AboutJames L. Crowder Expertise I can answer questions about soils, soil amendments, drainage and proper planting. I have extensive background in homeowner labeled pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.) and their proper use. I can also answer questions about the growing requirements of specific plants
Experience I have 37 years experience in the lawn and garden business split fairly evenly between the retail nursery business and wholesale distribution of consumer lawn and garden products. From 1990 to 2000 I co-hosted a weekly call-in talk radio program in Memphis, TN.
Organizations Garden Writers Association
Horticultural Board of the Mid South Fair
Publications Green Thumb Magazine - out of print
Education/Credentials 37 years of learning everday.
Awards and Honors Past president of the Memphis Horticultural Society.
Past president of the Memphis Bonsai Society.
Memphis Horticultural Society 2008 Horticultural Excellence Award
Question hi i have 5 different flowers growing and they all seem to be doing very well, except all of a sudden there are these lil tiny tiny sliver/gray bugs all through out the soil. I had an ester lily that got a similar bug but that 1 realy realy looked like spiders and i couldnt get rid of them! I ended up having to throw it away :-(. Ive tried a homemade spray and it did nothing, i tried drying out the top layer and that did nothing, and now i bought some ecosense insecticidal soap. And still nothing. Can you please help me get rid of them and keep them away i dont want to throw these away. They are a yellow lily, cosmos pink sensations, sweet william, and straw flowers. Thank you
Answer Hi Kandy, You can drench the soil with pyrethrum, an organic insecticide, to get rid of them. Mix it at label rates and water your plants thoroughly with the solution the next time you need to water. I'd do 3 applications, about 7-10 days apart, to kill any you missed or new hatchlings. Jim
