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Many gardeners can relate to the all too familiar sight
of holes in their geranium or petunia blossoms or the disappearance of the
blossoms altogether. This is the work of the budworm.
The pesky caterpillars of the budworm usually attack
the flower buds of developing flowers. The damaged buds fail to open
and failure to bloom is often the first injury observed. The petals
of emerged flowers are also chewed, giving the flowers a ragged
appearance.
The budworm generally appears in full force in early
July and by the time you realize it has hit, it is almost too
late. That is why it is important to monitor for budworm and detect
early stages of an infestation. Budworm larvae are most active during
dusk and best discovered at this time. During daylight hours, they
often hide around the base of the plant.
Your basket’s new best friend is an insecticide
by Fertilome called Borer, Bagworm, Leafminer and Tent Caterpillar
Spray. It has a long, complicated name but quite simply it kills
budworm and is very effective, especially when used as a preventative
spray. The active ingredient is “spinosad”. Budworm
is resistant to other available classes of insecticides. This spray
represents a new class of insecticide chemistry to which budworms are not
resistant, the spinosyns, and it is currently the sole representative of
this class. This is an excellent tool because it can be used to
control outbreaks of caterpillar pests without destroying beneficial
insects. It usually takes three to four days to see the full
benefits. It kills in minutes on contact and also provides a
significant degree of residual control.
As a preventative measure, it is a good idea to start
spraying in mid June and continue spraying every two-three weeks to avoid
these pests. If you see damage from budworm even after preventative
spraying, start spraying every 10 days or as stated on the
label.
To make spraying convenient, Ferti-lome has developed
a hose-end sprayer that you can screw the insecticide bottle right onto
and spray at the desired water to chemical ratio. When you are done
spraying, just simply take the bottle off and replace the
cap.
Have a wonderful summer and keep those beautiful
flowers blooming!
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