Outdoor pests

Many people like to place chickenmesh about their plants to deter the likes of Deer, which in theory, on your own land, is fine. However, when people start placing chicken wire (or dumber still fishing-line) recklessly about the countryside, I feel they are somehow missing the point (and taking advantage). I wish these people would try to remember that most of the time us Humans invade the environs of Native Species, not the other way round (this includes the back garden)! What I’m trying to say is this; Outdoor growing is a competition against the elements that already exist in within nature. Animals play a large part in this equation. Please let’s not abuse them!

Biological Control

Biological methods of pest control usually act as a preventative rather than an immediate cure. Preventative measures against possible infestation must therefore be employed throughout the growing season, and not just when symptoms persist. Ironically, many garden friends, like Ants and Wasps, may equally be considered pests. Weighing up the pros and cons of biological control thus involves understanding (and a certain degree of risk). Overall, biological control is the beneficial option when it comes to controlling pests, whilst befriending the earth. The methods of control taken may be as simple, or as complex, as needs allow. The following provides some basic approaches: - Habitat is the first thing to consider. Does your garden provide lots of places where potential garden friends/predators can hide? A pile of logs is often the best place to start. Digging a pond is the second best place. Moving to the countryside is the third… - Encourage bird-life into your garden. Songbirds really are gardener’s best friend. Where possible put up nest boxes and feed station in winter, then come the summer songbirds return the favor by eating insect pests. Owls will eat mice and rats all year. - Maintenance is also important. As with indoor set-ups, a tidy garden is often pest free! Native weed species play host to many local plant pests. Try to keep

By Lazystrain Entomology is the study of insects. Ethology the study of animal behavior. Both topics fascinate the imagination, and are directly related to outdoor growing. your outdoor gardens free from Therefore I thought I’d put pen to paper weed species and leaf debris. and provide the readers of Soft Secrets with a fresh perspective upon the subject - Introduce some predatory of outdoor pests and their control. As insects into your garden early an active ecologist (and firm advocate on. The Ladybird (Coccinella 7of outdoor organics) I can only promote punctatal) is a famous eater of the use of biological and/or ecological Aphids. The Ichneumon Fly methods of pest control and/or natural (Apanteles glomeratus) is a methods of pest disposal. The following parasitic wasp that lays eggs therefore provides a hands-on approach to into butterfly caterpillars. These dealing with some common outdoor pests predatory insects will normally found upon plant-life within the UK. Soil remain within the garden while pests are here unmentioned, and will be pest insects remain. covered in the next issue. Insects - Develop your personal techniques. The easiest way to do this is to keep an ‘Outdoor The science of entomology (studying Diary’, and study it before every insects) is very complex. There are more growing season. Make notes on than 20,000 recognized species of insect microclimate, entomology, in the British Isles alone. Insects are ethology and anything else that everywhere; in water, around animals, may influences the development upon plant-life, upon soil, and beneath of your crop. Then the following many an unturned stone. Be it, flora or year, learn from any mishaps or fauna, insect numbers exceed all rivals, mistakes. in a competition for food. The outdoor gardener must therefore understand the - Finally, if all else fails open a basic principles of insect classification bottle of pyrethrum, batten the and nomenclature, in order to combat hatches on indoor grow rooms, even the most common of outdoor plant buy a hose, some traps, a longpests. net, a ferret, an air-rifle. Then reside yourself to the fact that The life history of an insect may be this year nature wins. simple or complex; one of longevity or short lived. To generalize, the life history of winged insect runs as follows: Adult After thoughts… insects lay eggs (often in batches). These eggs then hatch into larvae. The larvae In most cases, it is more than likely eat and then eat and then eat some more. that you will notice the signs of pest The larvae next turn pupae. Then the damage before actually noticing the pupae emerge as adults. The adults mate, pests. At this point learn from YOUR and the whole cycle starts over again. mistakes don’t blame Nature! Check (Certain insects may skip either the outdoor plants weekly (if not daily) larvae and/or pupae stage, hatching from for signs of damage and/or infestation. egg into adolescents, then growing into This way the outdoor gardener stays adults). one step ahead of major problems, and minor infestations become part of the For the Outdoor Gardener many insects fun. It’s not funny when a dissident may be considered pests. These major band of snails decide to eat your pests include Aphids (Greenfly/Blackfly), outdoor seedlings during the night, Caterpillars (the larvae of Butterfly but hey this is nature…what did you and Moth), Lacewing, Sawfly (larvae), expect?

