Question:
What’s eating the petals of the flowers in my flower garden? I have noticed that there are a lot of Sowbugs in the area. I’ve always thought of them as being harmless, but now I’m not so sure. Could they be my problem and if not what is?Answer:
- It is doubtful that Sowbugs are the primary cause of the problem in your flower garden.
- First off, Sowbugs are not an insect but a soil-dwelling crustacean, more closely related to a crayfish than to an insect. By definition, insects have six-legs while Sowbugs have many more. It would be very unusual to find Sowbugs climbing on plants and eating the flower petals.
- They are shy and reside on the ground under some debris where it is dark and moist. They feed on the dead or decaying organic matter. It is this activity that makes Sowbugs a ‘garden good guy’ or a composting machine as they break down the decaying organic matter into nutrients that plants can use.
- However, they can be problematical with edibles like strawberries, pumpkins, or melons when they come to rest on moist soil. The moisture causes wet spots on the maturing fruits that never dries out, so decay begins and provides an entry point for the Sowbugs. They’re not a problem with cucumbers or any other edible with a waxy coating. Lifting the fruits or vegetables up off the ground solve this by allowing the air to circulate them. This dries out the moist spot(s). With clusters, of strawberries, a drip irrigation clip is a perfect answer while a layer of straw works with the others.
- So what is the problem? I believe the holes are the work of earwigs or snails and slugs. They do their damage at night and retreat to a cool dark location during the daytime.
- I’d bait that the area with Sluggo Plus, not to be confused with Sluggo. It is an effective organic, granular bait for snails, slugs, and earwigs that is safe to use around pets or kids. I’d sprinkled the bait throughout the area and reapplied monthly through the harvesting season.
Question:
I’ve been reading conflicting, opinions about amending the soil when planting trees and shrubs. What should I be doing?Answer:
- Yes, there are differing opinions on the subject of amending the soil when planting.
- I believe it is advantageous to amend the native soil or backfill when planting in clay soil.
- Ornamental trees and shrubs have been successfully established here using soil amendments for decades. Our vegetative landscape looks pretty darn good. So, if it’s not broken why vary from a successful and proven planting method.
- I’d dig nice large holes and generously amend the backfill with a fifty-fifty ratio of native soil mixed with homemade compost, soil conditioner or a blend of organic materials. It serves a transition layer for the roots between the loose planting mix and the much denser clay soil that’s typical for our area.