May Tips continued...Pest Control And Other Odds & Ends
Apply systemic insect control on certain types of plants in the landscape. If you have yet to do so, apply systemic insect control around the root systems of various types of trees and shrubs for season-long control. Crape myrtles, azaleas, roses, flowering fruit trees, and various other types of trees and shrubs that are known to attract insects can benefit from the application of a systemic insecticide. Systemic insecticide is taken up by the root system to the leaves of a plant.
Inspect your plants for insects and treat if necessary. Insects usually begin to show up in larger numbers during the month of May, when temperatures are on the rise. When inspecting your plants, don't forget to look on the underside of leaves. This is where many insects such as aphids, lacebugs, and other pesty critters hang out there during the day. If you have yet to do so, apply a systemic insecticide (for season-long control of insects) around the root systems of crape myrtles, azaleas, roses, flowering fruit trees, and various other types of trees and shrubs that are prone to insect problems.
Inspect your houseplants. - Carefully examine your houseplants for pests and problems. It is much easier to fight an insect infestation or disease in its early stages than to wait! As the growth rate of your houseplants increases with the seasons, adjust your feeding schedule to provide additional food. Feed your plants a good all purpose house plant food at half of the manufacturers recommended rates, increasing the proportion slightly to accommodate growth spurts. Overuse of fertilizers can cause root and foliage burn, as well as the death of the plant. Mist your plants regularly. This adds to the humidity, keeps the leaves cleaner and healthier, and helps to prevent spider mites.
Control slugs and snails - These critters are out in full force right now. Be sure to take steps to control them now, before they have a chance to reproduce and devastate your garden. Use a Snail & Slug Bait or jar lids filled with beer set in areas they roam.
Control weeds in the vegetable garden. Stay on top of the weeds in the vegetable garden either pulling them by hand or spraying them with Avenger Organic Weed Killer at least once a week, or more. Yes, there is an ORGANIC weed killer now available...and It kills young weeds in 45 minutes or less!
Add to and maintain your compost pile or bin. Continue to add table scraps, leaves, grass clipping, garden refuse and other forms of organic matter to your compost pile or compost bin. The compost pile should be kept damp. Frequent turning the pile will turn your garden and kitchen waste into flower food that much faster!
