Re: Orthene and Irises
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Orthene and Irises
- From: B* S* <B*@hsc.edu>
- Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 07:17:09 -0600 (MDT)
Jose, please be sure before using something as toxic as Orthene that your
problem really is an insect. You sound unsure, and I have never heard of
any insect damage on irises that fits your description ("shreds leaves").
Instead, it sounds much more like slugs--or possibly weather damage?
I would urge you to try to find out what is going on before you jump off
the deep end with pesticides.
If slugs are responsible for the damage, clean up around the garden to deny
them places to hide during the day. Sprinkle the iris bed liberally with
wood ashes or sharp sand (builder's sand, not beach sand), or if you can
find it, with diatomaceous earth (this is used as a filtration material in
swimming pools).
Why is our first reaction to ANY garden damage to reach for the can of
poison? Are we so gullible as to have been sold that bill of goods by the
pesticide manufacturers? I was in WalMart this morning and saw literally
hundreds of pounds of toxic pesticides (primarily Diazinon for lawns) on
sale.
Stop the madness! Pesticides are a LAST resort, not our first line of
defense! By rolling out the big guns everytime we suspect an attack, we
only contribute to making the useless later, when they may really be needed.
Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@hsc.edu>