Spider mites, Thrips, Vine Weevil

and/or Whiteflies. Plus many other insect Once Nature becomes your friend pests not mentioned here… instead of your enemy, those plant pests become ‘part of the experience’, While you rarely see Aphids inhabiting not something to get down about. cannabis plants in large numbers, Aphids At the end of the day, one of the will attack just about any plant they can biggest pests to outdoor plant-life suck the sap from. The same may be said is people themselves. I’m thinking for Whiteflies, Spider mite and Thrips. about urbanisation; all that concrete, A pyrethrum based spray and/or soap pollution, ignorance and theft. All of insecticide (available from most grow- the things we have come to associate shops/ DIY center) applied to infected with human nature, not Nature itself. areas usually nips problems in the bud. You may however find that some insects build up a tolerance to organic pesticides. In such cases a combination of organic insecticides can be applied (the use of tobacco and chili based sprays is very effective). The best organic method of controlling Caterpillars is to simply remove them by hand (paying attention to the underside of leafs). Where possible

Outdoor Plant Pests Marihuana develops a much finer taste if you give it plenty of time to fully dry out in peace. All too often please remember to place caterpillars and growers make the mistake of trying to accelerate the other rare insect-life into a nearby hedge/ drying process, and this is a crying shame for the weed! garden (rather than needlessly destroying Doing so will cause it to take on a very sharp taste.them). This way nature lives on to see another day!

Molluscs

Slugs and Snails are the outdoor gardener’s worst nightmare. Snails and Slugs are hermaphrodites, the major difference being snails have a shell (and slugs aren’t technically molluscs). Where the Garden Snail (Helix aspersa) disappears to during the daytime often remains a mystery (often under logs, plant pots and stones), but come the evening these monopods crawl out in force to feed upon tender plant life. Both Slugs and Snails like damp evenings, which is the best time to conduct a mollusc hunt by torchlight. Personally I don’t fancy escargot (eating snails) and salting may damage the crops. For this reason, the best method of control is to remove them by hand, placing them someplace far away! I also like to provide anvils (large rocks) for the local Thrush. An even better biological method of controlling Slugs (it is claimed) is to attract Frogs by digging a pond. Chickens and Game Fowl will also eat slugs, while Hedgehogs, Field Mice and Shrews eat Snails.

Bird-life

Whilst it must be made clear that Songbirds are a Gardener’s Friend, certain birds (I’m thinking of Wood Pigeons and Crows) can cause serious damage to plants. Many growers therefore employ the use of netting, if not only during early season, so as to keep bird-life from tender crops.

Mammals

Many herbivores such as Mice, Rats,

Rabbits, Hare, Deer, (and the odd

Hippie) may browse or tread upon herbaceous plants including cannabis. Methods of control should firstly consider the local population density of the targeted species. Thereafter a program of control can be designed to suit your own needs. Generally speaking, a rifle (on FAC/firearms certificate) is the best way of controlling large mammals like Deer. Smaller mammals such as rabbits, rats and mice, may be air-gunned, netted, baited and/or trapped (All traps MUST be checked every 24hours by law). Other mammalian pests may include the Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Whether or not the Grey Squirrel holds a taste for cannabis remains to be observed, but many a Forester is aware of the tree vandalism caused by Squirrels (The native Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris is protected by law). Likewise, I’ve never heard about Foxes eating cannabis plants, although I do know that Dogs will browse upon the odd fan-leaf (given half the chance). One of the best methods of controlling all the above involves a hose/bucket of cold water. Cats may also tread or lay upon tender seedlings; but cats kill rats, so fair is fair. The longer a plant blooms, the stronger the weed you end up with, in general. The weed that comes from long-blooming (longer than nine weeks) varieties frequently does not only look prettier and plumper, the flower heads also frequently contain more THC!