 Watering
Wisdom
Remember that wet stuff that used to fall from the sky? Unlike last summer, rain has made a rare appearance this year. Even when it has, it's been in the form of thunderstorms which, though dramatic and beautiful, don't provide the slow, soaking rains that are needed. Some tips and tools for effective watering in these dry times:
Be observant Proper watering is always crucial to the success of newly-installed plants; this year, you may find that even established plants, ones you've NEVER watered in the past, are suffering. Check gardens regularly, rather than waiting until you find some crispy coreopsis or crunchy crocosmia.
Truly, madly, deeply Watering deeply rather than often will encourage roots to follow, allowing for better plant establishment. For example, a hose set at a slight trickle for an hour or two, twice a week will do wonders for freshly-planted trees and shrubs.
Join the early bird Water in the early morning for the best effect or, if that's not possible, in the late afternoon/early evening. Midday watering loses too much moisture to evaporation, and runs the risk of burning foliage as water droplets become mini magnifying glasses, focusing the sun's rays on leaves.
Mulch, mulch, mulch A thick layer of mulch will help the soil retain moisture, while also serving as a weed barrier.
A touch of gray Whenever possible, use "gray water" (used water from shower, bath, sink, etc.) on your plants, and collect runoff from your roof in rain barrels.
The right tool for the job We have a number of accessories to make watering easier and more effective: wands, soaker hoses, tree gators, sprinklers of all varieties - recycled plastic, tripod, oscillating, etc. Planning on leaving town this summer? Ask us about our assortment of timers, gel spikes for time-released watering, and Vacation, the all-natural treatment that allows plants to survive without watering for up to two weeks!
Pest Patrol
You've worked hard to prepare your gardens, only to find that unwelcome visitors are enjoying them as much as you are: summer is arriving, and with it, a host of insect pests. The key to dealing with pests in an organic manner is awareness. Spend some quality time in your garden, inspecting plants for damage and or insects; the sooner you discover a problem, the easier it will be to treat.
 Next, identify the source of the damage. Most insects are not pests, and many are supremely beneficial, so you don't want to kill off the ones that are on your side! For example, the nymph stage of the ladybug (left) is not as well known as the adult form. You may see these in large numbers on sickly plants, and assume they are the culprits - but actually, they are dining on the aphids that are causing the problem. Visit the pest info page on the Phantom website to see photos of the more common garden pests and recommendations for organic treatments.
Now, take the least invasive, yet still effective, approach. Handpicking the pests from plants would be ideal. Once you have removed the existing pests, consider a physical barrier such as a row cover for younger, more tender plants, to prevent another infestation. Row covers can be used to exclude cabbage and onion maggots, leafminers, aphids, cucumber beetles, potato beetles and European corn borers from food crops. Be sure to remove the covers from insect-pollinated plants such as squash and cucumbers when in bloom.
Biological controls - introduced predators, parasites or diseases that target pest insects - can be effective in many situations. Phantom offers a number of these controls: ladybugs (to consume aphids, mites, mealy bugs and scale), praying mantids (for beetles, tent caterpillars, leafhoppers and more), beneficial nematodes and milky spore (to combat Japanese beetle grubs), as well as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a bacterium that targets leaf-eating worms and Gypsy moths.
Other alternatives to chemical pesticides are insecticidal soap, neem oil (which also works as a fungicide) and Spinosad (a naturally-occurring soil dwelling bacterium that is the active ingredient in Monterey Garden Insect spray and Sluggo Plus). Safer's End All is an effective combination of soap, neem and pyrethrins that should be applied at dusk so as not to have an impact on bees. Rose Pharm's food-grade organic peppermint oil and lovely pink color belie its threatening nature when it comes to black spot, powdery mildew, rust and other rose pests. Diatomaceous earth is a desiccant that effectively combats ant and flea infestations, and controls slugs and snails in the garden.
This is just a sampling of the organic solutions Phantom offers for your insect pest and plant disease problems. Stop in for more sound advice and earth-friendly recommendations!
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