TRY CHEMICAL-FREE METHODS TO TREAT APHID INFESTATIONS
Crocuses that have stopped blooming could be victim of too much nitrogen in soil
Q My hops grow well each year but they seem to attract aphids, so I have been spraying them with Malathion. I have also been using the insecticide on my rose bushes. However, after reading one of your recent articles regarding Malathion I decided to stop using it, because it seems that some of my vegetables are not getting pollinated the way they should. Do you have you any suggestions for a substitute for this chemical?
A I’m pleased to hear that you are discontinuing the use of the Malathion. Spraying has been the fastest and easiest way to get rid of an insect problem but I think we have reached the point where we need to rethink our approach, rather than reaching for the chemical spray bottle at the first sign of an infestation.
The bees and other pollinators are being killed off in frightening numbers, and one of the main reasons is the overuse of insecticides. There are alternative insecticides, but they will also kill the bees and other pollinators that are pollinating your vegetables.
Once the pollinators begin to decline, all of the crops that we depend on for them to pollinate will be affected as well. This is a global concern, as we humans depend on so many of these crops for our food, livelihoods, and in some cases even our survival. While there are certainly other factors that are contributing to the decline in pollinators, insecticides continue to be one of the main causes. Cutting back on the use of these products is a very good way to help our pollinators.
As for what can be done to treat the aphids, the methods available are certainly more time-consuming, but they are also pollinatorfriendly. One of the easiest ones is increasing your water pressure. Turn your nozzle to a sharp spray setting, or invest in a specialty nozzle designed to increase pressure. Spray your hops and roses with the sharp stream of water, making sure you spray under the leaves. Keep repeating this method. I think you may be surprised at how effective this method can be over time. Make sure to keep vigilant for new hatchings and spray again.
Insecticidal soap offers another possibility for treating your aphid issue. According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, the insecticidal soap works when directly applied to pest insects by disrupting cell membrane permeability. I strongly urge you to look at the Xerces website for their list of organic-approved pesticides that minimize the risk to bees. Premixed solutions are available in garden centres, and can be very effective in treating aphids if you are persistent. Apply and reapply by spraying the entire plant, including under the leaves.
Most gardeners spray these solutions and expect them to work as well as other chemical insecticides. While they might not work as quickly, they do work.
Patience is the key. Always make sure to watch for new hatchings and reapply immediately if they’re detected. Continue to reapply until the soap has worked on the current crop of aphids. However, make sure that you don’t have any bees or other pollinators around when you are spraying the insecticidal soap, and only apply it to nonblooming crops.
Another solution to the aphid problem is simply picking them off. I know this is easier said than done, especially with a large plant like mature hops, but if you get into the habit of picking off the ones that are visible every time you walk by the plant it will help remedy the issue over time.
Q I have crocuses in a flower bed that faces west, with an attached garage to the south, so they receive plenty of sun later in the afternoon. During the last few years they have come up just fine but do not bloom. I have tried digging them up and replanting them, but to no avail. Do you know what the problem could be?
A It may be possible that your crocuses are getting too much nitrogen. They could be receiving this extra nitrogen when you fertilize your lawn and some of the fertilizer falls on the bulb area. The ideal fertilizer would be something like 5-10-10. Higher nitrogen numbers will inhibit flowering, so make sure to regulate it and your crocuses should bloom.