Be aware, be prepared to beat garden pests

The best way to beat pests in your lawn and garden is to be on the lookout for them, and the damage they cause, and be prepared by knowing where to find the treatments to stop them in their tracks.  

Pests and problems to watch for

BAGWORMS: Bagworms generally hatch from mid- to late-May through mid-June – but our advice is the same if you are encountering them this time of year. 

Bagworms are a common pest of many evergreen and other trees and plants.  They can severely damage or even kill many different plants. Bagworms eat foliage, and can partially or completely defoliate plants when present in large numbers.

The worm or larvae lives in a tough, bag-like structure made of silk and bits of plant materials. The 1- to 2- inch bags look a little like Christmas ornaments dangling from the branches. The bag becomes the overwintering home for hundreds of eggs which will hatch the following spring.

Early treatment, while they are still less than an inch long, yields the best results. Make 2 or 3 applications 10 to 14 days apart. Be sure to get good coverage on the inside and outer edges of the plant.  Use Hi*Yield Spreader Sticker to increase the effectiveness of the treatments.

We recommend Natural Guard Spinosad. Stop by our Garden Center – our staff will be glad to answer any questions you may have about identifying and treating bagworms.  Additional information can be found here.   (Photos courtesy of Fertilome.com) 

JAPANESE BEETLES:  The Japanese Beetle is oval shaped, with a bright metallic green body. With its white/gray hair underneath, five patches of white hair (setae) along each side of the abdomen, and two tufts of white hair at the rear, this is a very distinctive beetle – nothing else looks like it. The Japanese beetle can be found in gardens, woods, and open meadows.

 Japanese beetles can feed on about 300 species of plants, ranging from roses to poison ivy. Odor and location in direct sun seem to be very important factors in plant selection. The beetles usually feed in groups, starting at the top of a plant and working downward. While a single beetle doesn’t eat much, group feeding causes severe damage. Adults feed on the upper surface of foliage, chewing out tissue between the veins. This gives the leaf a characteristic skeletonized appearance. A few beetles on plants, or some moderate damage, will bring in more. Japanese beetles apparently produce aggregation pheromones that will attract more males and females to feed and find potential mates. In addition, volatile odors from damaged plants may attract more beetles.      

We recommend and carry Bayer Complete insecticide that will kill the beetle upon contact.  It is rain proof within 1 hour. If you see even one on your plants, you need to spray, because one beetle leads to many!

BOX ELDER BUGS:  Boxelder bugs are a common nuisance insect to many homeowners. Even though they are active all summer long, they are rarely noticed as a nuisance until Fall, when they congregate on the South and West sides of the house and other buildings. Click here to learn more about Box Elder Bugs and how to treat for them.    (Photos courtesy of Fertilome.com) 

Other pests you might be seeing this time of the season include:

• Spider mites
• Grubs
• Fall webworms
• Iris borer
• Hornworms
• Stink bugs
• Keep an eye out for fungus issues.  If you see something you think has a fungus but you’re not quite sure, bring a sample in a plastic baggie to our Garden Center – we’ll be glad to help identify it.  Fungi can be successfully treated with Ferti*Lome Systemic Fungicide.

What’s bugging you? 

Not sure which pest is causing you problems?  Here’s a helpful chart provided by Ferti*Lome with photos to help you identify pests and information on the products that can be used to treat each one.

If you have any questions about pests and the proper treatments, our Pro Staff is always glad to assist.  We’ll help you be prepared to beat pests in your lawn and garden.