(HOST) Once the garden is planted, it’s time to guard against pests and other problems that can threaten our tender new seedlings. And commentator Charlie Nardozzi says there are some new products on the market that should help in that effort.
(NARDOZZI) The gardening season is in full swing, and all the plants are calling for my attention. However, the attention they’re getting isn’t just from me. Insects and diseases are poised to pounce on my favorite veggies and flowers. But I’ve found a new tool and a new spray to help lessen the blow.
Any gardener that grows tomatoes or roses knows of diseases such as black spot, powdery mildew, bacterial spot and early blight. These diseases start on the leaves, turning them yellow, and spread throughout the plant, limiting flower and fruit production. Depending on the weather, some years are worse than others. Chemical sprays can be effective but potentially harmful to beneficial insects and wildlife. There are some organic solutions, such as baking soda, that work primarily as a preventive to lessen the impact. Now there’s a new organic spray that prevents and kills the disease even after it’s on the plant.
Bacillus subtilis is a naturally occurring soil bacterium that was first discovered by the German Army in North Africa during World War II to control dysentery in their troops. It seems the local Arabs never got dysentery because they ate the fresh dung from their camels whenever the symptoms appeared. German scientists examined the dung and found it teaming with Bacillus subtilis. The bacterium was made into a solution that German troops ingested to keep their intestines happy. It seems these bacteria are so powerful they wipe out other microorganisms in their wake.
Gardeners can now harness the power of Bacillus subtilis to spray their roses, tomatoes and other plants infected with diseases. Bacillus subtilis, sold as Serenade, not only prevents these diseases from getting established, it stops their spread as well. But this bacterium doesn’t harm wildlife, pets or humans. It’s best to spray when the first signs of the disease appear and repeat every seven to ten days.
Diseases aren’t the only problem in my garden patch. Soft bodied insects such as aphids, spider mites, white flies and mealy bugs infest a wide range of vegetables and flowers. While there are many safe sprays to control these insects, I’m always looking for a simpler solution. It seems once you knock off these sucking insects from their host plant, they rarely climb back up again. A common way to knock the bugs off is with a spray of water from a hose. However, most hose nozzles don’t create a spray to completely cover the plant leaves – especially the leaf undersides where many insects hide.
The solution is a hose attachment called the Bug Blaster wand. The four-foot long wand attaches to a normal garden hose and sprays a 360-degree vertical wall of water that easily reaches the undersides of leaves. The spray knocks soft-bodied insects off the plant and cleans the leaves without damaging them.
With these two new products, I should be able to keep my garden plants safe and healthy this year.
Charlie Nardozzi is an all-around gardening expert with a special fondness for tomatoes and roses.