Dallas Morning News – April 9, 2020
Tending the New Gardens
Besides healthy soil, the most important thing to have in the garden is your shadow. That means you are there keeping an eye on your plants. Sneaky bugs and diseases can slip in quietly and quickly.
Insect pest invasions and disease pathogens will be scarce since you are using organic products and techniques, but let’s cover some of the ones that are common and might pop up on anyone. My organic solutions to these intruders are easy and work well.
 Argiopes spiders are your friend in the garden |
With all the recent rain, fire ants may have invaded. Piece of cake. Broadcast dry molasses at 20 lbs. per 1000 (2 lbs. per 100 sq. ft.). Most of the time this technique complete eliminates these imported ants. Any ants or mounds that stubbornly remain can be killed with 2 oz. of orange oil mixed in a gallon of water, fish and seaweed, Garrett Juice or any other non-toxic liquid.
Most spiders, including black jumping spiders and the large argiopes, aren’t dangerous and eat pest insects, including grasshoppers, moths and caterpillars. Many of the beetles, stinkbugs and flies are beneficial and should also be protected. Bad bugs that do pop up and start eating your plants should be repelled with non-killing mixtures like garlic oil and garlic pepper tea. Stubborn pests like spotted cucumber beetles and flea beetles can be killed with non-toxic products like spinosad, essential oil products and orange oil. Spray these surgically on infested spots, not all over the place, because they will kill beneficial insects as well.
 Black jumping spider eating moth |
 Black jumping spider helping control caterpillars |
Tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, cucumbers, corn and most the other crops can be attacked by caterpillars, but they can be killed easily with Bt sprays such as Dipel, Thuricide or Bt Worm and Caterpillar Killer or spinosad products. These biological products will kill butterfly larvae as well, so use only as a last resort.
Ignore those that recommend the toxic chemicals to kill the intruders. Sevin, falsely claimed to be safe, is the chemistry that killed many 1000s of people in Bhopal India, 2,4-D is one of the ingredients in “Agent Orange” and Roundup (and the glyphosate in it) is related to cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Crones disease and autism in kids. Plus, these neurotoxin products aren’t necessary. Yes – it’s amazing that people still recommend this stuff.
 Black-spotted cucumber beetle; one of the troublesome garden pests |
Weeds will be scarce if the bare soil is kept covered with native mulch, but the uninvited weeds can be killed easily and safely the organic herbicides. Choices include strong vinegar products, fatty acid (fancy soap) products or essential oils products like PureGro Weed Crush – my favorite.
Also ignore the advice to fertilize with water-soluble, high-nitrogen plant food. Those blue or green crystal products are bad for the soil and feed plants poorly because of no carbon and few trace minerals. And, your crops will have more pests. Use compost, organic fertilizers made from natural meals, Garrett Juice, liquid fish, seaweed, lava sand and whole ground cornmeal.