Good planning, proper plant selection best for insect control
I do not worry much about insects in my home garden and am always concerned when friends ask me to review proposals that include general spraying of trees and shrubs for insects.
Practice integrated pest management in your garden to reduce the need for pesticides. I have only applied an insecticide once over decades of gardening at home. It was to control viburnum leaf beetle, which would have killed all of my arrowwood viburnums. I should have treated for azalea sawfly, which ended up killing all of my Northern Lights azaleas. I will not plant them again because I do not want to deal with the insect pest.
Begin by choosing the proper plant for your site and using good planting practices such as amending the soil with compost and planting at the proper depth. When possible, select plants that are resistant to common diseases and give them the appropriate care to minimize problems.
Monitor all plants carefully for insects and diseases. If trouble arises, identify the problem and use the least toxic control measure when damage is not tolerable. Timing is also important. Apply controls when plants are most susceptible to pests and disease. Never spray just because you see insects, as some of them might be beneficial or harmless. When you use an insecticide, you kill the good insects along with the bad ones.
Bring on the tropicals
Tropical plants can add a lot of interest to your outdoor garden, and some can also serve as houseplants from fall to early summer. Gradually move houseplants outside to protected areas when temperatures begin staying above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Prevent damage to the plants by gradually acclimating them to the sun and outdoor growing conditions. Start by putting them in a shaded location outside on warmer days and bringing them inside when nights are predicted to be cold. Increase the time outside and exposure to sun over a period of 10 days or so. Large houseplants in plastic pots should be slipped into larger, heavier pots to prevent them from falling over in the wind.
Protect your eyes
When using power equipment such as a weed whip in the garden, wear protective glasses and earplugs. The plastic line can kick up debris that could injure your eyes or sting your legs. The line can also injure the bark of trees and strip paint off wooden posts. Some equipment can be loud, making ear protection especially important if you are using it for an extended period. I always use earmuffs when mowing the lawn and using any loud power equipment.
• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.