Sign Up
Click on links below to jump to that question.
- Q.Crawlies Infesting My Vegetable Garden - Since the last few weeks a few crawlies that look like a centipede are infesting my home vegetable garden patch ...
- Q.I Need A Safe Insect Spray For My Fruit Trees - can i make a safe insect spray.
- Q.Fungus Gnats - Are BTI drops safe for indoor plants if so how can I order the drops?
- Q.Spots On Leaves Of Several Plants - There are marks all over the foliage of several of my plants… my dahlias, catmint, and salvia most noticeably. I ...
- Q.How Can I Keep Earwigs Out Of. My Flower Pots? - Something safe for pets
- Q.Afraid Of All The Wasps And Hornets In Perennial Garden - hello, i recently added a mid sized perennial garden to the walkway path to the front door and noticed a ...
- Q.What Kind Of Bugs Are Eating My Plant Leaves And What Remedy Is Best To Remove Them? - I have in my garden, several plants. Some of them have leaves that are being chewed and I don't know ...
Asked by
karankumarjain on
May 19, 2024
636004Q.Crawlies Infesting My Vegetable Garden
Since the last few weeks a few crawlies that look like a centipede are infesting my home vegetable garden patch and are multiplying in large numbers. We have tried using organic solutions like Neem Oil and Onion Water but they just don't seem to go away. They're not eating out plants yet but infesting nearby plants at an alarming rate. Since this is a vegetable garden we do not want to use any harmful chemicals. Can you please give suggestions as to what to do to get rid of them ?
Answered by
BushDoctor on
May 20, 2024
Certified ExpertA.I see that your soil is very compact clay. They probably made their way in while being dug up. Generally, clay soil is not recommended because it is too compact and will not drain properly in container. Potting soil is necessary in this case, and clay soil will cause damage, where the centipedes will not. Centipedes prey on insects that DO harm you plants, though. If there are quite a few of them, then I'd look at there being actual pests in the soil.
I think that the fix here would be to change the clay soil to potting soil. This will rid the centipedes. After this you can treat the underlying cause.
I do see signs of spider mite damage. This would explain the heavy centipede population. Treating for that is usually neem oil, though.
In my opinion, potting soil should be seeding with the centipedes, and the extract of neem oil, azadirachtin should be used every few days, or weekly, to control the mites.
Introducing predatory mites can help, too.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/spider-mite-control.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/predatory-mite-pest-contro.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/azadirachtin-vs-neem-oil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/centipedes-and-millipedes.htm
Was this answer useful?00
Join Us -
Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips!
- Asked by
Anonymous on
May 20, 2024Q.I Need A Safe Insect Spray For My Fruit Trees
can i make a safe insect spray.
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
May 22, 2024
Certified ExpertA.Making your own is not always the best option. Even insecticidal soap is more predictable if purchased. If a spray is needed, it is best to start with the least toxic product. These articles should help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/what-are-organic-pesticides.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/homemade-soap-spray.htm
https://extension.umaine.edu/fruit/growing-fruit-trees-in-maine/spraying/
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/fruit-problems-prevention-and-management
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
May 29, 2024Q.Fungus Gnats
Are BTI drops safe for indoor plants if so how can I order the drops?
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
May 31, 2024
Certified ExpertA.We don't recommend certain brands or vendors, but here is more on getting rid of fungus gnats, including Bti, which can be purchased as dry bits at big box stores or online. Applied to the soil, when you water, it releases the bacteria into the soil.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/fungus-gnats.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Kleverett31 on
July 13, 2024
30060Q.Spots On Leaves Of Several Plants
There are marks all over the foliage of several of my plants… my dahlias, catmint, and salvia most noticeably. I can’t figure out what’s causing the spots and if it’s the same thing for all of the plants or if maybe my dahlias are suffering from something different than the catmint and salvia. The new growth appears healthy and then becomes marked later. The catmint and salvia seem to be blooming normally. The dahlias have several buds, but their flowers do not look healthy. Any ideas on what this might be and how I can help them?
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
July 13, 2024
Certified ExpertA.These seem to all have the same problem. This is spider mite damage. You might notice tiny red mites crawling on the plant. They like the undersides of leaves, so look there. This is the worst problem that I have in my indoor garden since there are no natural predators to eat them. Outdoors you could introduce predator insects to eat them, like predatory mites. I wouldn't advise that indoors, though.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/red-spider-mites.htm
Treatment needs to be consistent. They seem to take whatever you throw at them. Azadirachtin is an extract of neem oil. This is what I recommend.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/azadirachtin-vs-neem-oil.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Richsandi33 on
July 20, 2024
98230Q.How Can I Keep Earwigs Out Of. My Flower Pots?
Something safe for pets
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
July 20, 2024
Certified ExpertA.Since there are no good chemical means the best way would be a trap.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/flowerpot-earwig-trap.htm
You could introduce beneficial insects to the area and keep it cleaned of debris.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/flowerpot-earwig-trap.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
August 1, 2024Q.Afraid Of All The Wasps And Hornets In Perennial Garden
hello, i recently added a mid sized perennial garden to the walkway path to the front door and noticed a lot of activity with hornets and wasps. i know they are pollinators and helpful to the environment but i am very afraid of going outside and doing any garden care in fear of being stung. have read online they dislike the scent of some herbs. would it be beneficial to plant some in or would the smell also discourage bees and butterflies and birds? thank you!
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
August 2, 2024
Certified ExpertA.Artemisia, mint, citronella, and eucalyptus are plants that are reputed to deter bees and wasps.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/deterring-bees-wasps-with-plants.htm
Here is more information about wasps that may help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/identify-hornet-wasp-bee-nests.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/truth-about-murder-hornets.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/wasps-as-pollinators.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/kill-wasps.htm
Here is more about herbs:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/hgen/companion-planting-in-your-herb-garden.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
August 7, 2024Q.What Kind Of Bugs Are Eating My Plant Leaves And What Remedy Is Best To Remove Them?
I have in my garden, several plants. Some of them have leaves that are being chewed and I don't know what kind they are or how to get rid of them. The plants are zinnia, sunflower, echinacea and bell pepper leaves. Please let me know if you have a remedy. Much appreciated. Thank you.
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
August 7, 2024
Certified ExpertA.There are chewing insects as well as piercing-sucking insects. Examples of chewing insects are grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars. Piercing-sucking insects include aphids, scale, and mites. These articles may help you identify the culprits:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/sunflower/sunflower-problems.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/coneflower/coneflower-problems.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pepper/common-pepper-plant-problems.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/identifying-garden-pests.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/holes-in-plant-leaves.htm
Was this answer useful?00
Do you know a lot about gardening?
Become a GKH Gardening Expert
X
Join Us -
Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips!