Should lawns be fertilized in spring and/or summer? Plantalk’s report #1533 discussed this topic. It is easy to get spring fever as the end of winter approaches. Many people want to begin Gardening and lawn improvements in April. Even retailers encourage us to do so by stacking lawn fertilizer in front of grocery stores…
Plantalk’s Report 1431 discussed who can use pesticides and the two categories of pesticides as classified by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies all pesticides in one of two categories: general use and restricted use. A general-use pesticide means that any person who can read and understand the label may purchase…
Learn how to avoid the onset of disease. Cultural management involves avoiding the onset of disease. To accomplish this without pesticides, create an environment unfavorable to pathogens. Don’t work in the garden when plants and soil are wet. Spores and cells of disease-causing organisms can spread from one plant to another and initiate new…
Learn from Laura Pottorff, former plant pathologist and horticulturist, Integrated Pest Management Program, Jefferson County and B. Edmunds by regional specialist, commercial greenhouse and nurseries at Colorado State University Extension and Adams County on eradicationg with nonchemical disease control. ERADICATION Eradication is the elimination of the disease-causing organism after it has become established on a…
This post will provide much useful information on non-chemical disease control resistance and exclusion. RESISTANCE Effective disease control through resistance (a plant’s tolerance or immunity to a disease) is based on knowledge of the diseases that occur in an area. Always choose varieties of plants that are adapted to Colorado growing conditions. Many vegetable,…
The next few tips will discuss non-chemical disease control. This report originally written by Laura Pottorff, former plant pathologist and horticulturist, Integrated Pest Management Program, Jefferson County and revised by B. Edmunds by regional specialist, commercial greenhouse and nurseries at Colorado State University Extension and Adams County. This report will provide much useful information…
We once again call on the expertise of W.S. Cranshaw, Colorado State University Extension entomologist and professor, bioagricultural sciences and pest management for providing this valuable information in a report available to all thru CSU Extension. Quick Facts… Soaps can be used to control a wide range of plant pests. Small, soft-bodied arthropods…
This tip teaches the terms used to describe oils. Dormant oil: An oil used on woody plants during the dormant season. This term originally referred to heavier weight, less well-refined oils that were unsafe to use on plants after they broke dormancy. However, these older oils have been replaced with more refined, light-weight oils that…
This tip warns about the use of horticultural oils. A must read if planning on using horticultural oils on a woody plant. The following precautions are recommended whenever using an oil on a woody plant: Avoid using oils on plants that tend to be oil-sensitive (Table 2). Avoid drift onto sensitive plants. Do not apply…
This tip covers horticultural oils in controlling insect and mite Historically, the primary reason oils were developed was because of their effectiveness on otherwise hard-to-control pest problems on fruit trees. They were used as a dormant-season application (before bud swelling and bud break) to kill mites and insects, such as scales and aphids, that…
This tip covers the source of spray oils. Essentially all commercially available horticultural oils (e.g., SunsprayR, ScalecideR, VolckR) are refined petroleum products also known as mineral oils. Impurities in the oil that are associated with plant injury, such as aromatic compounds and compounds containing sulfur, nitrogen or oxygen, are removed. Filtration, distillation and dewaxing…
We want to thank the Colorado State University Extension , more particularly W.S. Cranshaw and B. Baxendale for putting together this report. W.S. Cranshaw, is an entomologist and professor, bioagricultural sciences and pest management at Colorado State University Extension; and B. Baxendale, is a professor in botany at Teikyo Loretto Heights University. Our next tips…
