At Home: Pest prevention

Have an infestation of unwelcome insects in your garden? Want to keep your potted plants safe when you bring them inside for the winter?

There are things you can do now to prevent peaks from taking hold.

'It's not too early to start thinking ahead for winter and next year,' says Jennifer Shull, general manager at Culver's Garden Center and Greenhouse in Marion.

Protect indoor plants

She recommends using a systemic insecticide for potted plants you've had sitting outside for the summer. Unlike a spray insecticide, these are powders sprinkled in the pot, to be absorbed from the roots up.

'The plant is protected from the inside out,' she says. 'This helps prevent insects from becoming an issue in winter months when the air is dryer inside and your plants are a little more vulnerable.'

Mites, aphids, white flies and mealybugs can all become problems for indoor plants.

It takes a few weeks for the systemic insecticide provides full protection, so now is a good time to start using it.

However, avoid using it for herbs or other edible plants.

Think ahead

'A lot of people will forget the diseases or issues they had last year. Take pictures now as a reminder of what you need to stay on top of for next year,' Shull recommends. 'A lot of insects and diseases you can control by taking precautions.'

For example, a big problem this year has been galls on maple trees, she says. These can be prevented next spring by spraying walnut oil on trees in March or April.

Japanese beetles, which can quickly eat their way through a plant's leaves, can be prevented with milky spore powder applied to the ground in the fall. Milky spore is a naturally occurring bacterium deadly to the grubs but safe for beneficial insects, animals and people. The bacterium spreads through a yard over time, and one application lasts 15 to 20 years.

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Culver's Garden Center and Greenhouse makes outdoor living dreams come to life. Stroll through the gardens, nursery, greenhouse and gift shop for inspiration and see why Culver's grown plants are 'Bigger Blooming and Better Performing!'

1682 Dubuque Rd., Marion; (319) 377-4195; Culverslandscape.com