As an owner of a garden center, my life revolves around my passion–flowers! I wake up to flowers, water them, I talk to people about them, and now I write about them. Sounds like a heavenly job, right? Well, maybe, if we didn't live in Iowa.
Although we are working our way out of our three-year-long drought, the storms, heavy rain and winds present their own challenges. As the flowers soak up the sunshine and rain water, we also expect them to put on a show, but it's not always that simple.
This season, I've answered hundreds of questions about disease issues, insect attacks, and the most unfortunate issue - that happens way more than it ever should - herbicide damage.
Knowing is Half the Battle
Identifying issues before it’s too late is crucial. After researching all the “experts” online, deciding what to do only adds to that overwhelming feeling.
Why It Matters
You can't treat an insect problem with a fungicide and vice versa.
Herbicide damage is a whole other beast that likely is not treatable.
Then you have those well-meaning spouses that mow or cut down the plants with the weed trimmer. Despite years of training, there is definitely no cure for that! :)
I happen to love the challenge of figuring out the problem and possible solutions so let's take a little walk through the easier part of what to do.
Identifying the Problem
We often miss the problem until it is really bad so I always encourage one of two things.
First thing is, If you're a note taker (but not a person who loses their notes like I do) make a little gardening calendar for yourself. Write when you really noticed the first issue on the calendar. Every potential issue from diseases to insects, even herbicide application goes on a cycle that will likely happen around the same time each season. The signs were likely showing up before then so go back a week or two prior and put that reminder on your calendar.
Secondly, if you sometimes lose your notes like me, put the calendar in your phone with a couple quick notes and a reminder that will occur next season. You can even add photos to your notes. This quick little project will help you next season be more proactive than reactive. In the world of plants, prevention is worth way more than trying to cure an issue.
Chickens in the Garden?
There are even some pests like grasshoppers that once they reach maturity the only tool for killing them is letting the chickens loose in the flower bed. Yes, I was once told that by one of my sales reps as a solution for what I refer to as the "Grasshopper Apocalypse". If anyone has had the joy of gardening with chickens, you'll know they're not always the easiest on flowers.
Take a moment to look through some of the photos above because even though we grow professionally, Busy Bee gets attacked by mother nature's wrath.
Show Us What You've Got
Not sure what you have? Then try bringing in photos or samples (in a sealed plastic bag) when you swing by Busy Bee so we can help figure out what might be going on.
Check out our Quick Guide: What's Wrong With My Plant?