Hello Gardeners,
Theft: It’s very disappointing, but every year we have problems with theft in our gardens. Please never take any tools, equipment, or plants out of another gardener's plot. Even if you think it’s not being used, leave it in the plot. We’ve already had reports of theft of hoses, plants and tomato cages this year and it’s only the beginning of June.
Mulch: Now that the ground has warmed up and the weeds are beginning to take off, it’s a great time to start mulching if you haven’t already. The leaf mulch available at both gardens is a great resource. Mulch helps the soil retain moisture and regulate temperature. This is especially important if we don’t have rain. Mulch also suppresses weed growth. It helps prevent erosion and improves soil health over time as it degrades and adds organic matter to the soil. If those weren’t enough reasons to love mulch, it can also deter some insects to a degree. Cucumber beetles for example, lay their eggs at the base of plants and mulch can discourage them and slow them down.
Insect pests: We have many insect pests in the gardens. The best way to manage them organically is to be vigilant. Some gardeners have reported that their transplants were killed by cutworms. They are very destructive because they eat through the stem at the surface of the soil and the plant can’t survive. If you have a lot of problems with cutworms, putting a collar around transplants can protect them. There have also already been sightings of Colorado potato beetles in the gardens. Soon, we will begin to see Mexican bean beetles, Japanese beetles, and more. I will try to keep everyone posted about pest sightings and control methods. The best option is almost always to hand-pick the insects off and dump them in soapy water. All of Eagle Heights and the A & B rows of University Houses are required to be gardened organically, so chemical pesticides are not allowed for insect pests in these areas.
Thanks, and happy gardening,
Lily
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