Question:
Our vegetable garden seems to be facing a challenge with what we believe are Sowbugs. These bugs, which I might be referring to by the wrong name, resemble armadillos and curl up into a ball when touched. They've been nesting and causing damage to our vegetable leaves, leaving them full of holes and attacking the stems at the ground. Can anyone suggest a natural predator that could help control them?Answer:
- This doesn't sound like a Sowbug problem.
- Sowbugs are not insects or bugs. They belong to the same group of animals as the crab. They're the only crustaceans to spend their entire life out of water. Contrary to popular belief, Sowbugs do more good than harm and are often wrongly blamed for many problems.
- Sowbugs never attack living tissue, so they will not shred or eat holes in the leaves of plants. They are, in fact, Mother Nature's decomposers, breaking down organic matter and debris into nutrients that plants can use.
- We find colonies of Sowbugs breaking down larger pieces of organic debris like bark and homemade compost. They pose the biggest problems in strawberry, pumpkin, and melon patches. Also, any other crop where the maturing edible touches the ground.
- The wet ground from normal irrigation and poor air circulation causes the tissue at the resting point to decay and provides an entry point for Sowbugs. You need to lift those crops that touch the ground with small paper cups, drip irrigation clips, or straws to improve air circulation. This prevents the tissue from decaying and gives Sowbugs an entry point.
- I suspect Snails, Slugs, and Earwigs are the problem in your vegetable garden. Sluggo Plus is the organic control for snails, slugs, and earrings. It's an organic bait that is safe for two and four-legged pets. Sluggo should be reapplied monthly during the growing season.
- Another organic control for Earwigs is to trap them in a paper tube made from rolled-up newspaper. The tubes are pre-moistened and set out at dusk. In the morning, empty the contents into a pail of soapy water. This is repeated daily until the plants have established themselves and matured.
Question:
I have a hibiscus and lime in large pots on a patio with southern exposure. The new growth is very scraggly, and the leaves look deformed. I let the soil dry out before I watered. Is there anything I can do to bring it back?Answer:
- Your Hibiscus and Lime are experiencing water stress, but there's no need to fret.
- All you need to do is change your watering habits to correct the issue.
- With a southern exposure, your plants are exposed to the heat of the day, leading to quick drying out. The wind, which acts as a desiccant, compounds the problem.
- To combat this, when the temperatures are over seventy-five degrees, water them every other day and daily with temperatures over eighty-five degrees, filling each container to the brim. Additionally, adding Osmocote fertilizer to every container provides nutrients every time you water.
- With these changes, you should see dramatic improvements in your Hibiscus in six to eight weeks.