savage garden

Lewis mite damage on poinsettia. Photo by OMAFA. Let’s face it: although Lewis mites ( Eotetranychus lewisi ) used to be more of a cyclical pest, this mite has been consistently bad in poinsettia the last few years . As regular Lewis mite infestations now seem to be the new normal in poinsettia, this week is the time to to start thinking about your pest control plan for Lewis mite . Whether you choose the preventive route or the wait-and-see approach, knowing which strategies and chemicals are working is critical. Read on for tips on dipping to prevent mites along and what we learned from last year ‘s chemical approaches.  Lewis Mite Symptoms and Scouting: Lewis mite is closely related to spider mites ( Tetranychus urticae ) but are an entirely different species. If you need a refresher on symptoms or their biology, check out these posts: https://onfloriculture.com/2024/09/16/lewis-mites-2024-updates-in-poinsettia/ https://www.ontario.ca/page/mite-pests-greenhouse-crops...

Japanese Beetle  ( Popillia japonica ) adults were caught in pheromone traps yesterday in Vineland, ON, by Cassie Russell, OMAFA’s Nursery and Landscape Specialist. Read on for what the start of the adult emergence period means in terms of pest management for outdoor nursery and floriculture crops. Scouting and Adult Control: Look for these shiny green and copper beetles feeding on grape leaves, roses and many other trees and shrubs.  Where possible, homeowners can knock adults into a bucket of soapy water (to smother them). Only a few insecticides are registered for the adults: BeetleTerminator and Imidan. Control of Grubs and the JB Certification Program: Preventative applications of Intercept and Acelepryn   are registered for white grubs (e.g. European chafer, June beetle, and/or Japanese beetle) in nursery and greenhouse production and the application period begins now that we’ve seen adults flying. As the beetles emerged a bit late this year,...

Don’t miss the upcoming exclusive Guardian Network virtual training session on July 30th . Designed specifically for Field Staff across Ontario who support the agricultural community . This includes agronomists, field service reps, soil & crop advisors, livestock & dairy specialists, equipment reps and others in similar roles. The session will take place virtually on July 30th from 9 am – 4 pm . As a Field Staff Professional, you may often have trusted relationships with farmers. This training can make a meaningful difference in equipping you to recognize signs of mental distress and connect farmers to the support they need. Scan the QR code in the flyer to register for the course. Visit the Guardian Network website for more information about how you can become involved in supporting suicide prevention for Ontario’s agricultural community.

I’ve been feeling a little bit guilty that I posted that winter interest blog just as we were all craving spring. I don’t know what came over me — a last blast of nostalgia for the long, cold, dark winter? In any case, I have two quick posts here to make up for it. This first post will highlight the awakening of spring in my backyard, and the second will follow with the front garden. The two gardens are quite different. The back is private, quiet and restful. In the summer, it is primarily dappled shade. If only I were able to keep to a theme, it would be a white garden, layered with shades of green. Since I have the common gardener’s inability to resist a beautiful flower, and so did Jason, there are other colors scattered throughout (as accents, I tell myself). The front garden is much more public. Although I don’t live on a busy street, people stop as they walk by and pull up in their cars as they drive by, to comment on the garden. It is big and loud and tall — when I give direct...

With new invasive species popping up, the need for growers to more closely inspect pests and damage is at an all time high. This has led to interest in on-farm pest identification . When it comes to thrips identification, specifically, investing in a microscope is a necessary evil. But a decent microscope is now a LOT cheaper than it used to be . Here, we’ve provided a video to walk you through what features to look for . The full post will also provide you with model numbers and links , to make microscope shopping easier! Microscope Buying Tips: All features referred to in our thrips identification key can typically be seen using a mid-quality dissection microscope. Your microscope will need to have a minimum 40X magnification . Though there are certainly other microscopes of equal or better quality available, we’ve verified the models we talk about in this video to make sure they are sufficient for identifying thrips. For more details not covered in this video, you can co...

The Expanded Energy Management program now provides support to commercial and institutional facilities in Ontario (including Greenhouses) to improve their energy performance with energy savings opportunities in two areas: Funding for hiring an Energy Manager Strategic Energy Management: Identify and implement long-term energy-saving opportunities. Continue reading to learn more and register here for the information webinar Wednesday June 4 th , 1-2pm Program Details The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) announced that Save On Energy’s Expanded Energy Management (EEM) program has expanded participation to commercial and institutional organizations. The EEM program now provides support to commercial and institutional facilities in Ontario to improve their energy performance with energy savings opportunities in two areas: Hire an Energy Manager : Receive funding to hire a dedicated energy manager, covering up to 50% of their salary up to a maximum of $100,0000 ...