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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (May 25, 2016)
Polk County Living Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 25, 2016 9A Fight bugs in the garden with IPM As bugs begin to munch our plants, our thoughts turn to — what else? — how to kill them. Blood thirsty as that may sound, most gardeners don’t appreciate planting a garden only to have it turn into a mottled, notched or spotted m e s s. Su re, a c e r t a i n amount of nibbling is to be expected and tolerated by gardeners who use integrat- ed pest management, said Heather Stoven, a horticul- turist with Oregon State K YM P OKORNY Your Garden University Extension Serv- ice. But dead plants are not. “Accepting a little damage is important,” she said. “If you have plants, you’re al- ways having issues. But just because you see a few in- sects, doesn’t mean you need to treat them immedi- ately.” If you’ve not heard the term, integrated pest man- agement, or IPM, means using a variety of low-risk tools at your disposal to deal with pest problems and minimize risks to humans, animals and the environ- ment. Often, waiting a few days will bring the good guys in to deal with the bad guys, especially if you’ve de- signed a garden with a di- verse variety of plants that Brossart PHOTO BY JEFF MILLER Pick up the hose to wash off aphids. P ATTY T AYLOR D UTCHER Columnist mouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, in coordina- tion with local shops, restaurants and other busi- nesses. Free shuttle buses transported people between our communities as every- one enjoyed food and bev- erages and all kinds of fun and interesting shopping experiences without need- ing to drive to malls or has- sle with parking places. Many merchants provided free goodies and treats, and this was a good opportunity to share all the good things about our communities with friends and family members visiting from out of town. — Memorial Day is Monday, when we honor those men and women who have given their lives serving our coun- try in the Armed Forces. The first official Memorial Day was celebrated May 30, 1868, when John Logan, commander of Allied Forces of the Grand Army of the Re- public, placed flowers on graves at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Me- morial Day has also been called decoration day, when families leave floral tributes at the graves of family mem- bers who have passed away. — Many of us will celebrate Memorial Day with the long 3-day weekend, which gives us time to travel to the beach, the mountains and to family gatherings near Keegan Kathleen Brossart was born on May 13 to Keena and Matthew Brossart, of Silverton, at Salem Health Fam- ily Birth Center. She weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces. Grandparents are Kathy and David Presnell, of Salem, and John and Peg Brossart, of Minneapolis. Haugen Ronan Emerson Haugen was born on April 19 to Dan- nielle Ritacco and Nels Haugen, both of Lacey, Wash., in Olympia, Wash. He weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces, and was 19 inches long. Grandparents are Neil and Miriam Haugen; and David and Cindy Ritacco, all of Monmouth. PHOTO FROM FLICKR\ BRAMBLEJUNGLE Control flea beetles the same way as cucumber beetles, with row covers. provide nectar and pollen. “The biology of natural enemies is to come in as there’s an increase in a pest population,” Stoven said. “There’s a bit of a lag. But then they tend to come in and take care of the prob- lem.” With IPM, the most im- portant step is to monitor your garden closely and identify pests quickly. The fewer insects, the easier it is to deal with them in the least invasive way possible. IPM methods might in- clude: • Planting disease-resis- tant plant varieties; • Keeping plants healthy; • Cleaning up diseased leaves or picking pests off by hand; • Using traps or barriers; • Turning to the least toxic pesticides such as insectici- dal soaps and horticultural oils as a last resort. “We discourage the use of broad-spectrum insecti- cides for anything because good bugs and pollinators can be affected,” Stoven said. MI TOWN The Independence Down- town Association hosted the very first Home-Based Busi- ness Fair on Friday at the In- dependence Elks Lodge — and it was a great opportuni- ty to meet and greet folks in MI Town and nearby areas who have put their creative and inventive ideas to very good use. Marilyn Morton and Rod Killen organized this event to help showcase and acknowledge the many home-based entrepreneurs and small businesses in