Table Of ContentNEWLY REVISED WITH THE LATEST. ^
! SAFEST ORGANIC CONTROLS J j
Nett' York Times
ORGANIC GARDENER'S «
HANDBOOK
o f ^
NATURAL INSECT
and
DISEASE CONTROL
A Complete Problem-Solving Guide to Keeping
Your Garden and Yard Healthy without Chemicals
Edited by
Barbara W. Ellis
and Fern Marshall Bradley
Copyrighted maternal
THE ORGANIC GARDENER'S
HANDBOOK OF
N A T U R A L
INSECT
A M D
DISEASE
CONTROL
T h i8 One
NWQX - 56-N
Copyrighted material
THE ORGANIC GARDENER'S
HANDBOOK OF
N A T U R A L
A N D
CONTROL
A Complete Problem-Solving Guide
to Keeping Your Garden & Yard Healthy
without Chemicals
EDITED BY
BARBARA W. ELLIS and FERN MARSHALL BRADLEY
Contributing Writers: Helen Atthowe, Linda A. Gilkeson, Ph.D., L. Patricia Kite,
Patricia S. Michalak, Barbara Pleasant, Lee Reich, Ph.D., Alfred F. Scheider
Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Copyright 0 19% by Rodale Press. Inc.
The information in this book has been
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced
carefully researched, and all efforts have
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
been made to ensure accuracy. Rodale Press.
mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any other
Inc.. assumes no responsibility for any injuries
information storage and retrieval system, without the
suffered or damages or losses incurred during
written permission of the publisher.
use of or as a result of following this informa
tion. It is important to study all directions Printed in the United States of America
carefully before taking any action based on on acid-free recycled paper
the information and advice presented in this
book. When using any commercial product. Senior Managing Editor: Margaret Lydic Balitas
always read and follow label directions. Where Senior Editor: Barbara W. Ellis
trade names are used, no discrimination is Editor: Fern Marshall Bradley
intended and no endorsement by Rodale Production Editor: Nancy J. Ondra
Press. Inc.. is implied. Contributing Editors: Nancy J. Ondra. Deborah L. Martin,
Jean M. A. Nick, Paula Dreifus Bakule
Photo Editor: Heidi A. Stonehill
Copy Editor: Lisa D. Andruscavage
Editorial Production Coordinators: Stacy A. Brobst,
On the Back Cover (hardcover): Susan Nickol
Left: Colorado potato beetle adult, larvae, and eggs. Photo Editorial/Administrative Assistant: Karen Earl-Braymcr
Book Designer Darlene Sehneck
by Ron West.
Cover Designer (paperback): Stan Green. Green Graphics
Right; Mealybug destroyer larva. Photo by Max E. Badgley.
Front cover photo (hardcover): T. L. Gettings
Center; Convergent lady beetle attacking aphids. Photo
Front cover photos (paperback): Dwight R. Kuhn
by Ron West.
illustrations; Julia S. Child. Jean Emmons
On the Back Cover (paperback):
Top: Colorado potato beetle adult, larvae, and eggs. Photo
by Ron West.
Center: Mealybug destroyer larva. Photo by Max E. Badgley.
Bottom: Convergent lady beetle attacking aphids. Photo The Library of Congress has cataloged the original edition
by Ron West. as follows:
The Organic gardener's handbook of natural insect and
disease control: a complete problem-solving guide to
keeping your garden & yard healthy without chemicals /
If you have any questions or comments concerning this edited by Barbara W. Ellis and Fern Marshall Bradley :
book. please write: contributing writers. Helen Atthowe ... |et at.|.
Rodale Press p. cm.
Book Readers' Service Includes bibliographical references and index.
33 East Minor Street ISBN 0-87596- 124-X hardcover
Emma us, PA 18098 I. Garden pests—Control. 2. Organic gardening.
3. Plants. Protection of. I. Ellis. Barbara W.
IL Bradley. Fern Marshall. III. Atthowe, Helen.
