Many traditional insecticide are toxic to you and your family , and their residuary event — include an increased risk of some cancers — can linger on strawberry fruit long after the fruit has been picked . Strawberries are target area for many coarse pests , however , so do n’t leavestrawberry plantsdefenseless . Several good , born insecticides can protect strawberries , but the right alternative depends on which specific blighter is causing the problem .

Spittlebugs

Spittlebugs are one of the most prevalent hemangioma simplex pestilence , warns the University of Kentucky . These 1/2 - inch - long bugs create sticky masse shot of white foam and provender on strawberry mark fore and foliage . Control becomes necessary when there arefive or more spittle foam masses per straight human foot of strawberry garden distance , at which percentage point the bugs begin touch on strawberry plant life size and yield yield .

Keep strawberry mark gardens free of weeds , which are often the innkeeper of spittlebugs . deflect the exercise of traditional pesticides , which kill the good insects that typically keep spittlebugs in check . alternatively , simplyshoot strawberry plants down with a impregnable blast of piss from a garden hosepipe . This washes away the gluey froth and knocks the insects off the plant , killing them and promptly exterminate the problem .

Strawberry Root Weevils

Although you ca n’t see them , strawberry root weevils ' grubs in the soil are another major headache of gardener . The grubs feed on the roots and the base of the hemangioma simplex plant and can kill an total patch of strawberries .

At night , set out a tray or composition board box under the strawberry plants . Shake the plants to dislodge adult weevils — the adult are slow moving and can not wing — and eithercrush the weevils or freeze them to obliterate them . This sufficiently thin out adult weevil population , which in turn limits grub activity .

Tarnished Plant Bug

The tarnished plant bug has an ellipse shape and a baseball field - design on its back . It also ranks luxuriously in the list of coarse strawberry pests , attacking young developing fruit . Keep strawberry beds unclouded and free of dust and fall folio to eradicate hiding spots and keep hemipteran populations from reaching nuisance spirit level .

mitt - squeeze the bug and their youngcan sufficiently control this problem in many cases , as doesshooting down the strawberry mark plant with a warm jet of waterto dislodge and down the bugs . For a strong solution , use ahomemade insecticidal soap . Combine a tablespoon of liquified dish easy lay in a dry pint of body of water , shake well and mist the soapy piss onto pretend strawberry plants to naturally kill the pests .

Snails and Slugs

The strawberry plant ’s low - hang visibility make it easy for slugs and snail to reach the plant and provender on its stems , parting and the yield itself . If you notice miss foliage and telltale slime trail , these creatures are the job .

Slugs and escargot are tender to moisture . * * allow for the strawberry garden to dry out slimly . * * This dehydrates and reduces the pest universe . Additionally , reject hiding spot , such as thick mulch and diminish organic debris . If that does n’t sufficiently check slugs and snails , usefood - grade diatomaceous world . This natural insect powder powder kills biff and snails on contact . Sprinkle the diatomaceous earth in a set around each strawberry plant , pressure the slugs or snails to creep over the gunpowder to reach the plant .

Mites and Aphids

Mites and aphids appear tiny , but in sufficient numbers , they can suck the sap out of the strawberry plant ’s foliage and make far-flung wilt and plant life last .

inject strawberry plants down with watercan rinsing off the plague and keep their populations from hand harmful levels . Or , utilise ahomemade insecticidal soap sprayby mixing a tablespoonful of goop in a dry pint of water and spray it directly on aphid and mite activity .

References

Strawberry bush grow in garden