our area. It was a good occasion for other businesses to learn about financial resources, accounting, as well as public relations and to share ideas with others. Many of us are already looking forward to next year’s event. — Last Saturday afternoon, Discover MI Town was sponsored by the Mon- Redding Koren Christopher James Redding was born on May 15 to Ashley Krake and Justin Redding, both of Dallas, at Salem Health Family Birth Center. He weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce. Grandparents are Jason and Kristi Krake, of Dallas, and Christopher Redding and Shannon Gallagher, of Dallas. So what to do? Follow Stoven’s recommendations to bug out those bugs the IPM way. • Aphids: Probably the most common insect in gardens, aphids are small, usually light green (though there are black, gray or red aphids) and sometimes sport a fuzzy coat. They feed on plants by sucking the juice out of leaves and produce a sticky substance called honeydew. Monitor plants often, being sure to check the underside of foliage where aphids like to congre- gate in large groups. To control mild populations, squish or wash off with a spray from the hose. For more moderate infestations, use commercially available insecticidal soaps. The product must come in direct contact with the aphids for effective control. Encourage natural enemies like ladybug lar- vae, lacewings and hover flies (syrphid flies) by not using broad-spectrum pesticides and planting a diverse variety of plants. Azalea lace bug: A serious pest of azaleas and rhododendrons, azalea lace bugs hatch in mid- May and the immature insects or nymphs start sucking chlorophyll out of plant leaves. They are nearly translucent light yellowish-green, darkening as they age, particularly on the abdomen. Dam- age shows up as a yellow, dot-like pattern on the surface of leaves and black fecal spots under- neath. Large populations can suck so much chlorophyll that the foliage turns white. Now is the perfect time to treat these bugs since the sooner you reduce the population, the less damage there will be later. Check plants often and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil as soon as you see any insects. If the plant is small, spray with water to knock them off the plant. In both cases, be sure to get underneath foliage and be thorough. The healthier the plant, the less likely it is to get infested, so give plants proper care — partial shade and adequate water. Learn more about azalea lace bug in the Extension publication Azalea Lace Bug Biology and Management in Commercial Nurseries and Landscapes. Crane fly: Adult crane flies, which look like giant mosquitoes, have been showing up on screens and in houses regularly this spring. Though thought to bite people or eat mosquitoes, they do nei- ther. In fact, they don’t do any harm at all except lay eggs that develop into larvae that chomp on roots, almost exclusively of lawns, which can tolerate quite a bit of feeding without damage. If there are thinning areas in the lawn in spring, choose an area and dig up a 1-foot square of lawn about an inch deep. If there are 25 to 50 wormlike larvae per square foot, treatment may be necessary, but is best done in fall. Shut off irrigation after Labor Day when eggs are laid, which can reduce populations. Birds are good predators, so attract them to your yard with diverse plantings. Also, beneficial nematodes can be used in spring or early fall. Remember that nematodes are living things, so buy from a reputable source that will keep them viable, read the instructions and use them as soon as possible. Cucumber beetle: About ¼-inch long, yellow with black spots or stripes, the cucumber beetle is an enemy of cucumbers and squash, especially emerging seedlings. They’ll chew holes in leaves, eventually killing the plant. The beetles can also chew on flowers, reducing fruit set, and can trans- mit diseases. Control cucumber beetles by planting large starts rather than seeds. Use floating row covers, which are made of very light-weight fabric that allows air, light and water through. Seal edges by burying in the soil or in some other way. The row covers are available from garden centers and on- line. Cover plants before infestations starts; now is the time to do that. Remove for several hours a day during flowering so plants can pollinate. Since there is more than one generation per season, it’s best to keep the row cover on throughout the growing season. Flea beetle: Flea-sized, shiny and black, these insects chew tiny holes in leaves and do more damage to young plants than