SB974.072 1992
635’.049—dc20 92-3372
CIP
ISBN 0-87596-753-1 paperback
Distributed in the book trade by St. Martin's Press
8 10 9 hardcover
10 paperback
Copyrighted m
CONTENTS
Contributors................................................................. vii
How to Use This Book ............................................................viii
PART 1 Your Healthy Garden x
A Plant-by-Plcmt Guide to Problem Solving and Prevention
Problem-Solving Plant Guide ..................................................... 11
PART Insects
2 254
Recognizing Your Friends—Eliminating Your Foes
Insect Identification Guide______________________^...■■„_268
PART Diseases_„ ___ 338
3
Identifying the Causes—Implementing the Cures
Disease Symptom Guide ............................................................ 370
PART 4 Organic Controls m
Using Remedies Safely
Cultural Controls
Physical Controls.......................................................................429
Biological Controls.....................................................................437
Organic Sprays and Dusts.........................................................463
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone M ap ......................................486
Common and Botanical Names of Plants ................. 48?
Sources . ............................... ............................489
Recommended Reading .................................................... 493
Photography Credits ............................................................496
Index...............................................................................499
CONTRIBUTORS
Writers Barbara Pleasant is the author of The
Handbook of Southern Vegetable Gardening
Helen Atthowe has a masters degree in and is a contributing editor for Organic Gar
horticulture (specializing in pomology) from dening magazine.
Rutgers University. She has worked as a pri
vate pest management consultant and has Lee Reich, Ph.D., is the author of Un
worked with the New Jersey Cooperative Exten common Fruits Worthy of Attention and A
sion Service as an agent specializing in inte
Northeast Gardener’s Year and a former fruit
grated pest management. researcher for Cornell University and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. He currently is a
Linda A. Gilkeson, Ph.D., is coauthor horticultural consultant and writer.
of Rodale's Chemical-Free Yard and Carden
and is an integrated pest management coor Alfred F. Scheider holds a bachelor's
dinator in the Ministry of Environment for the degree from the New York State College of
province of British Columbia. She has a doc Agriculture at Cornell. He is the author of
torate in entomology from McGill University, Success with Bulbs and has had articles pub
Montreal, and has published several articles lished in the New York Times. House Beauti
in scientific journals. ful. and House and Garden.
Editors
L. Patricia Kite is the author of Con
trolling Lawn and Garden Insects, The Home
Barbara W. Ellis has a bachelor of arts
Gardener 's Problem Solver, and Organic Gar
degree from Kenyon College in Ohio and a
dening: Vegetables and coauthor of Califor
bachelor’s degree in horticulture from The
nia Cutting Garden. A resident of Newark,
Ohio State University. She is a former publica
California, she holds a master's degree in jour
tions director/editor for American Horticul
nalism and a teaching credential in biology.
turist. the publication of the American Horti
cultural Society, and is the senior editor of
Patricia S. Michalak has a masters degree garden books at Rodale Press.
in entomology from Michigan State University.
She applies her ten years of research experi Fern Marshall Bradley has a bachelors
ence in agricultural entomology to her efforts degree in plant science from Cornell Univer
as a freelance writer. She markets herbs and sity and a master’s degree in horticulture from
gourmet vegetables organically grown at her Rutgers University. She has managed an organic
farm. Long and Winding Row Farm, in Kemp- market garden and is a garden book editor at
ton, Pennsylvania. Rodale Press.
vii
HOW TO USE
THIS BOOK
W hether it's spots on the tomatoes, mel mon pests as well as more than 20 types of
ons that wilt and die mysteriously, or worm- beneficial insects. (The names of the benefi
eaten apples, damage from insects and disease cial insects are set in green type; the names
organisms is never welcome. How to manage of the pest insects are in black.)
these problems is a top concern of gardeners Part 3, Diseases: Identifying the Causes
everywhere. This book is specifically designed — Implementing the Cures, is a primer on plant
to help. Its quick-reference format quickly disease that will help you diagnose and con
leads you to complete control information trol problems caused by fungi, bacteria, and
for a wide range of common insect and dis viruses. In this part, you’ll also find a photo
ease pests. graphic “Disease Symptom Guide” to help
you identify problems in your own garden.
