Hi Sierra, oh no not garden problems! Mine this year is lack of rain for over a month - and ideas? LOL.

If you want to control the cabbage butterfly caterpillars, you can use BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) which I believe is sold as Dipel or Safer's Caterpillar Killer. It will also wipe out other caterpillars such as swallowtails and monarchs, so be careful where you use it. But it's non-toxic to humans, pets, other bugs, etc. It won't kill sawfly larvae which look like caterpillars.

The onion maggots, I have never had them but I believe the floating row cover is effective only if you plant them in a different place next year.

I lost a lot of rose buds to sawfly larvae this spring... grrrrr... they are the masters of disguise!

Speaking of BT, does anyone know if it works on the spruce budworm? I have sprayed with it, but they didn't seem to die. However, I used old stuff, and since it is a living bacillus, I think it has a short shelf life. I've bought a new bottle, but haven't tried it yet. My poor tree is being stripped bare. As soon as it stops raining I'll try spraying again. I can give the ornamental cabbage a shot also. I noticed tiny holes in the leaves, and sure enough tiny worms.

The other problems are slugs, and dying pansies. It's obviously not a good year for pansies. They started off so nice, especially the ones that had survived the winter. First they started to get mildew, but then seemed to just rot at the ground level. We have them planted at the local cenotaph, and I'm afraid to go look at them. We might have to pull them out and plant something else.

Lack of rain here too. We put 1000 gallons of water on the gardens every couple of days, but the ground is still like powder.

Bugs are another problem this year - there are lots of them! I've seen beetles on the columbines, monarda, and some crysanthemums, and there are little green wormies doing bad things to some of the million bells. Definitely not millions this year. :(

And i guess the heat is a problem because it's too darn hot to do anything out there!!

BT should kill spruce budworm, as it is a member of Order Lepidoptera (butterflies & moths). Maybe yours is old. I think you can buy it as a powder, maybe that would last longer.

Well if I can just pick those BUGGERS off by hand, I prefer not to use any sprays. Lets hope I don't have to resort to that. I don't want to hurt any of the nice caterpillars and butterflys.

I do use crop rotation in my veggie garden...so that should help also. Well except for the volunteer potatoes. LOL!

Ohhhhhh green worms on the millions bells huh...I'll have to check that.....I have three hanging baskets with them in....I had a few on the mini roses last year...I guess I should check them and see if any are on them this year too.

North53.....check the soil around where these plants are rotting off to see if you find any maggots or bugs/worms.

We had a streak of really hot dry weather, had to water a lot.......now its been cold and rainy/drizzly for the last few days. We needed the rain....but does it have to be this cold.

Do a little dance....squish some little green worms...do a little dance....squish a bad bug or two....do a little dance.....and maybe it will rain.......do a little dance ...

Ooooopppsss now see what you made me do.....its pouring rain out again. I know I KNOW its really good for the plants to get a good soak......

Sierra

Sierra, thanks, you made it rain here finally! It's been pouring all day for the first time in over a month. That must have been one heck of a dance you were doing! LOL

Yeah, thanks, Sierra - we got it here this evening! It was coming down in buckets! Hardly enough, though - we probably could use a week of steady rain. Keep on dancing!! :D

You'll be able to tell if your million bells has worms. They'll look all straggly and brown. I have one in isolation now until i get rid of the little beggars.

Eeeekkksss the power to make it rain, when we need it...haha.....IS MY DANCING REALLY THAT BAD? :O

All my plants are looking a little scraggly with the cold wet weather we have been having this past week or so. I haven't looked yet today....but it was raining big time overnight...it woke me up.......I hope there was no hail...but I am really afraid to look.

Who's going to volunteer to do the sun dance now?

Sierra

Last week was insanely hot here but this week is cooler (22-25*C) and rainier again. I like this better! LOL

Garden problems? I had one delphinium die off, probably from crown rot? I'm assuming. I think Shauna mentioned a similar problem with hers this year(if my memory is correct on that?) Funny thing is that there are some new delphinium leaves coming up in that same spot now. Hmmmm... wonder what to expect from that next year?

My lupines where full of woolly aphids a while ago but ***knock on wood*** they seem to be gone now. I think the dishsoap spray and then the Safers insecticide soap spray treatment seemed to do the trick.

I have a bunch of WS'd plants that I planted up... and then they mysteriously dissappeared! LOL Never knew my plants took up circus acting! Wonder if they will mysteriously re-appear? LOL

Ang

I would say the lack of rain too, its getting pretty crispy out there. And the wind this year, it seems like its always windy lately.