need alittle help

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brr9270 Hanover, VA May 20, 2006

I am new to the whole gardening thing. I have something eating my clematis(leaves and all), something stripping my basil, and something chewing on my camelia bush. Is there something I can use to help with all of this? At least until I can pinpoint what or who each culprit may be. Would the dish soap and water in a spray bottle work?

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) May 20, 2006

You need to find the culprits. In all likelihood the same kinds of insects aren't doing it all. Most insects are pretty particular about the plant they eat - but not all. Soapy water is effective on small, soft-bodied insects such as aphids. It dessicates them. You have something bigger than that and soap isn't going to help. Check for caterpillars and beetles.

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phuggins Fairmont, WV(Zone 6a) May 21, 2006

I'm new to the gardening thing too, but my biggest problems are the 4 legged varmints. Do you have rabbits, woodchucks, or deer which might be nibbling your plants?

pam

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brr9270 Hanover, VA May 21, 2006

I probably could. I saw a chipmunk in the yard yesterday. I know I have deer, and rabbits are always a possibility. I live on a 20 acre farm, and 7 acres of it is my yard. My flower beds are very spread out, and a little disorginized right now. I was having terrible vole, problems. I planted castor bean plants in hope to correct that. I have MILLIONS of earwigs, and am setting traps of oil for them,but seven acres is hard to cover! They have sucked nine of my zinnias into the great beyond so far. I will try to be a little more aggressive about looking for the actual culprit. I did go out last night, and spray the soap mixture on what was being eaten in hopes to prevent at least a little damage. How often dhould I reapply this mixture?

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Xeramtheum Summerville, SC(Zone 8a) May 21, 2006

Though not a Clematis adept, when I lived in England where there were a lot of Clematis around my house, the only bug I ever saw on them were earwigs, so it's probably earwigs that are munching on your Clematis.

I'm guessing that you are against using insecticides, so you might want to check out a product called Pyola found on Gardens Alive, it's made from plants, no artificial chemicals. I use that primarily in the greenhouse because it won't interact with or damage the polycarbonate walls like some insecticides do.

X

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brr9270 Hanover, VA May 21, 2006

actually, I wouldn't mind using an insectiside. I would love to find one that would eliminate the earwigs.

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) May 21, 2006

Looks like Sevin works on earwigs. http://cecalaveras.ucdavis.edu/ear.htm

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