Now is the time to begin treating for Budworm.
Life Cycle
The adult stage is a moth with a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. The wings are light green with brown overtones and a few wavy, cream-colored bands. In the early evening, females lay single eggs on buds or leaves. The eggs hatch into little light green worms. They have two cycles per summer – early July and early August. Budworms prefer to feed on petunia, geranium and verbena plants. They feed on the flower buds of these species. You might notice that there are less and less flowers, flowers that looked chewed upon, or little black worm droppings in the leaves.
Treatment Options
Treat now and treat again in late July to help keep these flowers in full bloom all summer long. The best and safest control is:
- Natural Guard RTU Caterpiller killer w/ Bt, the biological Bacillus thurengiensis – organic choice
- Fertilome Dipel Dust w/ Bt – organic choice
Bt is natural, safe and very effective controlling worms on plants. Spray the flowers and leaves. As the worms feed they get a dose which paralyses their digestive tract and they are finished.
Other controls:
- Natural Guard Spinosad Soap – soap w/ biological Spinosad – RTU for small applications or hose end RTS for large applications – organic choice
- Bonide Eight RTU for small applications or the hose end RTS for large applications
*Please read and follow all directions provided by manufacturer of each product your try*
Container Garden fertilizer
Throughout the season your container garden pots and hanging baskets will really perform all season long with regular applications of granular fertilizer mixed with water applied as a liquid to the roots in the soil.
Use our Jack’s Petunia Feed for all your pots and baskets. Consider switching over to Jacks Blossom Booster blend from now until the end of the season for your vegetables, pots and baskets. Use Jack’s All-Purpose fertilizer in your garden for your roses and perennials. All-Purpose may be used on vegetables, pots and baskets as well.
Now, it is easier to apply Jacks granular fertilizer for large applications with the new Jack’s Hose End fertilizer applicator. Check with the Green Team for details.
