Hapeful Gardening Tips from Experts

by Bailey Sons – July 15, 2022

The 'in word' is green. Paper (recycled), nonchemical pesticides, herbicides, and all those products that have the 'white arrow triangle' are considered GREEN and using them will reduce your carbon footprint on our planet. 

However, this GREEN movement comes at a high price, so I have decided to offer an alternative lower cost for organic pesticides that one can manufacture at home.

Numero Uno on the organic pesticides is garlic. Technically garlic is not a pesticide because it does not usually kill but repels many pests. These pests simply do not like the taste or smell. There are two methods for garlic application. One, you plant garlic around other plants, and this would keep many pests off. For example, planted around tomatoes, it can prevent red spider mites. Incidentally, salt water spray is also effective for red spider mites. Garlic around fruit trees can repel borer beetles whose larvae would bore into your tree trunk, damaging or even killing the tree.

Secondly, an organic pest control spray from garlic blended with water or oil, sprayed directly on growing vegetables or flowers prevents rabbits and other invaders from snacking on your plants. Using an oil mixture and sprayed onto ponds or any collection of stagnant water will form a film on the surface of the water that can kill mosquitoes.

A common product found in most households until recent years is boric acid. One can still purchase it at drugstores or online. It is a natural product mined in the Mojave Desert. Boric acid has antifungal properties that can be used to get rid of mildew and other molds and fungi. As a power, it is very effective against ants, termites, ticks, fleas, bedbugs, slugs, earwigs, beetles, roaches and even scorpions. Not to forget, it will terminate crickets and grasshoppers.

A side note, boric acid is mildly toxic to humans or pets. It is not more dangerous than table salt. A pet would have to eat a lot to suffer symptoms and humans much more. Remember, it is not for internal use by humans and should not be used excessively on plants that pets will lick or eat.

Liquid detergent and others can be effectively sprayed onto roses and other plants that are infested with aphids or small fly infestations. Quite effective against slugs. For the old one, two knockout punch add equal quantities of hot chili peppers, horseradish(roots and leaves), spearmint and green onion tops to your soap water.

I must state that most of the homemade organic pest control concoctions we use do not kill the insects or other pests; rather, prevent them from coming near your plants. The exception, boric acid which is truly a pesticide.

In keeping with the theme pest control, another aspect is companion planting where one plants certain vegetables and herbs the have protective qualities in the garden. Their proximity to each other appears to fend off harmful pests. This phenomenon is particularly noticeable with food crops. Vegetables can be protected from the most damaging pest threats by planting them close to specific types of vegetables or herbs.

The keyword here is allelopathy.

Source of Information on Organic Pesticides

TN Nurseries best selling perennial plants

Trilliums

Daisy

Daylilies

Daffodils

Geraniums

https://www.tnnursery.net

Products from the article

Yellow Trillium - TN Nursery

Yellow Trillium

Yellow Trillium is a showy spring-blooming wildflower with golden, three-petaled flowers and mottled leaves, typically found in woodlands and forests. They are an excellent choice for landscaping due to their numerous positive attributes. These beautiful native North American wildflowers possess unique characteristics that can enhance any garden or outdoor space. From their striking appearance to their role in promoting biodiversity, they offer various benefits for landscape design. Yellow Trillium, also known as Trillium luteum, is a member of the lily family. They bloom between April and May and produce a faint scent of lemon. Due to their growing pattern, these gorgeous flowers can be planted next to other perennials that bloom in mid to late summer. The Stunning Leaves Of The Yellow Trillium Each of these plants has three leaves, and they range in appearance from dark green to light green. Additionally, they may have a few hints of silver, which gives them an extra pop of color. Over time, these herbaceous perennials can grow up to 16 inches tall. You'll see yours grow and expand, but you can divide them during the summer. One trimerous flower sticks up out of the trio of leaves surrounding it. In keeping with the pattern of its leaves, the flower has three petals, three carpels, three stamens, and three sepals. Interestingly, these flowers do not have stalks, but they do have erect petals. Once their flowering season ends, these plants will dormant in the summertime. However, they'll exit dormancy for the late winter season. One Yellow Trillium Gives You Many They are self-seeders, so once you've planted the first one, you'll typically see others rise. They rely on ants to help them spread their seeds. Each new flower will grow beautifully from the plant's center and stick straight into the air. Meanwhile, the leaves grow outward and may slightly swoop toward the ground. The mottled leaves can vary in intensity, with some being primarily green while a light gray shade almost entirely covers others. They provide the perfect backdrop for these stunning light gold flowers. Yellow Trillium Can Be Planted Anywhere Although Yellow Trillium can be planted anywhere, they have a unique natural habitat. They typically grow around the Great Smoky Mountains, where they help bring light and beauty to the area. What's truly unusual, though, is how many will naturally arise in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It's unknown why they flock to this specific city, but it certainly provides a bright point of interest for those living there.
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From $7.98
Oxeye Daisy - TN Nursery

