Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505230009
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: C-13 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN ARBOGAST
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
This title for how we handle problems may sound high-tech, but but it's simple when we consider the meaning in two parts - "integrated," for means the blending of different techniques, and "pest management," which means doing various things to handle all sorts of garden pests.
An goal of IPM in a family's vegetable garden is to provide wholesome, fresh produce for the family with a minimum of chemicals as well as a minimu of pest damage.
IPM is not the same as "organic gardening" though, since some spraying or dusting might be necessary and is OK.
Before looking at pest management techniques, the gardener must recognize that the best way to control insects and disease problems is to prevent them.
Spring tasks included under this are:
Soil preparation - Build a soil that will promote excellent root growth and make moisture and nutrients available to the garden crops through incorporation of organic matter, soil testing, and use of organic mulches.
Plant selection - For all plantings and seedings, select disease-free, certified seed and insect- and disease-resistant vegetable varieties.
Cultural care practices - The most effective and important of all practices is to observe what is going on in the garden on a frequent and regular basis. Also important are proper spacing and thinning to avoid crowded, weak plants. Faithful watering is necessary as well.
Identify causes of problems before acting - Some naturally occurring insects will destroy harmful other insects or mites, so routinely spraying or dusting without identifying the culprit that's doing the damage to your vegetables - or in which part of the garden it's in - will needlessly destroy those beneficial insects. Also, proper identification of any garden problem tells us what controls are suitable.
Q: How do I get rid of the annoying gnats that seem to be everywhere in Roanoke already?
A. B., Roanoke
A: Control of these bothersome adult gnats is almost out of the question. There is more than one species of gnat in Virginia, so I won't be specific about the type here. The bottom line is that breeding has already occurred by the time we have the annoying adult gnats, and this leaves only the options of using a repellent as labeled for personal protection when you're working in the yard, or else staying indoors. There is no sense in trying to spray the swarms, although use of an outdoor insect fogger would be a good idea if what you're experiencing is one of the biting flies.
Q: Please give me instructions on propagating roses from clippings.
M. D., Woolwine A: Roses root easily from summer or softwood cuttings made any time in early to mid- summer from flowering shoots after the rose petals have fallen.
Prune off 6-inch-long stem ends, cut off the remnants of the faded flower, remove all but two of the rose leaves. Treat the base end of the cutting lightly with a root-stimulating hormone, and then insert the cuttings about two inches down into well-drained rooting media in a pot in bright, indirect light or into damp, loose soil in a shady outdoor location.
Place a jar over the cuttings to hold humidity and check frequently for soil dampness.
Send short questions about your lawn, garden, plants, or insects to Dear John, c/o the Roanoke Times & World-News, P. O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Virginia 24010-2491. We need your mail, but this column can't reply to all letters. Those of wide appeal will be answered each week. Personal replies cannot be given. Please don't send stamps, stamped envelopes, samples, or pictures.
by CNB