |
| Q: I live in Charlotte North Carolina and just recently I have been having a problem with my squash ... A: David, the more likely disease is what is called Choanephora, otherwise known as wet-rot. This ... | |
| slugs | 6/17/2005 |
| Q: I have heard of a way to keep slugs at bay. Supposedly slugs will not cross copper. Since they ... A: Slugs are snails without the shell. They both belong to the mollusk family. Copper is a very ... | |
| Hibiscus-Gone in 60 seconds | 6/16/2005 |
| Q: I live in Plano, TX. Just last night, I was feeding my plants with Miracle Grow and everything was ... A: Mike, without seeing the animal that destroyed your plant, it's very difficult to venture a guess. ... | |
| Pest | 6/15/2005 |
| Q: There are many small piles of small, greyish and red/organge/brown balls on top my newly mulched ... A: Jennifer, these are eggs. They can be from a wide variety of insects, but are most likely the eggs ... | |
| Insects | 6/6/2005 |
| Q: I have a problem with an insect called Spittlebug. It has attaked two perrenials and I cannot find ... A: Ed, Sevin is the most popular pesticide on the market, but it is a very harsh chemical. It is ... | |
| Japanese beetles | 5/27/2005 |
| Q: Springboro, Ohio While planting my flowers, I've run into hundreds of Japanese beetles (grubs). Is ... A: Peg, a product such as Grubex, made with Merit, is highly effective against grubs. The upside is ... | |
| Ants | 5/11/2005 |
| Q: I live in Arcola, Illinois and ants are driving me nuts. They come in the house each spring and ... A: Donna, you can control ants by spreading some diatomaceous earth in the area that is infested. ... | |
| grubs in flower garden soil | 5/10/2005 |
| Q: I live in Mentor, Ohio. We were planting some petunias and noticed several grubs in the soil. Are ... A: Ann, Grub-ex is by far the best product on the market for an immediate resolution. The problem with ... | |
| whiteflies | 1/12/2005 |
| Q: Hollister, Ca. I aquired whiteflies this last summer and have tried a product from Ortho which only ... A: Deanna, the chemicals you described are contact insecticides, and will only control the insects on ... | |
| cottony scale on rose bushes | 1/3/2005 |
| Q: I am in Miami florida and am in a constant war with cottony scale on my rose bushes. I hose them off ... A: Shoshana, spraying them with water is only a temporary solution. To eradicate scale you must either ... | |
| tiny white bugs | 11/12/2004 |
| Q: This summer I kept some hot pepper plants in a long planter on the balcony of my apartment. They ... A: Brian, you are most likely correct that the insects are aphids. The other possibility is ... | |
| moths eating plants | 11/12/2004 |
| Q: I have a friend who lives in Spring Hill, FL. She has a lot of Blue Daze plants which get killed ... A: Jane, these are most likely coddling moths. They are very prevalent in the home garden and can do ... | |
| horrible, large green caterpillers! | 11/8/2004 |
| Q: I live in Miami Beach, Florida, have a large Angel's Trumpet shrub (yes, I know the flowers could be ... A: Shoshana, caterpillars can be controlled with an organic microbial insecticide called Bacillus ... | |
| hibiscus infestation | 9/14/2004 |
| Q: I live in WV and a few months ago I bought an orange hibiscus plant. A few days ago I noticed ... A: Rose, these insects are appropriately named after their appearance. They are called whiteflies. ... | |
| bugs | 9/10/2004 |
| Q: Near Fort Worth, Tx. I love HollyHocks. Ours start out nicely in the spring, with beautiful ... A: I doubt your problem is with earwigs. These insects usually eat dead or decaying foliage. The most ... | |
| organic garden pest | 8/25/2004 |
| Q: my sqaush and pumpkins have powdergray bugs on them that turn brown when they mature there are ... A: Ken, what you are experiencing is an infestation of squash bugs, otherwise known as stink bugs. The ... | |
| Aphids and Caterpillars | 8/4/2004 |
| Q: I live in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, and have had excellent success in gardening until I ... A: Molly, you can try cutting the petunias down to about 3" and hope for one more flush of blooms in ... | |
| pests | 7/26/2004 |
| Q: Cheshire.Dear Mike, I have several snapdragon plants in my garden an this year ... A: Lynne, these insects sound like flea beetles. These black beetles are very small in size but can ... | |
