Rowan Redbuds

The next meeting of the Rowan Redbuds Garden Club will be June 27 at 1 p.m. in the Stanback Room at the Rowan Public Library, 201 W. Fisher St. Discover the benefits of yoga and tai chi, learn stretches and postures to aid stability and flexibility, and enjoy a bit of guided relaxation in this month’s program. Guests are welcome. Carol Comer, President 704-633-2091.

 

Club News from the Kneeling Gardeners

Submitted by Millie Fink

KANNAPOLIS — The Kneeling Gardeners met at Trinity United Methodist Church on May 27. The program was provided by Stacey Jones on pest management. Stacey is a specialized agent over the commercial green house and nursery with the NC State Cooperative Extension, with a master’s degree in entomology.

Insects in general are animals. Spiders ticks and scorpions are relatives of the insect.

All insects have jobs. There are good bug predators and good bug parasitoids. We all detest a fly. Well, flies lay eggs on things that are in poor health; the eggs hatch and eat the plant; the excrement fertilizes the plant. It is all part of our eco system.

Two kinds of good bugs are the predators, who walk around to catch food and have long legs to walk fast; and parasitoids, who fly around to find food for progeny and lay eggs in pest insects.

Good bug predators are lady bugs, stink bugs and green lace wings. Some bugs are assassin bugs or big-eyed bugs. They feed on aphids and white flies. Example of a good bug parasitoid is a wasp, who lays his eggs inside an aphid.

Beetles are pests with chewing mouthparts. Japanese beetles, squash beetles, cucumber beetles, and leaf beetles are a few; as well as caterpillars. Hornworms, Fall armyworm, European corn borer, cutworms, cabbage looper all are in the category. Pests with sucking mouth parts cause real damage to plants. If you notice stripling, yellowing, cupping, or streaking of the leaves, there is a pest somewhere. Aphids, for instance, suck in sugar all day leaving a sticky residue. If you notice sooty mold, it is a fungus that can be washed off. They can be found on the leaves or the bark. Mealy bugs produce sooty mold and honeydew residue. The newest problem in North Carolina and Cabarrus County is crepe myrtle bark scale.

For pest management, proper identification first, rotate chemicals to reduce resistance and try the least toxic control. Favorite products are Azadirachtin-Un broad spectrum, Pyrethrins-broad spectrum, Bacillus, Spinosad, Beauveria bassiano. Every chemical has a mode of action. To prevent resistance population, never use the same product over and over.
Bee health is always a concern. Use on non-bee pollinated plants.

The Cabarrus County Extension Office will hep you identify problems you have with pests.

For those interested in gardening, the next meeting is June 24 at 7 p.m. at Trinity Methodist Church in Kannapolis. This program will be a show and tell by members.