A. Whiteflies used to be an overwhelming problem
for gardeners more than a decade ago. That’s
when the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office began
releasing a predator wasp that eventually got the
whitefly infestation under control. Maybe it’s
time for the Ag Commissioner to start releasing
this predator wasp again. Whiteflies are an
annoying nuisance because as soon as you spray,
they fly away in a virtual white cloud. However,
if you spray right at dusk, whiteflies are less
active and you’ll have better luck when spraying.
You can use insecticidal soap or a chemical
insecticide, such as malathion, isotox or all-
purpose garden insect spray. To mix your own
insecticidal soap, simply mix a couple
tablespoons of liquid soap into a quart of water.
It will take numerous sprayings to get the
whitefly problem under control.
Q. I remember reading about a rose recipe
utilizing Epsom salts in your column a while
back. Can you please provide that recipe again?
A. The rose fertilizer recipe comes courtesy of
Dave Lowell, an accomplished rosarian from
Livermore. Keys to this recipe are common Epsom
salts and sulfur in the form of Ironite or soil
sulfur. The Epsom salts spur new growth, while
the Ironite or soil sulfur help to bring the
alkalinity of our soil pH down so the fertilizer can work. The recipe includes:
½ cup balanced fertilizer, such as 12-12-12
½ cup bone meal
½ cup sulfur (Ironite soil sulfur of iron sulphate)
2 tablespoons Epsom salts
1 shovelful of chicken manure, mushroom compost or other organic material
Sprinkle this solution around established
roses, mixing it into the soil if possible. Try
to use it at least twice a year, once in early
spring and again for a boost in the middle of
summer.
Q. I accidentally brushed against the leaves of
my dwarf lemon tree the other day, and came
away having to brush a dozen or so ants off my
arm. What can I do to control these ants, and why
are they attacking my lemon tree?
A. Ants do not directly damage plants. Instead,
those pesky ants are feeding on honeydew, which
is the sticky, sweet substance excreted by many
insects, including aphids, scales, mealybugs and
whiteflies. To get the ants under control, you
need to control the insects they are feeding on.
Spray with the same possible controls as
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