Coppell Community Garden presentation on bugs.

1. KCB Environmental Education Series
December 7, 2013
Amanda Vanhoozier

5.  Healthy
soil grows healthy plants.
 Healthy plants are healthier. Less stressLess problems. Less pests.
 A gardeners shadow is the best deterrent.
Observation and action.
 Good organic gardening practices prevent
problems.
 Plant selection for local environment.
 Don’t be scared of bugs, most are
beneficial.

6.  Grocery
Store “perfection”
 Accept that your plants may have
pest/blemishes
 Get use to eating from garden
 Get over fear of bugs
 Understand the bigger picture. Aphids and
ants relationships
 Never take it personal

7.  Healthy
Soil
 Healthy Gardens
 Planting
 Watering
 Planting
 Beneficial Insects and Pollinators
 Let’s Get Physical
 Solutions
 Specific Insects

8.  Compost
and organic mulches.
 High microbial activity- increase with good
compost and soil amendments.
 Keep soil covered with mulch.
 Soil should have air, don’t walk in beds.
 Clear away debris.
 Make sure soil can be well drained.
 Soil testing by
http://www.texasplantandsoillab.com/

10.  Garden
is part of an ecosystem
 Good housekeeping- remove debris,
weed, and stagnant water
 Prevention vs Problems
 Compost Tea for health and protection
 Protect yourself
 Be a friend to Pollinators

11.  Plants
selection- more resistant varieties
 Timing within growing season
 Organically grown and hardened off
 Diversity of plants for a healthy ecosystem
and grow for beneficial insects
 Proper airflow around plants
 Companion and trap plants
 http://www.texasheirloomseeds.com/#Recc
omended

12.  Consistent
and sufficient watering
 Mulch soil to minimize evaporation
 Drip or soaker vs sprinkling
 Well drained beds
 Rain vs city water
 Foliar spray – compost tea, molasses, and
seaweed extract/fish emolusion

13.  Most
living organisms are
beneficial to soil and plant
health
 Balance in nature
 Plant to attract beneficials
 Beneficial insects: parasites
(Trichogamma wasps) and
predators (ladybugs, green
lacewings, nematodes)
 Birds, bats, lizards, snakes,
earthworms

15.  Microscopic
Organisms
 Parasitic to soil larval and /or pupal
 Application – water, dissolve, apply, water
 When? Early Dawn or Dusk
 Spring, Summer, Fall
 45-105 degrees
 http://www.arbicoorganics.com/product/beneficial-nematodechart/1366

16.  http://www.arbico-
organics.com/category/beneficial-insectsorganisms/48

17.  Encourage
beneficial bugs to do the work
 Hand pick pests and drop in soapy water
 Remove eggs
 Blast off with water
 Remove plants past season- pest are
indicators
 Row cover and traps (yellow sticky)
 Plant collars (top of cup)
 Soil solarization

18.  Blast
of Water
 Least toxic – garlic and soapy water
 Add pepper to make stronger
 Bt – Bacillus thuringiensis spray or powder
for caterpillars
 Diatomaceous Earth (food grade)
 Citrus Oil
 Neem

19.  http://www.arbico-
organics.com/category/problem-solverguide/17
 http://www.dirtdoctor.com/organic/garden/f
aq/

20.  Healthy
and active soil deters fire ants
 Farm aphids for the nectar – okra
 Clean up- attracted to sweet
 Beneficial nematodes
 Organic drench: compost tea, hort.
molasses, seaweed extract, orange oil
 Boiling water – quick but kills everything
 Bait – controls reproduction

21.  Use
to increase microbial activity in soil to
prevent fire ants and increase plant health!
 Coppell Community Garden - resources
 http://coppellcommunitygarden.org/files/Ag
itated%20Compost%20Tea.pdf

22.  Leaves
are a resource not a waste!
 Mulching mower
 Use as mulch under shrubs
 Use in compost piles
 Yard Trimmings Recycling

23. Amanda Vanhoozier
avan.ole@verizon.net