| Organic produce pest management | 7/26/2004 |
| Q: I was wondering if you can tell me some different methods for pest management for organic produce, ... A: Tim, there are entire books written on this subject, so answering this question in this type of ... | |
| Squirells & sunflowers | 7/14/2004 |
| Q: Squirells are eating the heads off of all my sunflowers. I tried spraying them with a cayenne pepper ... A: Sarah, you basically have two options with squirrels. Either trap them, or use a deterrent to keep ... | |
| Japanese Beetles | 7/14/2004 |
| Q: Japanese beetles are destroying my roses this year. Are there any safe, natural (non toxic) ways to ... A: Lisa, the most likely cause of your problem is grubs. Grubs are the larvae of what eventually ... | |
| Mole infestation | 7/13/2004 |
| Q: Mike ... not sure if this is really your area, but I'm getting desperate for help. I've got a mole ... A: Felix, it sounds like you have done all of the right things. Moles can be crafty, and the secret is ... | |
| something eating sunflowers | 7/1/2004 |
| Q: I have something that is eating the leaves of my newly planted sunflowers. There are little ... A: Keli, it sounds like you may have slugs in your garden. Slugs are very prevalent in late spring and ... | |
| square foot method | 6/26/2004 |
| Q: hi - what is the square foot method of gardening? A: Square foot gardening is a method of intensive gardening. The term "square foot gardening" was ... | |
| Phlox | 6/26/2004 |
| Q: Something is eating holes in the leaves of my phlox. What could it be and how can I stop it? A: Gina, your problem is most likey slugs. They are very prevalent this time of year. I have tried ... | |
| orange beetles on lilies | 6/10/2004 |
| Q: What to do? Disgusting beetles or bugs orange with black head and black pieces of something under ... A: Helen, it definitely sounds like you have two or more types of beetles infesting your plants. The ... | |
| pests eating plants | 6/1/2004 |
| Q: i started a bunch of sunflowers from seed - now they were big enuf to go in the garden - so i would ... A: Pamela, there's no question that mature plants are less appealing to slugs than are young seedlings. ... | |
| rabbit in garden | 5/26/2004 |
| Q: I HAVE A SMALL GARDEN-IN THE CITY- AND HAVE A RABBIT THAT LIKES TO SIT IN IT AND MY BROCCOLI PLANTS ... A: I can certainly empathize since rabbits have been a nemesis for me for a long time. In all honesty, ... | |
| Hosta Lily | 5/22/2004 |
| Q: Does Hosta lillies cause or attract flies?? A: Gail, the only insects that are attracted to hostas are snails and slugs. If left uncontrolled, ... | |
| Mysterious stuff on flower bed mulch | 5/12/2004 |
| Q: A mysterious blob of what looks like yellow vomit appears on my flower bed mulch. It changes ... A: David, the substance you are describing is a fungus composed on thousand of tiny spores. This mold ... | |
| Pest control | 4/28/2004 |
| Q: I am looking for an organic solution to pest control in our vegetable garden. A: Don, two great organic pesticides are pyrethrin and rotenone. Both are plant extracts which are ... | |
| cabbage pest | 4/10/2004 |
| Q: I live in New Zealand and I have been getting some type of worm which lives inside the cabbage as it ... A: The best way to prevent worms is to stop the coddling moths from laying their eggs. I use reemay, ... | |
| Are These Garden Pests? | 4/3/2004 |
| Q: Mike. I have a question that I need to ask you; it may affect whether I garden this year or not. ... A: We had a cicada infestation four years ago here in Ohio. While they did do some damage to the ... | |
| Indoor/Outdoor Insects | 3/18/2004 |
| Q: Although this isn't strictly a gardening question, I have a feeling the bugs that have begun ... A: Jen, given the fact there are literally thousands of species, it is very difficult to pinpoint which ... | |
Pests
Answers by Expert:
Mike Mascio
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I have been an avid gardener since 1985 and an AllExpert volunteer since 1998. I specialize in soil preparation, seed starting and plant propagation, flowers, vegetables, and general landscaping. I am a strong advocate of the square foot method of gardening and the use of organic controls for pests and diseases.
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