by Charlene Burgi
Did you ever notice that pests come in all shapes and sizes? We all have dealt with the pesky telemarketer during the dinner hour, but garden pests are a bit different since we can’t hang up on them or have our gardens placed on a “no call” list.
Garden pests can come packaged as pretty and graceful as deer or as cute as little cottontail rabbits. Others sting, set up camp underground, or find any crevice that is difficult to reach. Typically it doesn’t matter in what form they appear—their presence is something we must address. They quickly wear out their welcome mat as they wreak havoc in our environment. The real question is how to be rid of them, and that answer can vary depending on the beast.
Pinyon jays
As I write, I gaze out the window on the huge flock of pinyon jays devouring every morsel I set out for the little birds and quail this morning. I have to remind myself that the Bay-Friendly theory is to use the least toxic means for eradicating pests. Those jays are marauders. They upset birdfeeders and scare the little feathered friends into hiding. The last two days I have resorted to running outside and yelling at them. They know they are no longer welcome but find every opportunity to return. Now they fly away when they see the front door open. This method to eliminate them is less toxic though a bit crazed. Thank goodness I live away from viewing neighbors!
Mealybugs
I discovered yet another pest last night—mealybugs. They added their miniature cluster of white snow-like fluff to the blooming Christmas cactus. This prompted me to break out the bottle of rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs to dab away each outbreak I could find. This is a tough pest to eliminate but it can be done with perseverance.
Last week’s blog mentioned I was grateful for the aphids on the cauliflower in the greenhouse (a must read, lest you really think me daft). A blast of irrigation water seems to have held them at bay. I was ready to douse them by adding three tablespoons of dish soap to a gallon of water, if water alone didn’t work.
Spring always finds unwanted weeds in the garden. Get rid of these pests by using a gallon of white vinegar with a tablespoon of soap mixed and sprayed on the weeds. There is a much stronger solution of white vinegar used for horticultural purposes if you want to give it a try. The down side is living in a garden that smells like a tossed green salad for a while.
Deer and rabbits are serious pests for most of us. I still like using one whipped egg white in a gallon of water and spraying the plants to deter deer from browsing. The solution must be re-administered when it rains or if irrigation water hits the plants. I am still working on the rabbit problem, though I have noticed the population dwindling since seeing three bobcats on the property. This certainly isn’t the least toxic method, but it has been effective.
Today I was sent an email that tops the list for yet another less toxic method for eradicating pests. This idea was for wasps—using vodka. Seriously! Apparently you spray the vodka on the wasps and they keel over. Permanently! This is the wrong time of the year to test the theory but the thought made me smile.
The list could go on with gophers, raccoons, skunks, thrips, tent caterpillars, etc. Please share your methods for eliminating pests in a Bay-Friendly fashion. Your shared ideas will be gratefully appreciated by other readers dealing with similar problems.
MTC:
Warning, they can make a racket when feeding.
Barn Owl Box.
For deer, a good fence and an occasional sting from a device of your choice. Theory: “Sour the Milk.”
And don’t do anything to attract them… you know what I’m talking about. Basically, no access to food.
WOW, that is a lot of rain last night! But we are still spending for Russian River water. Go figure???
We get a lot of Turkey’s, two days ago 10 adults and 5 baby Turkey’s were in
our neighborhood. I got a spoon and pan and made a lot of noise to get the two that were on my roof next to my Solar system off. They also tear up my
neighbors lawn. They don’t like mine which is fine with me. They can be
pests. It’s like a zoo up here in the neighborhood. The only real pests are the
Turkeys. This has been going on for 4 years. We have deer, racoons, possum,
fox,rabbits, owls, that’s all I can think of for now. The are all fine, it’s the Turkeys. Turkey’s can be dangerous so we stay away from them.
Zoo Keeper.
Racoons are destroying my garden! Any suggestions? All I ask is that they move on – wishful thinking I guess. Diane
Saw this tip at Benziger Winery which uses no pesticides, only beneficial predators. eg. Erigeron, Seaside daisy, attracts parasitic wasps that eats white flies. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0B9LeDY0KE
Scott,
Once again, your common sense approach to gardening makes sense. Don’t feed the critters if you don’t want to deal with the outcome. Some “bad” insects and diseases are bound to show up. The best we can do is keep a clean healthy garden environment that seems to deter invasion. Thanks for sharing.
Charlene
Florence.
I have seen the destruction caused by turkeys and I am sorry that someone felt the need to reintroduce them back in our area. I don’t know what to suggest since they can fly over anything you build. Perhaps try putting netting over your prize posies and secure with jute stakes. Good luck.
Charlene
Diane,
Are the raccoons ripping up your lawn? Usually that is a sign of nematodes living at the surface of the root zone. Unfortunately, it is a matter of eliminating the food source (nematodes) and the raccoons may head for another hunting ground. Let me know if that is an accurate assumption.
Charlene
Mary Margaret.
Thank you for sharing Mike’s remedy for keeping balance in the vineyards. His theory is healthy and it will work in your own back yard too! Let the beneficial insects do the work for us! We get to reap the benefit of the flowers that attract them to our gardens. Thanks for passing the video along.
Charlene
I have used a dilute hydrogen peroxide for pests on leaves, and it did not hurt the plant. I have also used an acidic water such as your vinegar solution, and it works well and does not damage the plant either.