Doug says-

They can be hard to find. Usually gardeners will notice missing foliage and the droppings of the caterpillar. It won’t be far from either place, but the pest is brilliantly camouflaged. They can be picked off easily by hand. I used to put them in a jar with air holes in the lid along with some more foliage and send them into school.

If one is found with rice like cocoons on the worm, don’t kill it. These are parasitic wasps that will feed on the hornworm. By the time the cocoons have appeared, the worm is probably done feeding or will be soon.

Never kill a tomato hornworm that has these rice-like cocoons on the worm.

By leaving the caterpillar alone, it will perpetuate the parasitic wasps, which will help control the pest year after year. Good bugs eating the bad bugs is a good thing about being an organic gardener.

Pat asks-

I planted a crape myrtle shrub this spring. So far it is doing good. I am worried about getting it to over winter here. Do you have any advice for keeping it alive? It is in an open area of the yard. Thanks

Doug says-

One thing that I do with my hydrangeas to stop their buds from freezing out is to surround the plant with tall tomato stakes and then burlap. The top is left open. It would give the plant some protection, but it’s not going to look great. Don’t fret too much, even if the temperatures get too cold for the plant, it will be killed to the ground, but they sprout from the roots. In that case it will take longer to bloom.

Ray asks-

Is this a good time to separate and transplant Siberian iris? Any tips I should know about?

The post Ask Doug: Don’t kill this hornworm, crape myrtle hardiness and when to move iris appeared first on Doug Oster.

After looking at the photo, I wasn’t sure what the problem was, so I reached out to Dick Till from the Davey Tree Expert Company. He knew right away the problem was lace bugs.

Doug says– They can easily be treated with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Just spray it on the pests, undersides of the leaves ect. It will take a few applications over as many weeks. It also shows us the tree is stressed. I would want to be sure it’s getting enough water and would fertilize it in the spring with Treetone from Espoma.

Catherine wonders– Do hibiscus drop their flowers quickly after bloom? This is my 1st year growing one.

Doug says– Yes, they don’t last long, especially when it’s hot. But hopefully you have lots of buds.

Carol asks about a tomato damaged by a pest- When they take one bite, is it safe to cut that part away and eat rest? Cannot find answer online. Thanks.

Doug says- I wouldn’t, hate to throw away a good tomato, but there are too many variables in eating something that a wild animal has chewed on.

Maybe Hot Pepper Wax will keep them off the tomatoes?

Send your gardening questions to dougoster@comcast.net. I always answer my emails and your question might end up here.

The post Ask Doug: Serviceberry problems, perennial hibiscus and are tomatoes edible after groundhog damage? appeared first on Doug Oster.