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Frugal Gardening

Japanese maples/containers/bugs

18 years ago

I've transplanted 20 japanese maple volunteers from PNW to Manhattan juliet balcony; they appear (so far) to be living happily in 1 gallon containers. Despite best efforts to use only new medium, I've gotten some soil from old houseplants in a couple that has gnattty little bugs running all over the place. Trees do not seem to be suffering --do I need to worry? I have no idea what these little bugs are, but I do know they kill any vegetable or herb I've had here. Would like to get rid of them even if they won't harm maples, altho maples are my first concern.

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Comments (2)

sweetolyve
18 years ago
Hi,

Can you get your hands on Neem oil? This is safe to use for an insecticide, but not good to use in the hottest part of the year due to it being an oil. I've learned the hard way not to do that with any type of oil for plants in the warmer parts of the year.

Hope this helps,

Olyve...(O:
>
digit
18 years ago
Rosemary, they are probably fungus gnats.

They live on fungus and are not likely to be damaging your trees. If you can allow the surface of the soil to dry - the gnats will lose their food supply.

The adults only live a short time and spend it reproducing. Yellow sticky traps will catch 'em. And, I've read that the Bt for mosquitoes will kill 'em.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: Fungus gnats - WSU
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