CULT: Borer
- To: "i*@onelist.com"
- Subject: CULT: Borer
- From: I* E* E*
- Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 20:24:41 -0700
I can add the following comments In repsonse to all the comments about
my failure to control borer with an oil spray or extreme clean up of
dead plant material in autumn and spring.
1. I used a commercial vegetable oil spray sold in garden stores.
2. I probably did not spray frequently enough. This spring has been
quite unusual with a great deal of rain and wind. The result was a lack
of days to get out there and spray. Next year, I might follow the
advice with four sprays during the spring.
3. Logically, spraying should work as the larvae pass across the leaves
before they make their first entry in the upper half of the leaf. It
would be necessary, however, for the oil to remain on the leaves for
some days in order to be effective.
4. I agree that with Cygon one should get the exposed larvae but the
chemical is a systemic and therefore it should accumulate in the plant
and get to the older larvae through their food. Why does it not do
thisif one drenches the plants?
5. The AIS article sounds interesting. Unforunately, I let my
membership lapse because of bordom with the Bulletin and a greater
interest in iris articles the AGS Bulletin!
6. I have borer in a number of areas but they are not devastatingly
high in numbers and their seems to be no logic as to where they occur
and where I spayed with oil.
7. I. veriscolor is native in this area - the only species unless Tony
Huber's ideas are correct and then we also have I.virginica shevrei
along the Otttawa River valley. They are loved by borer.
8. My theory of the evolution of borer is that it developed in the
Eastern N. Am. in versicolor and virginica and reached a natural balance
where the plants in water were protected and the plants on land were
not. Saturday, I visited Gardens North where the water irises growing
in the water do not have borer and those on land do - confirming my
idea.
9. Borer has been recorded in Vancouver, British Columbia so that it
will not be too long before they reach Washington State!!
10. I suspect that one can grown Louisianans in borer country if they
are grown in water, which is their natural habitat.
Thanks to everyone for their comments. I will try again next year and,
in the mean time, will be killing borer larvae for must of the remaining
months of summer.
Ian, in Ottawa Zone 4B
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Free @Backup service! Click here for your free trial of @Backup.
@Backup is the most convenient way to securely protect and access
your files online. Try it now and receive 300 MyPoints.
http://click.egroups.com/1/5668/0/_/486170/_/961460454/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
