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What is eating my flower plant leaves?
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Author:  gg10 [ Fri May 10, 2013 1:39 pm ]
Post subject:  What is eating my flower plant leaves?

Hi All,

Just recently noticed holes and eaten leaves. Are these Flea Beetle bugs? I could not find any bugs but the pics below show the leafs eaten up.

And what should I do to get rid of them?

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Author:  northwesterner [ Fri May 10, 2013 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is eating my flower plant leaves?

Those aren't flea beetles. They would leave tiny little pinholes in the leaves.

I wonder if you have leaf cutter bees?

Image

Or leaf cutter ants?

Image

Where are you? How do you garden (organic or not), and can you get out to the garden various times of the day to look and see what's out there? Also at night (flashlight or black light in hand).

Author:  gg10 [ Fri May 10, 2013 8:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is eating my flower plant leaves?

I am in Coppell, TX. I am slowly learning organic stuff. Just last week I spread dried molases in my front lawn. But on my flower beds I have used Miracle Gro couple of times, nothing else. I planted these flowers thru seeds couple of months ago and most of these plants are pretty young still.

I will go out more often and see if I can any bugs. BTW I have not seen any ants leaf cutter ants. Not sure about leaf cutter bees though there is a tree in the front yard (that is full of red color round fruits now) and It is full with bees throught the day. I think they are just honey bees..

Author:  gg10 [ Fri May 10, 2013 9:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is eating my flower plant leaves?

I went out with my flash light and camera and holy cow..the whole bug gang was out...
There were
black bugs that curl up when touched - woodlouse http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodlouse
some tiny snails near the plant roots - half asleep,
lots of black/brown ants on the dirt and ground,
very tiny white bugs on the leaves going up and down when I flashed them - very quick moving and looked like 6 legged.
and very tiny brown bugs on the leaves runing up and down when I flashed them -

I will post the pictures here. Some of them are not very clear but I have better resolution picture as well.

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Author:  gg10 [ Fri May 10, 2013 9:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is eating my flower plant leaves?

Some more....

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Author:  northwesterner [ Fri May 10, 2013 10:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is eating my flower plant leaves?

Nighttime is an interesting time to visit the garden!

Don't use MiracleGro, it messes up your soil. We can talk you off of that chemical ledge, into using better mixes of
organic fertilizers, compost, Garrett Juice, and things to stimulate the biological activity in your soil.

For the snails/slugs out there, you can use Sluggo, or I usually take out a few shallow bowls (like the 1/2 pint containers
that take-out restaurants use) and put a 1/2 to 1 inch of beer in each. Do it at dusk, and the beer has to be cold and fresh.
It will lure in a lot of snails, slugs, and a few other pests. Toss the contents of the bowls into the garden or onto the
compost.

Author:  gg10 [ Sat May 11, 2013 6:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is eating my flower plant leaves?

I will try beer tonight. What can I do about the other bugs and the tiny white bug or the ants?

Since I am not sure which bug is eating away the leaves. I like to use organics but I have found in past 2-3 months since I have started reading the forums and going thru library is that I could not find a comprehensive list or a basic starters page that guides thru common stuff or routine stuff. like things that are basic and everyone with a normal yard must do (just like every non organic routine application). Like detergent, molasses, general fertilizers etc.

Author:  northwesterner [ Sat May 11, 2013 8:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is eating my flower plant leaves?

How about some garlic pepper tea to start? Find the recipe in the library. And wear gloves when you use it.

Make sure the plants that are getting the damage are well-situated, that they're not getting too wet. That can
weaken them, make them vulnerable to various insects that are drawn to weakened plants.

Author:  gg10 [ Sat May 11, 2013 9:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is eating my flower plant leaves?

I will check the recipe. What do you suggest in terms of watering flower beds? I have started watering my lawn 1s a week 1 inch. I measured using small bowls.
For flower beds I am doing the same + 3 times a week close to 1 inch (ie almost the same duration so total 4 times a week for flower beds) since I saw my roses getting dry and flower petals wilt. Is that a lot? The other problem I have is couple of my sprinkler stations share the flower bed with lawn. So for that I am watering only once a week. That bed has french marigold and they are complaining for lack of water.
On another note I have seen squirrels and wild rabbits digging in my flower beds. I have lot of yard lizards in my back yard and as I understand they live where there is lot of food for them and they scare the hell out of my wife :-).

Author:  gg10 [ Sat May 11, 2013 9:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is eating my flower plant leaves?

Should I spray the garlic pepper tea on leaves when at down or dusk or any time is Ok? And what abt watering after spraying?

Author:  gg10 [ Sat May 11, 2013 8:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is eating my flower plant leaves?

Garlic Pepper Tea - check

Now what kind of fertilizers can I use on the flower beds and the yard Bermuda grass? And keep the harmful bugs away?

Author:  northwesterner [ Sat May 11, 2013 10:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is eating my flower plant leaves?

It looks like you're watering too often. Go poke around in the library for entries about roses and the other plants you have in your
garden. See what is recommended there.

The garlic pepper tea should be sprayed in a cooler part of the day, morning or evening. It will stay on for a while if it doesn't rain
and if you don't water with a spray system. Otherwise, you might have to apply every few days.

It's better to water deeply once a week than several times a week. And if you're watering an inch at a time, it should be good for
a week or so, depending on your soil type. Even with my vegetable garden I don't water more than a time or two a week until it
gets really hot.

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