Aphids, whitefly, scale, lace bugs, cutworms, and mealybugs are common warm weather insects that can wreck havoc on your backyard garden. Sucking sap, preying on flowers and foliage, carrying viruses and pathogens, they weaken a host plant’s ability to absorb nutrients and water. Infestations can easily spread if not caught in the bud.

Forget toxic chemicals. Instead, enlist the help of an army of good bugs, beneficial insects that are the bad bugs worst nightmare.

In the case of aphids, sap sucking isn’t the worst of it. The real damage comes from the plant diseases they carry and the sticky honeydew they leave behind. Ladybugs, a popular natural enemy of aphids, will eat well over 5,000 aphids and other soft-bodied pests during their one-year lifetime. Aphid predators and aphid parasites also work well in the battle against aphids, as do green lacewing larvae.

Maintaining a good insect habitat starts by improving the diversity of plants so your landscape is not just strong and healthy, but meets a variety of beneficial insect needs.

Lambert’s environmentally friendly plant health care and biological control program strengthens your garden’s health. Routine applications of organic amendments, compost tea, and nutrient-rich supplements, along with proper watering, are critical to keeping the soil and root systems strong and healthy, and ensuring your garden’s ability to withstand pest infestations and plant disease.

Spring weather will bring with it common warm season insects. Keep their populations down and your plant nutrition up.

For more information on Lambert’s non-toxic plant health care program, contact 214-350-8350.

February 2016