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Bees & Beekeeping Garden Clinic Garden

Bugs! How can I kill them without killing pollinators!

last year

Several of my flowering plants have pest problems. A potted flower has thrips. Several flowering annuals and perennials have spider mites. Slugs getting into flower pots. Problems with both potted annuals and garden perennials. How can I treat everything without hurting pollinators? Someone mentioned a soap bath - submerging pots, flowers & all, in soapy water for 15 minutes. Then hosing them off. Will this kill my flowers? Will it kill thrips, mites, slugs, etc? I read that Neem oil burns foliage when it's hot, and it is hot. Suggestions appreciated!

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
last modified: last year
" Will this kill my flowers? " Probably

" Will it kill thrips, mites, slugs, etc? " No.....at least not very efficiently.

Neem oil or insecticidal soap (not dish soap) can be very effective against sucking insects and will not "burn" foliage if applied very early or late in the day, out of direct sunlight or so the application has fully dried before the heat of the sun. Won't do squat for slugs but a directed organic slug bait - like Sluggo - will do the trick.
Decorate thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
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