No, we are going to deal with the ugly side of gardening today, pests. The ones that want to eat your plants before you get a chance to eat it yourself. All three of these are organic in nature, so there is no worry about toxic chemicals, recalls, or personal safety. Two are actual products to put under the tree, one is a gift certificate because, well, it could get ugly on Christmas morning.
(The first two are Amazon affiliate links, so, while you do NOT have to use them specifically, I always like to notify you of them.)
Photo Courtesy of NC State Extension
#1-Neem Oil- This is my absolute #1 go-to product for pests. It has many uses. It controls black spot, powdery mildew, rust, spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, & other insect pests. The link will take you to my favorite brand, but any Neem Oil is excellent to use.
#2- Bacillus Thuringiensis-The active ingredient of this product is Bacillus thuringiensis, also known as Bt. Bt is a natural occurring, soil-borne bacteria that has been used since the 1950s for natural insect control. I don't even bother trying to say this one, just use BT. This is what you use on Caterpillars that are munching down all of your plants.
#3- Gardens Alive- THIS is the one that getting them a gift certificate would be MUCH better on Christmas morning. You can BUY live GOOD bugs! Things like ladybugs, lacewings, and others that eat the bad bugs. While some people would find it cool or funny to have hundreds of ladybugs flying around Christmas morning, it might not go over very well with most folks. Best to stick with a Gift Certificate here.
Pests will eventually happen to every gardener no matter how good they are. That is nature. Give your favorite gardener a little advantage, they may not need any of these products until later in the season, but when the pests rear their ugly heads, it is nice to know they are ready!
As always I am available to answer any questions, please e-mail me at TheCitrusGuy@netzero.com or .net.
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Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!
Happy Growing!
Darren