Q: My squash needs your help! Where can I buy sabadilla dust for squash bugs and borers? — Denise Underwood, Stockbridge
A: Sabadilla dust is derived from the seeds of Schoenocaulon officinale, a South American lily. It was once sold as a botanical insecticide. But to my knowledge, it is no longer available. (Interesting note: It was also sold as "sneezing powder" for use by practical jokers!)
Try regular sprays with spinosad (Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew, etc.) or carbaryl (Sevin, etc.) on the leaves and stem of your plants.
Q: For the past two years, the water oak over our deck has been raining sap in the spring. It creates a horrible sticky mess that turns black and dirty. What causes this? — Sally Starr, Fulton County
A: I think you have lecanium scale feeding up high in the oak tree.
These insects suck sap from leaves and twigs and produce copious amounts of honeydew. The honeydew causes a black, sooty fungus. The easiest control is to use imidacloprid (Bayer Tree and Shrub, etc.) each year in early April (you can still do it now). This systemic insecticide kills scale, but it will probably take a couple of years to kill them all.
Q: My front yard was sodded with bermuda 10 years ago. Pine trees now shade most of the yard. What can I do to make the lawn more lush and pretty? — Sallie in Coweta County
A: Bermuda grass is not very shade-tolerant, but I'll give you three strategies to try. First, raise your mowing height to 2-2.5 inches to get more leaf surface area. Second, don't fertilize as much. Twice per year is fine. Third, be super vigilant about weeds. Spot spray or pull any you see. Do not use weed and feed, but use a pre-emergent religiously every spring and fall.
Q: I read an article about gardeners using plasticulture to triple the yield of their vegetables. How can I use plastic to improve my backyard garden? — Rachael Kelly, Tucker
A: As the word implies, plasticulture is the process of using plastic to increase yields. It includes use in greenhouses and as mulch. Sprinkle 10-10-10 fertilizer, then till a row 2 feet wide and several feet long.
Lay a soaker hose down the middle and roll 3-foot-wide black plastic down the row. Anchor the edges of the plastic with soil. Cut an "X" in the plastic where you want to put a seed or seedling and plant normally.
Water with the soaker hose when plants look slightly wilted. The plastic suppresses weeds, warms the soil and minimizes water loss, plus it makes harvest easier.
Listen to Walter Reeves from 6 to 10 Saturday mornings on WSB-AM (750). Go to Gardening Georgia for details on his TV show or visit his Web site, Walter Reeves.
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