established ones. Three types feed on a wide range of plants, includ- ing cabbage, broccoli, kale, collards, beans, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and eggplant. Control the same way as cucumber beetles. More information about flea beetles is available in the publication Organic Management of Flea Beetles. Spittle bug: With its white, foamy covering, spittle bugs are not difficult to identify. If you can see it, the insect inside is greenish-yellow and aphid-like. Similar to aphids, these are sucking pests. Unlike aphids, they pass the juices, and it turns into the spittle that acts as a protective coating. Be- cause of that, it’s difficult to control them with most methods, including insecticidal soaps or horti- cultural oil. Washing them off is the most effective method. Though unsightly, spittle bugs don’t cause a lot of damage to plants and the adult will soon fly away. COMMUNITY CALENDAR COMMUNITY CALENDAR Continued from page 8A — WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1 • Scrabble with Betty — 1 p.m., Independence Public Li- brary, 175 Monmouth St., Independence. Scrabble games first Wednesday of every month. Free; refreshments and prizes available. 503-551-7687 or 503-838-1811. • Willamette Valley Food Assistance Program Food Bank — 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., 888 Monmouth Cutoff Road, Building E, Dallas. Weekly distribution for eligible community members. 503-831-5634. • Yarning for Others — 3 to 5 p.m., St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1486 SW Levens St., Dallas. Knitters and crocheters gather to make clothing and accessories for those in need on the first Wednesday of every month. 503-689-7222. • Brew and BS: The Old Testament — 7 p.m., St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1486 SW Levens St., Dallas. A lecture series on the Old Testament. Bring brew of choice — coffee, tea, chai, beer, wine, cider. 435-503-4304. 10am - 3pm 182 Academy St, Dallas 503-623-2564 New Vendors this week including: STRAWBERRIES from Lakeside Berry Farm! Family Building Blocks will provide kids activities! Facebook.com/bountymarket http://www.exploredallasoregon.org/bounty-market.html Monmouth~Independence Rotary Club STRAWBERRY SALE From the same club that has been doing this for over 25 years. and far. Let’s all enjoy the fun, great trips and good food, but be mindful of those necessary items like bug spray, sunscreen and other safety measures. Let’s also hope Mother Nature will bring out the sunshine and blue skies to share with everyone. — We’re all spending more time outdoors — getting out and about in the communi- ty for walks or errands or just to stop by our favorite cafe for a cup of coffee or a cold drink. Springtime is a great season to welcome new neighbors or touch base with folks we haven’t seen in a long time. It’s a time to meet people from faraway places or from just around the corner, and to wish everyone new to our community a warm wel- come to MI Town. May the Cure be with you! Together We Can End Cancer 30 lb. Container of Fresh Oregon-Grown Strawberries $ 50 Yummy, stemmed,washed, sliced, ready to eat, freeze or cook. DEADLINE TO ORDER JUNE 1 PICKUP: INDEPENDENCE, DALLAS, or CORVALLIS To place your order email: strawberry@mirotaryclub.org or call: 503-838-6687 www.mirotaryclub.org Please leave your phone or email. We will notify you when they’re ready. TO BENEFIT ROTARY YOUTH PROGRAMS Early Deadlines! Our office will be closed May 30 th 2016 in observance of Memorial Day. Deadlines: Community Events . . .Thursday Noon Relay For Life Of Polk County June 4-5 • 10a.m. to 10a.m. at Riverview Park, Independence Participate as a: day volunteer • form a team to walk through the night • light a luminaria bag in remembrance of a loved one • just stop by and experience the relay Survivors and caregivers are invited to the Survivor Lap at 10 AM on Saturday. If you or someone you know is interested in participating, being a sponsor or making a contribution, contact Tami Bookey-Kuhlmann 503-507-0120; Email: 2015relayforlifepc@gmail.com Online: relayforlife.org/polkcountyor 100 Years Ago the American Cancer Society started the fight of a lifetime. Together We Can Finish The Fight! Legals . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thursday Noon Display Ads . . . . . . . . .Thursday 2 pm Letters to Editor . . . . . . .Friday 10 am Classified Display . . . . . .Friday 11 am Classified Line Ads . . . . .Friday Noon Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . .Friday Noon 147 SE Court St, Dallas 503-623-2373
