I have been told that ordinary dish soap diluted thinly can be used to drive off wasps, bees and dirt dabbers; is this true?
Yes, it works better if you add some vegetable oil and dilute it with some water. It basically sticks to them and suffocates them.
I am trying to get rid of ground moles. I think the moles have eaten everything else. I can not find any ground worms (fish bait). My dogs are not digging up grubs to eat. Ground crickets are the only bugs I am finding now.
This article will help you with the mole problem:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/mole-control-home-remedies-for-removing-moles-from-your-yard.htm
This article can help you with ground crickets:
https://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2010/8-11/groundcricket.html
How can I kill the ant hills in my garden without pesticides?
This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/get-rid-of-ants.htm
I know inside my home I use 20 mule team borax but I am not sure if that will work in a garden.
I have noticed that I have several newly hatched grasshoppers that seem to be everywhere in my gardens. We had a lot of them last year too. How do you get rid of them before they eat everything in my yard?
These articles will help you with controlling them:
http://polkhort.ifas.ufl.edu/documents/publications/lubber%20grasshoppers%20control.pdf
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/grasshopper-control.htm
I have root maggots in my garden soil. I randomly scooped a cup of soil from my garden today and did an inspection for the insect, and sure enough I found three of them very much alive. I have a small garden, 15 ft. x 12 ft. How do I treat the soil to get rid of them? I live in Newfoundland, Canada, so we are not ready as of yet to start the growing season.
This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/root-eating-insects-identifying-vegetable-root-maggots-and-root-maggot-control.htm
Just today (it is 87 degrees) I have a severe infestation of red spider mites. I have a long hand laid stone ramp (for my husband's wheelchair) and it is completely covered with them. I just purchased almost $200 worth of annuals and vegetables and set them on this ramp. What in the world can I do? I was told to purchase SEVIN, and I sprayed the ramp with this; but unless it hits each one, it doesn't look like it killed them. I have never had these before. They are crawling up the outside of the stone ramp, etc.
Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/red-spider-mites.htm
I would recommend spraying the plant with neem oil. We have found it to be very effective against pests and it is safe for humans and pets plus it will not kill beneficial bugs. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
Hi, Jim here in St. Pete, Florida. I am trying to raise several varieties of common vegetables here and am trying to get away from Sevin, etc. On the second hand recommendations of an old timer, I wanted to try to go this route. I got creative with the recipe just a bit because his was vague. I mixed a half pound of habanero peppers with a pouch of Red Man chewing tobacco and put in enough water to let it mix and blended it up. I also added two ounces of dried red pepper. I have it all in a bucket with about two and a half gallons of water. My questions: 1) Should I add more water or more peppers, or does it sound about right? 2) How long do I let it steep, and how long is the shelf life? I stuck the tip of my finger in it this morning and it was very hot. I could taste that tobacco too. Vile. Anyway, my last question: Should I also add some mild detergent to the brew? Thanks for taking the time to read this.
The mixture sounds ok and it should be good for the summer. Adding a little bleach free dish soap or murphy's oil will help the mixture stick better to the harmful pests.