Summer Pests
Volume 49, Issue 10
By Grace Corradino

Had enough of the heat? The summer heat seems to take its toll on everything both inside and out side of our house. No one here wants to be hugged… that’s for sure. Is it the same at your house?

Inside the House

Thanks to Nessa Picker in Fair Harbor, we tried a product call “Damp Rid” for the first time. This nifty packet of drying crystals can be hung up in closets, boats or anywhere else that you especially need to control humidity. I purchased this product at a local dry cleaning business, but it can be found at most hardware stores and in some grocery stores.

Since our closets seem to be a haven for mold, I have hung a new packet of “Damp Rid, every ten days or so since this heat wave started in July. The plastic bag gets filled up with water that would otherwise have attacked my clothes, pocketbooks, shoes and belts. So far there are no signs of mold on my clothing so this little packet of humidity eating crystal must be working.

Our ceiling fans are the best investment we have made. No matter how hot it has been, if you can situate yourself so that you can sit right under it, it feels 20 degrees cooler. Our game playing table has been permanently moved under the ceiling fan on the outside porch. We have a “Hunter” brand out door fan on the porch. These fans are workhorses and tolerate the beach environment very well.

If you rent your house and before the memory of the summer heat retreats into the off season, make the commitment now to buy some window air conditioners. Tenants always inquire about air conditioning. A house with air conditioning is easier to rent than one without.

Garden Pests

Plants deteriorate quickly in this weather unless you provide them with the proper care and feeding.

Rule #1. Never water a plant unless you feel the soil and it is dry. Some people like to have a weekly watering schedule. This is a good idea. A better idea is to water as necessary. The only way to determine if your plants are thirsty is to feel the soil.

Rule #2. Clean your annuals every day. Hibiscus and geranium can be cleaned daily. Dead hibiscus flowers should be cut off. Geranium flowers should be snapped off at the base when they start to die. “Dead heading” your annuals assures they will continue to bloom throughout the growing season.

Rule #3. Check your plants for mold and pests. Humidity and over watering lead to the development of pests. We recommend that you use organic products. “Safer’s Organics” is a good way to combat these maladies.

A friend was recounting how she watched in horror as her tomato plant was defoliating right before her eyes. She couldn’t see anything on the plant and thought it was dying. It turns out that a horn worm caterpillar was feasting on the foliage. Once the leaves were gone, she was able to see the marauder. But then it was too late and the plant died. No summer tomatoes in that house this summer.

Rule #4. When the heat is this high, it is a good idea to lightly mist your plants in the evening. This encourages the plant to cool down and rest.

Rule #5. Feed your annuals. We recommend a weekly application of “Miracle Gro” or another water soluble plant food.

Rule #6. Take stock of your trees and shrubs. They are at full growth right now. Decks which are in full shade will develop mold. If your house is over grown limiting air circulation, you may want to plan on pruning things back in the off-season.

If your pests are two-legged ones, we can offer very little advice because we can barely manage the crankiness in our family which is always worse in the heat.