Just like the children at Christmas time, now is the time of year that area gardeners like to lay snug in their beds, with visions of goodies dancing in their heads. But unlike the kids, our visions are not of sugarplums, but of mail order gardening catalogs, seed packets, bare root trees, veggie transplants, etc...
In our area, now is a good time to put out those cold-weather crops (peas, broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, etc.) as long as you are prepared with some sort of protection if we happen to get another really hard frost or freeze. And, not to throw cold water on anyone's sugar-coated gardening dreams, but now is also the time to think about all those little critters that inevitably show up to help you eat the results of that little garden.
In gardening, as in many of life's endeavors, one of the secrets of success is PREVENTION. Never underestimate the powers of hard work, timing, fertile soil, viable seeds, luck, etc., but a little forethought and a few preventive measures early in the season can make a BIG difference in how much work and hassle is involved during the main growing season. Here is a reminder of some of the preventive measures that you can take now to help keep YOUR garden's supply of undesirable creepy crawlies to a minimum.
TILL THE SOIL - Try to dig down at least 6-12 inches and turn the soil over well. This will expose many overwintering insects to the cold weather and drying winds as well as make them accessible to birds, spiders, lizards, and other natural predators. You can also hand pick any pupae, egg cases, etc. that you find while digging.
USE ROW COVERS - Try covering your early seedlings with agricultural fleece to keep pests away. If the cabbageworm butterfly cannot get to your plants to lay the eggs, then there should not be any of the caterpillars munching on your leaves later on. Be sure to anchor the edges well and cover them with a thick layer of soil to keep the crawling pests out also. One note of caution: some brands of fleece hold in heat as well as they keep out the bugs. In this area that could mean cooked veggies right there in your garden patch. Keep an eye on the temperature and vent the covers on warm days. Make extra sure that your crop is well watered to help prevent moisture stress. On the plus side; this very heat retention capability will help protect your plants in the event of a borderline cold snap.
WASH YOUR TREES - Using an insecticidal Soap (or just plain Ivory soap and water) scrub down the bark of your trees using a stiff brush, this will dislodge many overwintering pests that are hiding in the bark crevices. You can spread a Iight colored cloth on the ground around the trees and the insects should be readily visible when they drop on it. Some folks just let the critters lay where they fall and hope that they will die of exposure or be preyed upon. Personally, I would rather get rid of them myself once and for all. Using a hard spray of plain water will often work to dislodge pests, too.
USE A DORMANT OIL - This extra fine oil is sprayed on the bark and limbs of trees to, smother any overwintering pests that may be in residence. Make sure that you don't get any on developing buds or emerging leaves as this is may cause them to drop off. There are a couple of agricultural oils that claim not to harm emerging growth, but since I have never tried them, I cannot recommend any of them. If YOU try one, please let me know how it worked so I can pass on the information.
WRAP YOUR TREES - To keep certain larvae from crawling up your trees to feed, wrap a layer of corrugated cardboard, burlap, or some other batting-type material around the trunk of the tree and secure. Either make it very tight at the top edge or add a line of sticky stuff (petroleum jelly, Tanglefoot, etc.) to catch "escapees". The crawlers will be caught in the batting and you can destroy them when you check the batting. This method can also work in the fall when critters are crawling up to overwintering spots.
SET YOUR TRAPS - It's time to purchase your pheromone or baited traps in anticipation of pests' arrival (Codling Moth, etc.). At the proper time, hang these traps in your trees to attract and catch the first arrivals. You can use these to decrease the critter population by catching as many as possible, or they may be used as early warning systems to alert you as to the proper times for spraying properly selected insecticides.
PLAN FOR COMPANIONSHIP - Many garden plant varieties reportedly work together by either enhancing each other's growth or by repelling pests that commonly affect the other. Onions, garlic, and peppers are favorites in this game. Other combinations include tomatoes and basil, corn and beans, and mint and cabbage. Many of the strong herbs and spices can be used in this manner.
ENCOURAGE NATURAL PREDATORS - Include in your plans the ordering of ladybugs, lacewings, and others if you plan on supplementing local populations. Plant flowering plants to provide food and shelter for natural helpers and the presence of a birdbath will generally encourage our feathered friends to "stop by and have dinner" on your garden pests.
Other items to consider during your planning stage include rotation of crops, mulching, planting of resistant, tolerant and adapted varieties, proper timing, and required watering and feeding schedules. There is too much to cover in this one article, but the Cooperative Extension Service has a wealth of information available at either the Willcox or Sierra Vista offices. I suggest a copy of the paper Ecologically Sane Pest Control, one of my previously published What's Bugging You columns on your particular problem pest or one of the other available handouts. Just call 520-458 - 8278 ext. 2141 in Sierra Vista, or 520-384-3594 in Willcox) or stop by the office and we should be able to provide you with just the information you require.
HAPPY GARDENING!