Gardening & Landscaping
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Insect Question
I am brand new at gardening (planted my first LAST week). I bought a spray for the plants to keep all sorts of bugs away, and says it can be used up to the day before harvesting. Should I start spraying them now periodically, or keep a close eye and if I see things start spraying? [I have herbs, creole tomatoes, and pumpkins]
Re: Insect Question
We have never used an insect spray, and haven't had many issues with insects.
What are you trying to kill? You shouldn't start spraying if you don't have to.
What is the insecticide?
What?! Why would you chemicals all over your plants/the ground if you don't even have insect problems? Did you read the back where is said:
"This product may be hazardous to aquatic invertebrates. Do not allow pesticide to enter or run off into storm drains, drainage ditches, gutters or surface waters. Applying this product in calm weather or when rain is not predicted for the next 24 hours will help to ensure that wind or rain does not blow or wash pesticide off the treatment area."
I don't care what the label says I would never spray that crap anywhere near my veggie garden...or where I had kids and dogs in the yard for that matter.
Hmm I wonder why there is a decline in frogs and toads over the last 8 years...
Ok, so in the event that I have an insect problem, what do you suggest I do about it? Didn't mean to cause a stir, as I stated, I am new at gardening!!!!!!
Well the vast majority of insects won't harm your plants at all. Many actually help by pollinating or being food for pollinators. If you do have some kind of insects that are excessively eating your plants you first need to identify what kind of insect it is (there are lots of websites with pictures that can help you do this) and go from there. Each problem has a different treatment needed and there are lots of non-nasty chemical treatments. If slugs are a problem for example you just simply pour a little beer in a shallow dish. They are drawn to it and can't get back out. Typically edibles are more of a problem than decorative plants because some insects will eat your produce whereas a few bites out of perennial leaves is no big deal.
If you do have a problem you can always take some pictures and post them on here. We can help diagnose.
Soap will not prevent insects from eating your plants, it is a contact killer. In other words, you have to spray it directly ON the insect for it to do anything.