Pests! Pests! Pests!

As our dahlias grow they can become invaded with pests. What should one do? Most gardeners prefer to try more organic methods. Slugs, snails, and earwigs can munch away a plant in just one night. For these critters I use Sluggo Plus. It is safe for your pets and my chickens actually like to eat it. I sprinkle at the base of the plant and also place some of the pellets up high in the canopy and in the branch "crooks"of the dahlia. Another pest I have trouble with in the early stages in my garden are leaf miners. A leaf miner is any number of insects (moths, sawflies, beetles, and different flying insects) that lay eggs on the leaf of your plant and then the larvae chew tunnels through the leaves. Heavy infestations can weaken the plant. For this problem I use Monterey Horticulture Oil. It is a product that helps control a number of problems with dahlias. I try to incorporate a regular spraying routine of my dahlias throughout the growing season. About a 1/4 cup  per gallon of the Horticulture Oil, applied with a sprayer, every 7 to 10 days. I recommend applying with a sprayer at dusk, after the bees and other beneficial pollinators have gone to bed for the day. 

This photo shows chewed on leaves probably from earwigs. Earwigs leave little "bullet hole" style damage. Sluggo Plus will help with this problem. 

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The squiggly brown lines are evidence of leaf minor damage. Monterey Horticulture Oil will help take care of this problem.