New Bee Keeper needs help.

Schoon · May 17, 2009, 06:00:32 PM

I have one hive and a small garden. Can I dust my garden without hurting my bees. There is nothing blooming right now. Can I dust as long as there is nothing in bloom? Thanks for the help. :)

JP · May 17, 2009, 06:16:02 PM

I would not entertain the idea of using insecticidal dusts anywhere around bees. Dusts do not discriminate, bees will land, dusts adhere and they are brought back to the colony, the colony you gather honey and pollen from.

What are you trying to target and please update your profile to include your location, thanks.

...JP

Schoon · May 17, 2009, 06:29:27 PM

I live in Central Alabama and I am trying to get rid of whatever is eating the leaves on my plants.

JP · May 17, 2009, 06:32:47 PM

If you tell us what type of plants, someone on here can tell you what to use that will most likely target the insect or whatever is affecting your plants.

...JP

Schoon · May 17, 2009, 06:35:26 PM

We have butterbeans and okra and peas. Just a small veg. garden.

irekkin · May 17, 2009, 07:21:49 PM

i have the same problem. if colorado potatoe beetles were worth anything i'd be a millionaire. i use pesticides sometimes,(rotinone/pyrithrin) but as a last resort and only if nothings blooming. usually i'll shake them off and stomp them or i have tried pepper sprays etc. sometimes you just have to live with them. one thing i've done in the last few years is to rotate my gardens to different parts of our farm. pests over-winter close to where they're hatched and will come back year after year. there's no perfect answer but good luck.

Kathyp · May 17, 2009, 07:27:42 PM

a spray would be better than a dust. if it some kind of worm, BT may be the answer.

JP · May 17, 2009, 07:30:53 PM

First order of business, although a pain, is to identify the pest in question. Once that is done, a remedy is easier to find.

Certain liquid applications can target specific pests and also happen to break down rapidly via the sun.

Shoot for target specific applications that break down quickly. Also research decoy plants for luring pests away from desirable crops, this is what my Dad does in his garden.

A simple example is planting marigolds next to tomato plants.

...JP