Does it hurt a plant spraying with tempo and hort oil to control mites and white fly?
Neem Oil is good treatment for both pests.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/whitefly-control.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
Can you tell me the best way to control whiteflies without using pesticides?
I use a solution of 1 tablespoon of bleach to a gallon of water. Alternatively, I add some dish liquid to water and spray that on the affected plants. Similarly, I boil garlic, onion and cayenne pepper, cool and strain it and spray the plants. I have also boiled neem leaves and sprayed plants. All of these are effective measures for combatting whiteflies.
My tree has a black scale of about 1/4 inch around. Quite a few branches affected and are about 4 inches long. How can I treat it? Thank you.
I'm not clear as to the type of tree that is affected.
Here are a couple of links for you.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/citrus/controlling-citrus-scale.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/maple/maple-tree-bark-disease.htm
It is August in zone 6a and this morning I saw, and killed, an adult SVB. I have never seen one so late here and was wondering if any one generation zone gardeners have seen any.
I have had not had any concerns raised in the Q & A at Gardening Know How.
Perhaps you could contact your local garden club.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/squash-pests-identifying-and-preventing-squash-vine-borer.htm
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/squash-vine-borers/
I have cutworms in my garden soil. There are no plants. Have been putting compost material and tilling that in and saw the worms even then. I have dogs so do not want to put anything in or on top that will hurt them. The articles I have read just speak about putting things around your plants but nothing for what to do when it is everywhere even where there are not plants. Thank you for any info that you can share with me.
You can try treating the soil with Bt, neem oil or Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes. Though to be honest, if you clear away any dead vegetation and keep the area relatively dry, they will die off naturally. They need somewhere to lay eggs and if you keep it dry and eliminate the vegetation they need to lay eggs, they cannot reproduce.
These articles may be helpful:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/using-bacillus-thuringiensis.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/problems/pests/neem-oil-uses.htm
Every article talks about managing bag worms in May as ideal. Had I known they were around in May, I'd have happily done something but I didn't. It's late August. I discovered them today on my nearly dead evergreen bush that I never liked so that isn't a problem but the hundreds of bagworms emerging from their bags have got to go. What do I do? There are too many to pick off. I plan to get rid of the bush, but won't they all jump ship while I'm doing that? Any advice for August treatment of bagworms would be much appreciated.
You can go ahead and treat now if you are trying to control.
Here is links with more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/treatment-bagworms.htm
http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-27.pdf
Worms emerging from large soft brown cocoons on my yellow flowering bush. I have a yellow flowering bush, I'm sorry I don't know the name of it, but it is covered with brown cocoons. The cocoons look similar to a rolled dryed leaf with bits of debris on them but, when touched, they feel soft almost fleshy. They are brown in color and are plump. There is a hole on top of the cocoons, by the branch their suspended from, and every so often a black headed worm sticks its head out. Sometimes the cocoons move, swaying back and forth because the worm moves around inside. I have seen the worm (smooth and black) drag the cocoon behind him, if fallen from the bush. What kind of worm is this? Is it a moth or a pest? They really give me the creeps and I don't know if I should kill them or if they are something I should leave be. Thanks for any info!
Most caterpillars can be controlled with a treatment of Bt or Bacillus thuringiensis.
Here are some links for you.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/azalea/common-azalea-problems.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/prevent-caterpillars.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/using-bacillus-thuringiensis.htm