A gardener’s work is never done! Just when you think you’ve plucked the weeds from your beds, scoured for harmful insects and watered well, there are stubborn insects and diseases that just can’t play nice. Autumn Hill Nursery shares some of the most common insects and diseases and how to protect your garden from them.
Japanese Beetles – Japanese Beetles are infamous for destroying plants, leaving them looking like a skeletonized version of themselves. Japanese Beetles are particularly fond of roses, and are most active in temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit without wild or rain. If you only see a handful on your plants, the quickest and easiest way to get rid of these pests is by plucking them off the flowers and dropping them into a bucket of soapy water. Japanese Beetles release pheromones into the air which attract other beetles, so they need to be taken care of quickly to avoid further problems. There are also a number of organic and non-organic pesticides available for Japanese beetles. 
Aphids – Aphids are little green insects that typically appear in large numbers around the growing tips of stems. These annoying insects attack new growth, mangling leaves and flowers and spreading plant viruses. Aphids also attract ants by leaving a trail of clear, sticky honeydew. You can keep aphids under control naturally by adding ladybugs to your garden. A strong spray of water from a garden hose will also do the trick.
Powdery Mildew – Around this time of year, you may start to notice a white or gray powdery film covering some of your plants. Powdery mildew is one of the most common plant diseases in the world, spreading by spores that blow in the wind or get splashed from plant to plant when it rains. It appears during strings of warm days, cooler nights, high humidity, still air and some shade. While there’s no treatment for powdery mildew, you can control it by encouraging air flow between plants, applying fungicides during wet, humid conditions before you see it develop, and choosing varieties that are resistant to the disease.
Black Spot – Commonly found on roses, Black Spot looks like black spots with yellow rings around them. This disease is encouraged by wet leaves, especially during the afternoon or evening hours, so make sure to keep a watchful eye on your foliage around this time to prevent damage. Use a soaker hose that waters plants directly at the roots instead of on the leaves and petals, and be sure to remove infected leaves quickly, throwing them in the trash rather than a compost pile to prevent the disease from spreading.
If you’re still dealing with some of these garden pests with little success, give us a call or visit the garden center to discuss ways to banish them them for good!
Photo courtesy of Flickr.
