trouble with bugs,
slugs and other aphids
- If you
are having trouble with slugs eating your Hosta, marigolds, or other plants,
try using broken eggshells. Grind up the eggshells and sprinkle them in a
ring around the plant. Slugs, with their soft bellies, don't like crawling
over this rough surface.
- Powdered
ginger sprinkled around plants has been known to keep away slugs and snails.
They don't like crossing over it. But remember to reapply after rain.
- Make a
tantalizing trap for slugs and earwigs by mixing about 500 mg of brown sugar
with a half package of dry yeast in a large plastic jug. Fill the jug with
warm water and let it ferment uncovered for a day or two. Pour 2 or 3 cm of
this concoction into a shallow dish (empty tuna-fish tins work well). In a
shaded spot, place the dish in the soil so the rim is just a bit above ground
level. Every few days, empty out the trap and refill. (Note: You can also
use beer to fill the trap.) Use this method only when necessary as it can
also drown beneficial creatures.
- For aphid
infestations try using some homemade bug spray: finely chop 10 to 15 cloves
of garlic and soak them in 500 mL of mineral oil for 24 hours. Strain the
solution and spray as is, or dilute it with water before applying. Use this
solution selectively as it also affects beneficial insects.
- Hose down
plants and shrubs with water to rid them of aphids, being careful not to damage
flowers or buds. (A mild sprinkler or even a watering can may do the trick
for fragile flowering plants.)