If you have a small Japanese beetle invasion, or you’ve decided not to use an insecticide, there are some tips you can utilize when hand-picking them. First, the JB response to disturbance is to drop straight down from the plant. You can position your bucket of soapy water beneath the branch you’re tapping and use…
Author: grobigred
GRO Big Red Gardening Show EP 5: Talking Tomatoes
Welcome to the latest episode of the GRO Big Red podcast! On the show today, John Porter makes his first appearance and joins Kathleen Cue to chat about tomatoes! This tomato talk includes tips on disease and insect management as well as helpful tips on watering and more! Here are some links to check out:…
High Temperatures Affect Tomato Production
With the week’s high temperatures, watch for tomato fruit set to be delayed. This is because pollen dies when temperatures reach 85 degrees F. or higher. Dead pollen means flowers don’t get pollinated and unfertilized flowers will fall to the ground, resulting in reduced production. Gardeners often want to know if hand pollination will help…
When Treating for Japanese Beetles Isn’t a Good Idea
Those pesky Japanese beetles have broad appetites! They feed on roses, trees, perennials, vines and even our vegetable plants. Knocking them into a pail of soapy water is certainly a satisfying (read vengeful) way to keep their numbers down. But when their numbers are overwhelming, it’s tempting to look for an insecticide to stop the…
Storm Damaged Trees—How Much Damage Is Too Much?
The June 16 windstorm and tornado activity wreaked havoc on area trees. Trees that are snapped in two are obvious candidates for removal, but what about those trees that lost a large limb and the rest of the tree is intact? Should those trees be removed or can they be saved? An excellent example is…