CONTROLLING PESTS

LADYBUGS
It is also a good idea to get some ladybugs now. They prevent so many pests. I learned from Della Barnett (her and her husband, Barney own Willard Bay Gardens in Willard, Utah) that the ladybugs you buy are winter fed and not too hungry. But their offspring are hungry teenagers and will eat lots of bugs. So buy ladybugs early, so their babies can begin to eat plant predators.

NOTE: Next time you are going to Utah stop and check out this Nursery, they are so helpful, the address is 7095 South HWY 89, Willard, UTAH. Their web site is, www.willardbaygardens.com. I love it and you will too!!!

DORMANT OIL
Dormant oil is an oil that you spray on your trees and bushes (woody plants) early in the Spring before they begin to bud out. It kills adult bugs and eggs, (like aphid, mites and scales.) The oil blocks the air holes in pests so they can’t breathe.
I have used it two years now and I love the results from it. I spray with dormant oil and follow with a Malathion spray for worms when the trees were in blossom. I always had worms in my apples, and used dormant oil and Malathion, (Malathion after the blossoms were out). I had absolutely no worms the first year, and about 5% of wormy apples the second year. It was nice to be able to use the apples for a change. Remember to read the labels carefully!

I use it on lilacs, snowball bushes, plum trees, apple trees, rose bushes, and in some of my flowers where I have pest trouble. It makes a difference when you apply this oil, temperature, time of day, time of year, moisture and other factors will determine the success of this product.

Some Dormant Oil is petroleum-based oil, though it doesn’t have harsh chemicals, it isn’t considered a truly organic Dormant Oil. According to Della Barnett, (Willard Bay Gardens), "My favorite non-petroleum-based dormant oil is Neem oil. It is also good for any control of insects, mites and disease on any type of plants, at any time of year. It has been used for centuries but has only in the last several years become readily available at retail stores instead of just mail ordering."

I found on the Internet a neem oil product called Trilogy, that shows good results as a fungicide and insecticide, anytime of the year. I am going to try it through the year, I like the fact that it is organic.