Daylilies' Pesty Critters

I know! I know! In the past I said Daylilies were not bothered by critters. The more that I read the Daylily Internet Robin notes, the more I become convinced that we are doing the wrong thing by getting so attached to one flower. It seems to me that when you have a "monocultural" garden, the pests find the plants extremely tasty. Perhaps, one of the reasons that I do not have many plant pests is because all plants are wonderful to me. Throughout my Daylily patch, I combine coreopsis, mints of all kinds, Tansy, and various herbs. Let me know what you think about this idea?

Companion Planting

Have you ever tried companion planting? This is when you plant one plant that either repels or attracts the pest that you don't want attacking a desirable plant. For example, I plant Marigolds among the green beans and onion or garlic among the roses. Companion planting with Daylilies could include such aromatic plants as Lavender, Garlic, Chives, Basil. Thyme, and Mints. While there is no study of whether insects can smell, they don't seem to like strongly aromatic plants.

Why are we spending so much money on plant protection with chemicals. Is it because we are trying to grow one crop in a wide expanse of earth with no other plants to deter the "pesky critters" that love to eat the same plants that we do. We need to take responsible care of our planet as well as ourselves. Why don't we seek less toxic methods of taking care of our precious plants. It is true that the chemicals last longer, but if we are doing harm to our environment as well as ourselves, doesn't it make sense to seek some less toxic methods of getting rid of those "pesky critters."

Who are the "Pesky Critters?"

Some of you may be planting seeds about now. One of the most harmful pests to newly emerging plants are the Fungus Gnats. When the Gnats are flying, they don't really bother the emerging plants enough to kill them. When they lay eggs, which produce the worms that eat the plant roots, that is a problem! You can use many toxic chemicals to kill them; why not try "KnockOut from Gardens Alive. One of the best methods that I use inside is to hang those sticky yellow strips that are supposed to catch flies. The fungus gnats disappear in a hurry.

Go To Page: 1 2 3