PAC!P A') UYT.T1'T'DV t'OL'L' L>UL'L~1.2 I~I I'U'IUU '.LJ I *'.II~Ii' Il IftJU 1~ 1UUU V~.L.LLLJJA XA~JJ~.é ALI~11. .II>IIJ'.I~JI~. LiLY LL'E~.Y. ULJL'~.LJ LU. .LUUtJ Brown patches in your lawn could mean an insect problem By VERONICA COLANGELO This is the time of the year when you may notice brown patches in your. lawn and think perhaps it's not getting enough water. This, of course, may be the case, but it could also be an insect problem. If watering doesn't improve the condition of your tur, you'll need to check for bugs. Chinch bug has N become quite a pest to Southern Ontario lawns in recent years. The insect is very small, only about 5mm long. It's black and sports white patches on its wngs. These insects suck the sap from the crowns of the plants causing them to wither and die. They multiply in hot, dry weather and can quickly do a lot of damage. It isn't easy to find the bugs in lawns that are just beginning- to' become infested because they hide in the thatch. If you suspect an infestation, there are a couple of ways to determine if chinch bug is your problem. One way is to take a large juice can with both ends cut of and push it into the suspected area. Fill the can with warm water, and the bugs will come floating to the top. The other method is to soak the area, and spread a white cloth over it. The bugs will crawl up onto it. If you find chinch bugs, the chemical scarbaryl or diazinon should look after the problem. Before applying the chernicals, water the area thoroughly and then again after the chemical application. This will make sure that the treatment reaches the chinch bugs. Whatever chemical you use, make sure you read the label carefully and follow the directions exactly. When correctly used, there is no danger to pets, -birds or earthworms. 'w 'w 4 White grubs or the June beetle larvae are another source of aggravation for lawns. These insects have soft white bodies with brown heads in the larvae stage. When you find them they are usually in a, curled "C" shape. These uglies live in the soil and feed ravenously on grass roots. If the grubs are numerous the grass will tum brown and when a piece of sod is pulled at, it will turn back as though it were a rug. If you have noticed a lot of June bugs around your property, checking for damage now and into July is a good idea. Small grubs are easier to kill, so it is wise to apply a soil insecticide as soon as they are discovered. Chlorodane seems to be the chemical of choice, although in some areas, the grubs have become resistant to it. If this is so in your area, try an insecticide with chlorpyrifos in it. Your local garden centre will have competent nurserymen there who will be able to advise you. If you are resistent to using chemical means, it is well to note that grubs are a favorite meal of baby birds. It just so happens that the baby birds are abundant at about the same time the grubs are. If you have planted to attract birds to your gardens, you may be lucky and Mother Nature will help you look after the problem. ' I find aphids to be the peskiest of all the bothersome insects. They'll eat anything it seems. Aphids are some- times called plant lice and come in shades of green, red or black depending on their diet. The aphids suck sap from new growth, causing the plant to curl up and become discolored. Individually, they are hard to see. They're only 2-3 mm in size. Usually though, you'll find them in clusters. They almost look like they are stacked one upon the other. Aphids mature in about 12 days and many generations can be enjoying one plant at any one time! To treat the problem, you can use sprays containing diazinon, malathion, cygon 2E, rotenone or an insecticidal soap. All are available under various brand names at garden centres. The birch leafminer is the other insect that can turn a beautiful birch tree in a browned mess. The damage is caused by the larvae of a tiny black sawflie. In early spring, when the new leaves are emerging, the flies lay their eggs on the leaves. Rose Festival begins June 25 Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village is holding its annual Rose Festival from June 25 to July 4. The Rose Festival is the attraction's most popular event. Thousands of blooms of twenty- five varieties of roses are displayed. The gardens also feature 1/12th scale miniature replicas of actual homes, churches and business blocks found in Southern Ontario. The sights and sounds of a real fairground can be seen in miniature also. In fact the fairground display includes the famed ONE Flyer, bumper boats, the merry go round and ferris wheel. The sounds of the midway barkers, hurdy gurdies and miniature fairgoers screams of excitement all lend itself to the atmosphere. Cullen Gardens is located on Taunton Road just east of Hwy 12 in Whitby. Donation JOHN VAN STAVERAN OF John Brouwer Nursery Ltd. is joined by Whitby General Hospital ad- ministrator Jim Miller and director of support services Lyn Chow after Brouwer donated 1,000.annuals, in- cluding marigolds and petunias, to the hospital for lan- dscaping. Free Press photo JACOBSEN FULL SIZE RIDING MOWER 301/2 INCH CUT 5 SPEEDS FORWARD PLUS REVERSE FROM$1499.oo HR-830 GAS POWERED FROM 8,10 and 12 hp LAWN TRIMMERS 179.oo PICKERING MARINE 77 4 * r E-mqzrj tiz, YYXUIDI riuriri rKmMri. titi-rimuft LIVIINU. JUINZ 10. ivom JLJMII-jl 01. ---- il un The resulting maggots burrow into the leaf and eat away, creating a tunnel or mine effect. The leaves turn blotchy and the tree looks blighted. Two generations a year need to be treated. One in early spring and the second at the end of June, or early July. Cygon 2E is the chemical to take care of this. Cygon 2E is a systemic, that is, it is absorbed into the tree and sent to all parts of it. As the directions will indicate, it can be applied in several ways, either by "painting" a band around the tree trunk, using it in a foliar spray or as a concentrated soil drench. Again, read the directions carefully and follow them exactly. These few insects mentioned are by no means the only ones that affect our ornamentals and vegetables. There are others. In order to get a better understanding of how to control garden bugs, there are a number of publications available in libraries and book stores. As well, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food have a publication called "Insect and Disease Control in the Home Garden." - Publication $64. It is free of charge and may be obtained by writing to the Ministry at Box 309, Uxbridge, Ont. LOC 1KO. Wà titi