FIRE ANTS — THE HOLY GRAIL OF TREATMENTS PART 2 ...Unexpected — and Wonderful — Consequences Marlis had struggled for years with fire ants. How could she control these aggressive, persistent, painfully-biting ants without using toxic chemicals in the garden and yard, where her children and pets roamed and played? Acting on a recommendation from a friend, she discovered the natural, highly
FIRE ANTS — THE HOLY GRAIL OF TREATMENTS PART 1 Marlis, an experienced gardening enthusiast, relocated from Southern California to Texas about twenty years ago. She was excited to have a larger space to plant the garden of her dreams. Today, gorgeous trellises support her climbing tomatoes and cucumbers. The spacious green lawn stretches from the house to the Texas hills, providing
Why Use Beneficial Insects? Everyone is familiar with the term “survival of the fittest”. The history of pest control illustrates this concept. As chemical usage grew among commercial farmers and home gardeners, pests kept pace and did their best to resist harsh pesticides. While we may have succeeded in killing most of the bad bugs, the small percent that did survive passed their resilience
There's a New Sheriff in Town Perhaps the most common question we receive in Garden Centers around the country about Beneficial Nematodes is, “Does it work on …..?” YES! As in all of nature, the bug world contains both predators and prey. As gardeners, we tend to think of bugs as bad guys or good guys. There are the bugs that eat the fruits of
Save the Insects; Save the Planet You may have heard of an “insect apocalypse”. News stories sometimes refer to it as “insectageddon”. While it may be a relief for us to go outside and not have to deal with clouds of insects spoiling our picnics, the truth is that having fewer bugs is simply NOT good for the planet. Oliver Milman, an environmental journalist,
The Miraculous Ladybug Ladybugs. Ladybirds. Lady beetles. Many names and many legends have been attributed to these charming creatures. We like to think of them as the “gateway bug” to biodiversity in your garden or yard. Click here to watch our founder as he extols the virtues of the humble ladybug. Let’s look at the A-B-C’s of ladybugs to learn more about these charming
A “Hot Topic”: Red Fire Ants! At the beginning of this year, Julie, a consultant for Organic Control, Inc., moved from Southern California to the Southeast. About a month ago, she noticed strange new mounds in her backyard that seemed to have appeared overnight. With a little research, she discovered the source of the mounds: the Red Imported Fire Ant. Known as RFAs or RIFA
Whether you’re digging in for the first time (see what we did there?) or you’re a long-time gardener, let us show you how to start a garden that will have your neighbors peeking over your fence to ask what you’ve been up to! Here are some tips to ensure success: Soil prep is key. It is impossible to overstate the importance of healthy soil.
Give your rose bushes a natural and organic hug in the form of a winter blanket! Here we are in February! Many yards and gardens appear to be sleeping in the cold winter air. What can be done for those shivering bare sticks that used to be covered in lush leaves and blooming roses? While gardening may not be the first thing that comes to
Darwin was writing about the humble but mighty earthworm. CASTINGS — A MAGIC SPELL FOR SOIL HEALTH Earthworm castings (a fancy word for worm poop) can best be described as Mother Nature’s super-food; they energize your plants and provide a suit of armor against harmful pests. Used for centuries by growers, worm castings have long been recognized as a most
