Pest Watch: Squash Vine Borers
Let’s talk about one of my most hated pests: Squash Vine Borers. Hateful little suckers. Vines will look great one day and collapse the next – have they visited your garden? Adult moths lay eggs on the lower part of the leaves and tiny larvae bore holes into the vine. Eventually, they will kill the plant as they eat their way through the inside of the stem. If you had them last year, there’s a darn good chance they will be back this year as the larvae burrow into the ground and overwinter in the pupae stage to emerge as an adult in the spring.
Your best defense? Remove all garden debris. LOTS of bugs and disease overwinter in that. Second, till the soil to expose the cocoons to freezing temperatures. In late spring when you plant, spray every 7 days with insecticidal soap or neem oil (Bt also works). Make sure you get the undersides of the leaves as that’s where the adults are laying the eggs. Two plantings a couple of weeks apart also helps. Good luck!
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An Ornamental Grass Story
A story about ornamental grasses. Years ago, a dear friend of mine, Dr. Marc Cathey, took me on a tour of the National Arboretum in Washington DC. We stopped at the New American Garden (long time ago – probably a different name by now). This was when grasses were just beginning to come into vogue in landscapes. He asked me what I thought of them. My honest opinion was I thought they looked rather unkempt. He said we’d sit on the bench overlooking the planting until I developed a better appreciation of them. Miss that man! And I do appreciate them these days – just look around the farm. They’re great for fall and winter interest. Relatively carefree. Drought tolerant. Make great hedges. Birds love the seed heads.
Here’s how we take care of them come spring: Some people use duct tape, but string (baler twine) will do. Just tie or tape the stems together into a bundle, grab your hedge trimmers and cut about 4-6 inches above the ground. Easy clean up. Dr. Cathey would be proud.
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Peanut Butter Bird Feeder
Summer is a great time of year for getting the little ones out of the house and enjoying nature! Here’s a fun cheap and easy project for inviting nature to your backyard.
What you’ll need:
Empty toilet paper rolls
Peanut butter
Bird seed
Butter knife
To make:
Using a butter knife, spread the peanut butter on the outside of the toilet paper rolls. Roll the tubes in the bird seed. Place the tube over a branch on a tree and enjoy watching the birds munch!
Visit us on Pinterest for some more summertime kid crafts.
Come visit us this Summer at the farm! We have 30+ family-friendly activities, adorable farm animals, and lots of tasty things to eat.
Rosemary-Infused Housecleaner
Vinegar has been used as a household cleaner for ages. Created by the fermentation of diluted alcohol products, vinegar features an acidity that makes it an amazing cleaner and disinfectant. However, it doesn’t smell that great. Use a few sprigs of rosemary from the garden and some lemon to create a lovely scented homemade cleaner!
You’ll need:
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- Peels of 2 lemons
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 1 quart jar
To make:
Add all ingredients to your jar and let them rest for 10-14 days in a cool location to let the oils infuse. Once infusion is done, strain your ingredients and put the liquid into a spray bottle. If you prefer, you can keep the lemon and rosemary in the spray bottle.
Note: As with any acidic product, avoid using this cleaner on porous surfaces.
Need rosemary? Pick up a few plants here at the Greenhouse!
