Bagworm Control: When and How to Treat for Best Results
Hello,again!
Memories of my year at K-State always go back to my final couple of weeks on campus. For our Woody Plant Material exam, students had to learn the botanical names of plants (genus and species). During the lab exam, our TA, Ted Bilderback, asked the students to identify a Cottonwood tree. Just then, on that warm sunny spring afternoon, a convertible drove by, and someone sarcastically yelled out, "It’s a tree!" Ted yelled back that if the students were so smart, they would take Woody’s. The next thing out of the kid's mouth was “IT’S A POPULUS DELTOIDES!” Correctly identifying the tree. Ted was speechless.
Another memory was my Entomology lab, when the bagworms hatched out of their bags in mid-May, just before school was out. The warmth inside caused them to hatch a bit earlier than they normally would outside. Since then, every late May to early June, I start looking for those small hungry worms starting to consume mass quantities of foliage. Bagworms feed mainly on conifers, but they aren't too particular. I’ve seen them on deciduous trees, roses, and other shrubs. With up to 1,000 eggs per bag, it doesn’t take many to damage your landscaping.
We have many options for controlling bagworms. I prefer ferti-lome Spinosad Soap Ready-to-Use Spray to control bagworms, spider mites, tent caterpillars, and other chewing insects. It is OMRI-listed for organic use, meaning it’s safe for the vegetable garden, lawn, or your flower bed. In most areas, the best time to treat bagworm larvae is when they are still small and consuming tender foliage. But be on the lookout for multiple generations throughout the summer.
Every summer we set up our “What’s bugging you?” display. During this time, we collect our own samples of insects we find, as well as those that customers bring in. If you have an issue in the garden this year, bring a sample in, and we will add it to our collection to identify and help you deal with it.
Also, make sure to join us this Wednesday through Friday (June 3-5) at the RiverFest Kid’s Corner for our Kids' Pot A Plant event from 4:00 - 7:30 PM. The event is FREE to anyone with a RiverFest button. Kids can pot up a flower to bring home and pick up a fun sticker as well.
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