How to Find It Part 4, Organic Controls: Using Reme
dies Safely, is an encyclopedia of organically
One look at the contents will illustrate acceptable control techniques and products.
that The Organic Gardener's Handbook of The major types of controls (cultural, physical,
Natural Insect and Disease Control is really biological, and organic sprays and dusts) are
four books in one. Once you've paged through presented in order of least to most invasive to
it to familiarize yourself with the format, flip make it easy to choose the best control.
ping to the section you need will become sec
ond nature. And for quick and easy access to Remembering the Big Picture
information, don't forget the index. Here’s a
rundown of what is included in the pages As you use this book, though, it’s impor
that follow. tant that you not lose sight of the big picture
Part 1, Your Healthy Garden: A Plant- of gardening organically. One of the princi
by-Plant Guide to Problem Solving and Pre ples that is at the heart of organic gardening is
vention. contains a plant encyclopedia with eliminating the need to use sprays and dusts at
symptoms and solutions for major problems all—even organically acceptable ones. This
of popular plants, including fruits, vegetables, may seem impossible at first, even foolhardy,
annuals, bulbs, perennials, and trees and shrubs. but organic gardeners everywhere will attest
It also contains preventive information and to the fact that it makes gardening more
general entries on major plant groups—plus enjoyable—and safer—than ever.
stunning illustrations of common problems So where do you start? Logically enough,
on the most popular garden plants. at the beginning. The opening pages of part 1
Part 2, Insects: Recognizing Your Friends of this book give you the big picture of organic
— Eliminating Your Foes, contains information garden management. If you skip right to the
on managing pest insects and attracting bene- controls listed in the plant encyclopedia entries
ficials. It also features a photographic “Insect or to the control sections in parts 2 and 3,
Identification Guide” of more than 1(K) com you’ll be missing loads of valuable informa*
viii
HOW TO I Si: THIS IKK)K ■ ix
tion that can help prevent pests from reaching you do refer to recommendations for control
a problematic level in your yard and garden. ling a specific insect or disease, always use the
Surprisingly, most of the best ways to least-invasive method available. Cultural con
control pests and diseases may not seem like trols are generally the most benign, followed
controls at all. Organic gardeners look at their by physical and biological controls. Organic
gardens as an overall system that should be sprays and dusts should always be considered
kept in balance, so no one pest or disease gets a last resort.
out of hand. They concentrate their efforts on Since botanical pesticides are organically
cultural techniques that prevent problems, such acceptable, we include them in our recom
as keeping their plants in top-notch health mendations throughout this book. So there
and cultivating rich, organically active soil. are hundreds of recommendations for apply
They also try to encourage a diverse commu ing botanical chemicals as well as sulfur and
nity of predators to keep pests in check. copper fungicides. This does not mean we are
While the individual plant, insect, and endorsing widespread use of botanical pesti
disease entries do list some preventive measures, cides. It will only be in exceptional cases in
they are primarily designed to help you decide any individual home garden that the chemical
what to do once you've encountered specific method will be needed. It’s critical to remem
problems in your garden. But keep in mind ber not to rely on a control approach —you'll
that preventive measures are the keys to suc be most successful, and safest, if you empha
cessful organic gardening. To get the most out size practices to promote garden health, and
of this book—and to develop an effective pest- use this book for problem solving in those
and disease-control system for your garden— few cases when a pest population gets out
take the time to review the preventive meth of balance.
ods discussed in the introduction to part 1, If you do decide to use one of the botani
and follow up by studying the descriptions of cal sprays or dusts, always remember that
these methods in part 4. Then, make a plan to they can be dangerous, especially to the per
begin implementing them in your garden. son applying them. There is a reason these
Of course, you'll also find that this book products kill insects! Never use them casually
is an invaluable reference for finding solu or carelessly. And whenever you use commer
tions to garden problems: Throughout these cial products, always read and follow label
pages, you’ll find up-to-date, detailed infor directions.
mation on how to handle problems. When
ial
PART
■4
$ •
YOUR HEALTHY
GARDEN
A Plant-by-Plant Guide to
Problem Solving and Prevention
-r
mm
■ ■ m z
■
c • It. .
v*v
ontrolling pests and diseases organically means
much more than simply changing the types of sprays
and dusts you use. Organic gardeners strive to develop a
balanced system where problems are regulated natu -V-5 ‘ ‘-‘TAT'
' ,< ’’i
rally and where there is little need to use even the safest
r -li/ T'-X +V A
organic sprays and dusts to control pest problems.
Ml
