Pest Patrol

What’s so Bad about Bradford Pears?

Visiting Ohio in the middle of April, the white trees blooming prolifically caught my eye. Living in Montana for a longer time than my youth in the Midwest, I wasn't quite sure what it was from a distance. It didn't take long to realize it is the infamous Bradford pear. For years I’ve heard cries ...

My gardens have pests, and that makes me happy

Every spring, a friend posts a meme saying something to the effect of: If your gardens aren't being eaten, they aren't part of the ecosystem. I think there's truth to that. Chances are good that if your gardens are pest free, you're either applying pesticides, many of which aren't very good for the environment, or ...

Native plants are the heart of a wildlife-friendly landscape

I know I write a lot about native plants on this blog, but they are the heart of a wildlife-friendly landscape. It's hard to have one without the other. So, with spring on the horizon, I want to encourage you to plant natives this year. Then: Ugh! My plants are being eaten! I like to ...

Using Bt to battle caterpillars

Something is eating my Swiss chard. I can’t quite put my finger on what it might be. But, I suspect one of the multitude of caterpillars that are prevalent this time of the season. My go-to remedy for most pest issues in the garden is diatomaceous earth. However, since we are watering more frequently due ...