Page 42, Visions Magazine, April 2014
Bugs (Continued from page 13) way to control fleas, fire ants, termites, Japanese beetle grubs, cutworms and potato beetles. Adults need warm weather and soil moisture to survive. During an especially hot, dry summer it may be
necessary to apply beneficial nematodes in late spring and again in early fall for continuous growing season coverage. As described above, beneficial bugs must have
good living conditions and available food sources to remain in your garden and provide on-going p e s t control. This means not using insecticides or other chemicals on your plants t h a t will prevent y o u r beneficial bugs from enjoying a meal of pests, nectar or pollen.
Monaco is so small, it covers about 350 acres... a plant that provides nectar o r pollen for your good bugs, the food now has p o i s o n on it, and consuming poison m a y either kill your good bugs outright or send them in search of a new home. Adding beneficial insects to your garden is not a miracle cure. It takes time to eat a thousand whiteflies or a million fleas. But generally results can be seen within a week, and the cure is self sustaining. With beneficial bugs, there is no need to reapply the cure after a rain as long as the good bugs have food and good living conditions.
If your garden has a specific problem, like fungus, treat only that problem with as simple a remedy as possible. Avoid the temptation to use a “3-in-1 product” that contains insecticides or herbicides along with the fungus treatment. Chemicals can’t tell the difference between a good bug, a pest or a necessary food source. All the good bugs described Even if a herbicide doesn’t kill above will either wander into your yard on their own, as long as you’re not spreading or spraying chemicals, or may be purchased through organic gardening suppliers on the internet. If you buy beneficial insects, be sure to follow the instructions for placing them in your yard. These are living creatures that require careful handling until they are safely settled in their new home.
Antique (Continued from page 7) by the Clinton Region of the AACA. Local food vendors will again be set up in Hoskins/ Lane Park to help keep up your energy for a full day of exploring and shopping. The Clinch River Spring Antique Fair has grown in popularity every year for both antiques dealers and shoppers alike. These antique shows consistently bring thousands of visitors to Clinton’s Historic Downtown District. Rain or shine, everyone always has a great time and most go home with wonderful treasures. The fair is sponsored by the Antique Merchants Guild of Clinton in conjunction with the City of Clinton and Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge. For additional information please call (865) 457-5250 or (865) 463-8699.