DEL.ICIO.USWALTER REEVES
Little bugs can be a big nuisance for strawberries
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Q: I have little bugs eating all my strawberries.
When I disturb them, they roll up into a ball. — Bobby in Suwanee
Walter Reeves
Excessive numbers of sowbugs (roly-polies) during wet springs can be harmful to strawberries and young plant stems.
RELATED LINKS:
- Listen to Walter Reeves Saturday mornings on NewsTalk 750 WSB-AM from 6 to 10. Call 404-872-0750 to ask questions.
- His Web site, walterreeves.com, contains thousands of answers to lawn and landscape questions. Watch "Gardening in Georgia" each week on GPB. Details at gardeningingeorgia.com.
A: Sowbugs (roly-polies) are not usually a pest, but they can be a problem on soft fruit that is close to the soil.
They damage strawberries themselves and also chew on the fruits after slugs and birds have visited.
Remove mulch from around the plants. Carbaryl (Sevin, Bayer Garden Insect Control, etc.) spray will control them.
Q: I have looked for Nemacide to no avail. Once upon a time it was easily purchased at any garden center, but now it is gone. — Gerald Echols
A: Nemacide was once used to control soil nematodes. It is no longer available because of toxicity issues.
Unfortunately, there are no homeowner products registered for nematode control.
The best strategy for management is to add organic matter to the soil to enhance the microscopic inhabitants that feed on nematodes.
Q: The leaves on my large water oak have numerous blisters on them. The tree is also dropping lots of leaves.
What can I do to help? — Tina Soper, e-mail
A: Your tree has oak leaf blister, and you can’t do much about it.
This disease is favored by cool, wet springs; in dry years it isn’t a problem.
Despite the leaf drop, trees are rarely permanently affected.
Get out your leaf rake and clean up!
Listen to Walter Reeves from 6 to 10 Saturday mornings on WSB-AM (750). Go to Gardening Georgia for details or visit his Web site, Walter Reeves.
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