Re: [gardeners] Whitefles

Bargyla Rateaver (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Tue, 06 Nov 2001 16:32:27 +0000 

My replies are never angry. Sorry if they sounded like that.

No, I have not noticed anything except that when I fail to add fertiizer for
the big tree in back,I do get white fly on it---branches spread so far. . It
reminds me to spread fertilizer all around, whidh is hard because now there is
so much in the way---I long ago made raised beds that are now rotting boards,
and there is a pile of pots I have to return to the nurseries, so I have not
got around to doing that. Then all I can do is spray the leaves, which is OK if
I just get around to it Trying to do too many things at once around here.
Also, fertilizer is an expense I hardly can pay for these days. More important
to eat right.

But yes, the answer is really, truly to improve the soil. In the front, where
there is no problem of things in the way, I never get pests.  But it is so easy
to see, if I get behind and don't fertilize on time, it is an instant call to
arms for pests.

Worst trouble i have is the racoons, that wreck everything as they are
determined to get the ripening fruit from the sapote tree. If I had had any
idea at all that this fruit tree was to be such a nuisance, I'd have planted
something flowering isntead. Too late now, but I bet for sure the next owner
will cut down that big huge tre PRONTO.

It really is true, it's the soil that counts. Make it really good and you don;t
have the bug pests.

Maybe now that you jog me, I'll just make myself use the energy to spray
tomorrow, all over that big tree and get instantly rid of the whitefly. It does
irritate me to see the whitefly.

Also water has become extremely expensive, so I have been skimpy, figuring ti
would rain. I have been here almost 30 yrs and never before have I seen a fall
with NO NO NO rain at all!!!!!

The weather has certainly changed.....as I said , the whole world climate is
going to be habitable, poles and all.

By the way, I just saw the most stunning color photo of the south Pole
mountains of ice. Imagine what will happen when all that is melted.  From what
little I gather, it seems it is the arctic ice that is melting, and the south
pole's ice, a much much bigger mass, is still recalcitrant.

I see so much in the lit about global warming because of this and that, and it
is really true, the arctic AND the antarctic ice will all melt.  I'd like to
see it in my lifetime..  yeah 85 already.



Margaret Lauterbach wrote:

> Bargyla, do you have no malevolent insects?  People do what they can to
> make perfect soil, and still get insects.  It's very frustrating to be told
> to "improve the soil" when you've done everything you know to do.  Angry
> replies don't help either.  Margaret L
>
> >yes, but when I keep suggesting to improve the soil, the real remedy, I
> >get angy
> >replies.

--

Bargyla Rateaver
http://home.earthlink.net/~brateaver