Mosquito Control Tips

currently in Austin

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Mosquito Control Tips

by John Dromgoole

Find breeding places and empty water. Check gutters, patio furniture, potted plant containers. Anywhere that collects even a few drops of water encourages breeding.

Products to help control

Mosquito Bits and Mosquito Dunks. They contain Bti (Bacillus thuringienis israelensis) that will not hurt beneficial wildlife, pets, or you. Throw a few bits up into gutters or wherever water collects.
YardSafe Insect repellent granules (cedar)
Dr. T’s Mosquito Repelling Granules (active ingredients: lemon grass, mint and garlic oil)
Amazon Lights Garden Incense Sticks (with citronella and rosemary)
Mosquito Barrier (garlic spray)

Personal products
Canyon Creek Soap Company
Pet Herbal Armor by All Terrain

categories:

tags:

Insect and Pest Control

John Dromgoole

Recent Episodes

Water, Wildlife, Zen Design

Permaculture meets hospitality at Cosmic Coffee and Beer where Paul Oveisi created sustainable gardens and wildlife habitat set around ponds and gracious waterfall. Step into a meditative journey and Japanese pond design based on Zen philosophy at Rajat and Lisa Agarwal’s garden, members of the Austin Pond Society. In San Marcos, Dawn Houser cultivates food, | watch episode →

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March To Do List

Plant: ornamental & wildlife

Annuals: It’s a tricky month for annuals since we get hot days. But the soil is still cold and freezes could still arrive. Late: plant cosmos, sunflowers, morning glory, gomphrena but keep an eye on upcoming freezes. Avoid planting caladiums.
Wildflower transplants: early in month, you can still plant bluebonnet, larkspur, poppy and other transplants.
Perennials & vines
Ornamental (clumping) grasses like muhly and Mexican feather grass (late month)
Trees, shrubs, roses (as soon as possible before heat sets in)

Plant: herbs

Nasturtiums, chives, catnip, comfrey, fennel, horseradish, feverfew, oregano, thyme, rosemary, Mexican mint marigold, peppermint, lemongrass (after last freeze)

Plant: food crops

Chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, endive, Malabar spinach, mustard, peppers, pumpkin, summer & winter squash, tomatillos (you need at least two!), tomatoes, beans, cantaloupe
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vegetable Planting Guides (Central Texas)

Prune

Roses (early)
Evergreen shrubs
Prune dormant perennials and ornamental (clumping) grasses.
Trees: DO NOT prune red oaks and live oaks unless damaged. Spray immediately with clear varnish.
No need to apply pruning paint to other trees
Avoid topping crape myrtles: simply remove sprouts or entire limbs at the trunk.

Divide/Move

Dormant perennials, roses, shrubs and trees. Still time, but don’t wait!

Fertilize

Citrus with high nitrogen fertilizer like Citrus-tone. Fertilize every few weeks through growing season.
Add compost to beds as you cut back dormant perennials. Fertilize with slow-release granular late in the month or as dormant perennials leaf out
Add compost around trees and fertilize. Be sure to dig out grass several feet from the trunk, ideally to the drip line of the tree canopy.
Watch for powdery mildew. Apply a natural fungicide like Serenade.

Lawn

Mow weeds before they set seed. Do not fertilize at this time except with compost!
Plant native Habiturf seeds after soil prep
Plant other turf late in month once freezes aren’t coming

Prep

Add compost to vegetable gardens along with organic fertilizer in prep for more summer crops
Soil test

Other tasks

Keep floating row cover available; avoid covering plants with plastic
Mulch, but avoid touching the base of trees and roses
Till in winter cover crops
WEED!

Tips

When planting, dig hole twice as wide as root ball but no deeper than where it sits in the pot.
Backfill and water until it sinks in.
Continue filling in.
Water again until it sinks in and pack the soil down.
Mulch.

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