"Thoroughly examine plants for all stages of the pest, daily to several times per week. The bugs may be hidden inside dense foliage layers or fruit clusters, and they may hide or fly when startled. Handpick and crush the bugs or brush them off plants into soapy water. Wear gloves because of the odor they will emit when handled. A handheld vacuum dedicated to catching the bugs can be effective at reducing numbers, if used regularly. It is especially important to remove the bugs as early in the season as possible, when the very young nymphs are tightly clustered together; morning is best to reduce movement and flight. Be sure to also destroy the egg masses found on the underside of leaves.
For late-season infestations in pomegranate trees, prune trees so that there is a space between tree limbs and the ground. Leaffooted bug nymphs can easily be knocked out of the tree using a stick, by physically shaking the tree limbs, or using water from a pressure nozzle on a garden hose. Once bugs fall on the ground, they can be smashed. This method is effective against nymphs but will not dislodge eggs. It is less effective against adults, which are able to fly away. For this reason, this method should be repeated once every 1 to 2 weeks as necessary, until the majority of the bugs have disappeared. Laying a white ground cover beneath the plant can aid in seeing the insects when using this control method."
/span>Here are a few articles you might consider:
http://uccemg.com/Soils-Fertilizers-Compost/
The following will discuss how to test your soil, how to manage your soil, and adding soil amendments;
This link will give a few places to purchase soil amendments:
http://uccemg.com/Soils-Fertilizers-Compost/Soil_Amendments/
Please visit the many topics discussed and helpful information you will discover on the above mentioned website pertaining to your landscape needs.
Remember the old adage, always put a $1 plant in a $5 hole!
Although as caterpillars they like to eat new growth on citrus trees, they rarely become problematic and most gardeners find them an attractive addition to their garden. Planting citrus as well as lantana, golden rod, azalea, bougainvillea, milkweed and honeysuckle, and avoiding using pesticides, will encourage these yellow and black, four to six inch butterflies to visit the garden.
- Start by cutting back the foliage to about six inches above the ground to make it easier to handle. Once established new growth will fill in quickly.
- Taking a sharp spade, dig around the root ball about six inches from the outside of the plant. Dig down and under the root ball and lift out of the hole. This may be difficult as they have thick roots. Use a long handled shovel or crow bar for leverage if necessary.
- Once the plant is out of the ground, begin to separate the individual plants by pulling apart the bulbs. Cut away any damaged roots.
- Plants can be replanted immediately for best results, about one foot apart in full sun or part shade and rich soil.
- Keep the plants moist, but not too wet until new growth shows that the plant is well established.
- Author: Loren Nelson
An avocado tree typically can produce up to about one million flowers but will typically only set about 100 to 200 fruit per tree. Or in other words, 1 fruit in 10,000. Sometimes they will set fruit but then drop them when they are pea to walnut size. Again this is typical. To minimize fruit drop of good, fertilized fruit, avoid stressing the tree. That is, don't under or overwater the tree. There has been research in Israel which suggests that fruit retention is also facilitated when there are other avocado varieties present to provide cross-pollination and that these crossed fruit have a higher tendency to stay on the tree. We also recommend not fertilizing with nitrogen from about April through mid-June, or applying only very low amounts during this time.