Oxeye Daisy

Oxeye Daisy is a perennial wildflower with white, daisy-like flowers featuring yellow centers and deeply lobed leaves, often found in meadows and fields, adding charm to natural landscapes. It's known for its radiant white petals and sunny yellow center. It is a charming perennial with numerous landscaping benefits. Its innate qualities make it a popular choice among gardeners and landscapers alike. Oxeye Daisy, which blooms single or in clusters from May through September, can reach a height of three feet on their tall, thick individual stems. The flowers they produce are multiple flowers in one. 15 to 35 white (ray flower) petals surround the flower head, which consists of 400 to 500 yellow disk flowers. This flower's distinctive feature is its enormous, spherical blossom head. Each bloom can reach up to three inches in diameter. When full-grown, these plants can get up to two feet wide. Once established, you'll likely always have daisies since they are so good at self-seeding. Oxeye Daisy Has Unique Foliage  This plant has dark green, spoon-shaped leaves that taper into narrow, serrated ones as they grow up the stem. The enormous leaves appear around the plant's base; they are about six inches long and two inches wide and have as many as 15 lobed edges. The top leaves are thin, alternately placed, and sometimes clasp against the stem. These clasping leaves, which are one to four inches long, also have lobed edges. Typically, a leaf's number of teeth or lobed edges increases as it grows higher on the stalk. Save The Pollinators With Oxeye Daisy The oxeye daisy is the most significant type. Pollen and nectar found in these flowers are essential for the survival of several pollinating insects, such as moths, beetles, butterflies, hoverflies, and beetles. The male disk flowers emit a ring of yellow pollen around the periphery, while the many tiny flowers that compose the flower's yellow center contain nectar. Adding these flowers to your yard or garden is a perfect way to lure pollinators and increase their biodiversity. Oxeye Daisy Attracts Good Bugs These plants are magnets for good bugs, such as pollen-feeding beetles, which eat nasty bugs like aphids. Animals like cattle stay away from areas with these flowers because they irritate the wildlife's lips, nostrils, and legs. These characteristics make the plant an excellent form of pest and wildlife control.
From $7.99
From $7.99
Yellow Trillium - TN Nursery

Yellow Trillium

Yellow Trillium is a showy spring-blooming wildflower with golden, three-petaled flowers and mottled leaves, typically found in woodlands and forests. They are an excellent choice for landscaping due to their numerous positive attributes. These beautiful native North American wildflowers possess unique characteristics that can enhance any garden or outdoor space. From their striking appearance to their role in promoting biodiversity, they offer various benefits for landscape design. Yellow Trillium, also known as Trillium luteum, is a member of the lily family. They bloom between April and May and produce a faint scent of lemon. Due to their growing pattern, these gorgeous flowers can be planted next to other perennials that bloom in mid to late summer. The Stunning Leaves Of The Yellow Trillium Each of these plants has three leaves, and they range in appearance from dark green to light green. Additionally, they may have a few hints of silver, which gives them an extra pop of color. Over time, these herbaceous perennials can grow up to 16 inches tall. You'll see yours grow and expand, but you can divide them during the summer. One trimerous flower sticks up out of the trio of leaves surrounding it. In keeping with the pattern of its leaves, the flower has three petals, three carpels, three stamens, and three sepals. Interestingly, these flowers do not have stalks, but they do have erect petals. Once their flowering season ends, these plants will dormant in the summertime. However, they'll exit dormancy for the late winter season. One Yellow Trillium Gives You Many They are self-seeders, so once you've planted the first one, you'll typically see others rise. They rely on ants to help them spread their seeds. Each new flower will grow beautifully from the plant's center and stick straight into the air. Meanwhile, the leaves grow outward and may slightly swoop toward the ground. The mottled leaves can vary in intensity, with some being primarily green while a light gray shade almost entirely covers others. They provide the perfect backdrop for these stunning light gold flowers. Yellow Trillium Can Be Planted Anywhere Although Yellow Trillium can be planted anywhere, they have a unique natural habitat. They typically grow around the Great Smoky Mountains, where they help bring light and beauty to the area. What's truly unusual, though, is how many will naturally arise in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It's unknown why they flock to this specific city, but it certainly provides a bright point of interest for those living there.
From $7.98
From $7.98
Oxeye Daisy - TN Nursery

Oxeye Daisy

Oxeye Daisy is a perennial wildflower with white, daisy-like flowers featuring yellow centers and deeply lobed leaves, often found in meadows and fields, adding charm to natural landscapes. It's known for its radiant white petals and sunny yellow center. It is a charming perennial with numerous landscaping benefits. Its innate qualities make it a popular choice among gardeners and landscapers alike. Oxeye Daisy, which blooms single or in clusters from May through September, can reach a height of three feet on their tall, thick individual stems. The flowers they produce are multiple flowers in one. 15 to 35 white (ray flower) petals surround the flower head, which consists of 400 to 500 yellow disk flowers. This flower's distinctive feature is its enormous, spherical blossom head. Each bloom can reach up to three inches in diameter. When full-grown, these plants can get up to two feet wide. Once established, you'll likely always have daisies since they are so good at self-seeding. Oxeye Daisy Has Unique Foliage  This plant has dark green, spoon-shaped leaves that taper into narrow, serrated ones as they grow up the stem. The enormous leaves appear around the plant's base; they are about six inches long and two inches wide and have as many as 15 lobed edges. The top leaves are thin, alternately placed, and sometimes clasp against the stem. These clasping leaves, which are one to four inches long, also have lobed edges. Typically, a leaf's number of teeth or lobed edges increases as it grows higher on the stalk. Save The Pollinators With Oxeye Daisy The oxeye daisy is the most significant type. Pollen and nectar found in these flowers are essential for the survival of several pollinating insects, such as moths, beetles, butterflies, hoverflies, and beetles. The male disk flowers emit a ring of yellow pollen around the periphery, while the many tiny flowers that compose the flower's yellow center contain nectar. Adding these flowers to your yard or garden is a perfect way to lure pollinators and increase their biodiversity. Oxeye Daisy Attracts Good Bugs These plants are magnets for good bugs, such as pollen-feeding beetles, which eat nasty bugs like aphids. Animals like cattle stay away from areas with these flowers because they irritate the wildlife's lips, nostrils, and legs. These characteristics make the plant an excellent form of pest and wildlife control.
From $7.99
From $7.99
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