It’s About Thyme
by CHRIS WINSLOW
While this summer has brought a wealth of new growth from the rains of last winter and spring, it has also brought its fair share of disease and insect problems.
When I opened the nursery on Monday morning, I was greeted by gardeners clutching a multitude of ziplock bags. All were filled with samples of sorry-looking limbs and leaves under attack from an array of insects and diseases.
Classic for this time of the year is the bloom of wooly aphids on our hackberry trees. The leaves of the hackberries can become loaded with these creatures.
These aphids like to scratch the epidermal layer and suck out the internal sugar-rich moisture from within, to create a sticky substance called ‘honeydo.’
This is then attacked by something called ‘sooty’ mold – which, I’m afraid, is bad news. The leaves turn black, and everything beneath the canopy of the tree turns sticky and black also. A serious mess.
This scenario can also be played out with aphids on crape myrtles and bur oaks, and any plants close to these species run the risk of being infected.
Your plan of attack must be to get rid of the insects first, and then set your sights on the sooty mold.
For the aphids, there are some highly effective organic sprays available. All Seasons Oil, Neem Oil, Spinosad and Pyrethrum sprays all work well.
For the sooty mold, apply a generous application of the organic fungicide Serenade.
Native mountain laurels and the culinary herb rosemary have also had their fair share of larval problems. In fact, a forest tent caterpillar is looking at me right now! It just crawled off a rosemary sprig.
Luckily for us, the organic sprays B.T. and Spinosad work well without environmental impact. This is the first year I have seen bag-like worms on rosemary. Both above mentioned sprays should work.
While insects undoubtedly require plants for survival, it’s clear that we just don’t want certain varieties surviving and flourishing in our yards. Happy gardening everyone!
If you have a question for Chris, send it via email to [email protected]. Or mail a postcard to It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748 www.itsaboutthyme.com.
