ROSE SLUGS

 

• Problem: Hybrid roses and shrub roses are having their leaves eaten with no obvious suspect.
• Symptoms: Leaves appear to only have the main veins left and all tissue has been removed.
• Culprit: A rose slug is the critter that is doing this damage. Though not a true slug, but actually a caterpillar, rose slugs will eat the leaf's tissue usually leaving the veins behind. They are small, less than a ¼" and a lime green color with a black or white head. Rose slugs usually choose to do their damage at night and hide during the day, although, during times of peek infestation you can find them out and about throughout the day. Solution: Earth friendly options are to spray your plants with either Thuricide (contains the beneficial bacteria Bt.) or with Ferti-lome Bagworm, Bore, Tent Caterpillar Spray that contains spinosad (a byproduct of Bt.). Both products are a liquid concentrate that needs to be mixed with water. When spraying, try to focus on the underside of the leaves where the rose slugs like to do their damage and do not spray during the heat of the day if temperatures are above 85 degrees. Other effective options would be Bayer Advanced All-In-One Rose and Flower Care or 2-in-1 Systemic Rose and Flower Care. Keep in mind that systemic insecticides are absorbed by the plants and can take from several days to weeks to move throughout the plant, leaving a window of opportunity for the insects to continue to do more damage.

TOBACCO BUDWORM

 

• Problem: Over the past several years, people who use petunias and geraniums in their flower beds have discovered that their plants are failing to flower.
• Symptoms: More often than not, the plants are producing flowers but they are not opening due to the flower petals being eaten while in the bud. On geraniums you'll find a small (1/8") hole drilled into the side of the flower.
• Culprit: This work is the tell-tale sign of the tobacco budworm. This caterpillar invades the flower bud, eating the petals, then moving on to the next flower bud.
• Solution: Control can be obtained by using Thuricide or Bagworm, Bore, Tent Caterpillar Spray. Other options would include the Bayer products mentioned above in treatment for the rose slug. There is not 100% control over this pest and some flower buds on either plant will be destroyed by the insect. If this bug has been a major problem in the past, consider using different annuals to avoid the problem all together.

VOLUNTEER TREES

• Problem: Volunteer Trees in the Lawn - This spring we have seen an overabundance of seeds being produced by trees. Last year, trees had their flowers burned off from the April freeze and were not able to produce any seeds at all. So this spring, trees overcompensated creating quite a mess for us. Right now many people are seeing volunteer maples popping-up in their lawns.
• Solution: There really is no need for a chemical control because every time the lawn is mowed the volunteers' tops will be cut off and they will die. However, in fence lines and flower beds this method of control is not an option. Hand-pulling or carefully using a non-selective herbicide such as Round Up in the flowerbeds will eliminate the pesky plants. You can also use herbicide such as Weed-Free Zone with a spreader sticker to eliminate the plants. Always be careful when applying any herbicides to prevent non-targeted plants from getting damage. A safe way to apply Round Up is to take a foam paint brush and a piece of cardboard and paint it onto the volunteer. Round Up will not sterilize the soil and will not move in the soil so neighboring plants are safe if you are careful. However, you may find that old-fashioned, roll-up-your-sleeves hand-weeding is actually your most efficient tool to remove these nuisances from your flower beds.

What's Bugging You written by Scott Evans, Mulhall's garden shop manger, is a bi-weekly post that provides solutions to local lawn and garden issues. The column will run as long as you have problems that you need help with.

We encourage you to tell us what's bugging you in your garden or lawn. Please submit your issues along with a picture of your problem and your contact information to whatsbuggingyou@mulhalls.com.

If we use your submission we will send you a $10 Mulhall's gift card!