Summer — and the garden  issues that come with it — is in full bloom here in Tidewater. The hydrangeas are doing really well this year as are the Roma tomatoes. We’ve had the tomato equivalent of perfection lately: hot days, cool nights and some rain. They won’t be ready till the end of July/beginning of August but we’ll have a bunch of em.

With the heat of summer comes insects like Japanese beetles and tomato hornworm. There are some blog posts about both pests and how to deal with them naturally and organically without using chemicals.

Japanese beetles: I don;t like to use traps because I think it just attracts them rather than repelling them. I take a plastic container, fill it with hot soapy water and then pop them into it. They fly so you may not get them all but I usually patrol my rose bushes every evening and am able to dump quite a few into the water.

Tomato hornworm: These guys are the best chameleons in the world. They can be right smack in front of you and you can miss them. This will sound gross but the best way to get rid of tomato hornworm is to pluck them from the plant and squish them.

I try not to use any chemical pesticides if I can help it but if you need to please consider using the mildest and most organic possible. There are some great organic sprays and soaps that will do the trick without poisoning the environment.

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