Inspect your bedding plants and perennial plants regularly and watch for signs of insect infestation or disease onset. If you see signs of infestation, start by identifying the type of insect. There are certain types of beneficial insects that you want to be present in your garden. These act as a defense to harmful insects; eiother chasing them off or eating them.
Dead or seriously diseased plants should be removed from the bed or container to avoid spreading a possible disease to other plants nearby. Consistently wet soil in beds or containers can lead to fungus and disease problems on many annual bedding plants.
When planting in garden beds, rotating the variety of annual bedding plants each year can help to control many soil-borne funguses. For instance: If you plant annual Vinca (Periwinkle) in a flower bed or container one year, switch to another type of plant the next year.
Insect Control
When controlling insects in the garden, there are two paths you can go by: organic, or chemical control. Organic essentially means non-toxic, safe for you and the environment. Make sure to use only appropriately labeled insecticides and fungicides to control as some annual and perennial plants can be quite sensitive to harsh chemicals. Insecticidal soaps and products containing Neem oil or pyrethrins are what I recommended. To avoid problems, follow all label directions carefully, and make sure your plant is listed on the label.
To learn more about natural and organic insect control in the landscape and garden, and to find homemade remedies, click on one of the links below.
