Chalet Garden Center
3132 Lake Ave.
Wilmette
www.chaletnursery.com
This summer's heat and moisture extremes have left plants and lawns battered causing the kind of stress that makes them susceptible to attack from slugs and grubs.
Beer is an organic way to stop slugs in their tracks. They're attracted to the yeast, climb in and drown. They also love moist soil surfaces, high humidity and they're nocturnal, so you will seldom see them working on your plants. Slugs, for example, cause the insides of hosta leaves to look as if they've gone through a shredder, while they leave the edges intact. If you mulch heavily, irrigate or water with frequency that keeps the surface of your soil constantly damp, you're more apt to have slug issues.
In naturally wet areas, consider removing mulch so the soil surface dries out. If you need to water, do so in the morning. If you have an in-ground sprinkler system, consider changing the frequency -- water for longer periods but less often. Consider using earth-friendly iron-phosphate products like Sluggo. Slugs eat, then stop eating and die within a few days.
Grubs are an immature stage of the adult Japanese Beetle or Masked Chafer. If you wake up one morning to find your sod scratched up in areas that are brown and patchy, you likely have skunks or raccoons searching for grubs as food. Grubs feed mainly on grass roots and can cause considerable damage when populations are high.
To check for grubs, look for big brown spots in your lawn. Take a sharp trowel, dig down and pull the turf back. You may find clear white grubs with brown "ends." If there are less than 10 to 12 per square foot, chemical control probably is not necessary. If you have them in those numbers, consider a grub control product containing Dylox, which will take them out in about three days.
In addition to slugs and grubs, watch for spider mites this season, which are tiny sucking insects that are battering a lot of plants, especially Burning Bush. To check for them, place a piece of white paper under a branch and tap gently. Then, streak your hand across the paper. If you get green streaks, your plant has an infestation. Use either a forceful stream of water on a regular basis to knock them off, insecticidal soap or an earth-friendly miticide like Mite-X.
Mark your calendars for Chalet Landscape Experience, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 3132 Lake Ave. in Wilmette, Ill. Bring samples of your diseased or pest-ridden leaves or stems (in sandwich bags, please) for free diagnosis from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Immerse yourself in dozens of beautiful outdoor display gardens created exclusively for this event.
Get advice and answers from 13 professional, award-winning Chalet landscape architects and designers.
Meet Lou Manfredini, broadcasting his WGN-AM radio program "Mr. Fix-It," live from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Enjoy children's activities, sample tasty treats from the outdoor kitchen and win raffle prizes valued at up to $500. For more information, visit www.chaletnursery.com.
Come experience the magic at Chalet
: Monday - Wednesday and Fridat: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3132 Lake Ave.
www.chaletnursery.com
This summer's heat and moisture extremes have left plants and lawns battered causing the kind of stress that makes them susceptible to attack from slugs and grubs.
Beer is an organic way to stop slugs in their tracks. They're attracted to the yeast, climb in and drown. They also love moist soil surfaces, high humidity and they're nocturnal, so you will seldom see them working on your plants. Slugs, for example, cause the insides of hosta leaves to look as if they've gone through a shredder, while they leave the edges intact. If you mulch heavily, irrigate or water with frequency that keeps the surface of your soil constantly damp, you're more apt to have slug issues.
In naturally wet areas, consider removing mulch so the soil surface dries out. If you need to water, do so in the morning. If you have an in-ground sprinkler system, consider changing the frequency -- water for longer periods but less often. Consider using earth-friendly iron-phosphate products like Sluggo. Slugs eat, then stop eating and die within a few days.
Grubs are an immature stage of the adult Japanese Beetle or Masked Chafer. If you wake up one morning to find your sod scratched up in areas that are brown and patchy, you likely have skunks or raccoons searching for grubs as food. Grubs feed mainly on grass roots and can cause considerable damage when populations are high.
To check for grubs, look for big brown spots in your lawn. Take a sharp trowel, dig down and pull the turf back. You may find clear white grubs with brown "ends." If there are less than 10 to 12 per square foot, chemical control probably is not necessary. If you have them in those numbers, consider a grub control product containing Dylox, which will take them out in about three days.
In addition to slugs and grubs, watch for spider mites this season, which are tiny sucking insects that are battering a lot of plants, especially Burning Bush. To check for them, place a piece of white paper under a branch and tap gently. Then, streak your hand across the paper. If you get green streaks, your plant has an infestation. Use either a forceful stream of water on a regular basis to knock them off, insecticidal soap or an earth-friendly miticide like Mite-X.
Mark your calendars for Chalet Landscape Experience, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 3132 Lake Ave. in Wilmette, Ill. Bring samples of your diseased or pest-ridden leaves or stems (in sandwich bags, please) for free diagnosis from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Immerse yourself in dozens of beautiful outdoor display gardens created exclusively for this event.
Get advice and answers from 13 professional, award-winning Chalet landscape architects and designers.
Meet Lou Manfredini, broadcasting his WGN-AM radio program "Mr. Fix-It," live from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Enjoy children's activities, sample tasty treats from the outdoor kitchen and win raffle prizes valued at up to $500. For more information, visit www.chaletnursery.com.
Come experience the magic at Chalet
: Monday - Wednesday and Fridat: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
