Curing the Winter Blues
Ingredients needed to make fishing lures include a melting pot and molds to pour lead into.
Photo courtesy Jack Payne
By Jack Payne
Last week Saturday my dog and I walked a two-square-mile section of public land. The goal was locating deer beds and old rubs. Mission was successful. Winter is the time where I scout a lot of my public land areas.
It’s easy spotting beds and droppings with snow on the ground. Using On X maps I marked the areas where trails merged and funneled into a smaller necked-down area. There is a symbol on the app for trails.
The areas with the most beds I marked once more. Then I searched out possible spots where I could hunt from the ground. That spot was marked with the “blind” symbol.
If snow remains on the ground, I will continue this process at two more locations.
This week and next our fishing group will make fishing lures. This process starts out with pouring lead into our various molds. The molds that we use are for lures that are hard to find.
I have the Flutter Spoon mold in various weights. The Flutter Spoon is primarily used on whitefish and lake trout. We will use this spoon for walleye in the fall especially when the walleye stack up along the steep fast-breaking drop-offs.
We also use the Swim Jig mold. The Swim Jig mold replicates the old Rocker Minnow jig that was famous in the early 80’s. Folks, this just might be my favorite jig/spoon designed lure ever.
You can buy a mold for the smaller weight sizes. We wanted a mold that would make a half-ounce, a three-quarter ounce and a one-ounce. So, we bought a blank mold and had a toolmaker friend make up a sample.
I tracked down the inventor of this lure and he sent me six one-ounce lures. From that my friend was able to design this on a CAD/CAM program. Our first problem was in finding a hook that would work.
All hook manufacturers dropped the unique designed hook with a bend in it. It was only available in the smaller sizes. This resulted in us making a small hook bender. Boy, does this spoon catch fish.
We also bought a mold that makes round ball jigheads. This mold is designed for a longer gap hook. When you fish for crappies or walleyes using a small weighted jighead, most come with a smaller hook and gap.
This mold allows us to make a lightweight jig with an oversize hook. The result is a much better hook-up ratio.
When you fish walleyes on our inland lakes, I would suggest concentrating on weedbeds and deep points. Walleye and crappies relate to cabbage weeds all season long. We catch plenty of walleye while chasing crappie. Gun Lake, as an example, hosts a decent population of walleye. Don’t expect a limit but landing a few fish while chasing down crappies is more than doable.
We also make up our own bell sinkers. The main reason is that we use a fair amount of one, two, three and four-ounce sinkers. These size sinkers can be hard to find. Most of our fishing group really likes using three-way rigs as compared to bottom bouncers so they come in handy.
Virtually all of the items made are painted with powder coat paint. Glow in the dark paint is used on all. Some of the baits we might paint a two-tone color scheme. These paint jobs are not a piece of art; they are a fish catching tool and nothing more.
I like tying up a basic fly. Going sparse is better than adding too much material. A few strands of Crystal Flash or something similar grabs the attention of a fish. A strand of Maribou will create some lift or puff to your bait.
Rubber legs are added for our bluegill baits. Mitzi or Crockett material is used when cutting mini wings for both bluegill and perch baits.
Regardless if you go for a scouting hike or decide to make a few fishing lures, keep moving and stop in and visit Grand Valley Sport Shop.
Last week Saturday my dog and I walked a two-square-mile section of public land. The goal was locating deer beds and old rubs. Mission was successful. Winter is the time where I scout a lot of my public land areas.
It’s easy spotting beds and droppings with snow on the ground. Using On X maps I marked the areas where trails merged and funneled into a smaller necked-down area. There is a symbol on the app for trails.
The areas with the most beds I marked once more. Then I searched out possible spots where I could hunt from the ground. That spot was marked with the “blind” symbol.
If snow remains on the ground, I will continue this process at two more locations.
This week and next our fishing group will make fishing lures. This process starts out with pouring lead into our various molds. The molds that we use are for lures that are hard to find.
I have the Flutter Spoon mold in various weights. The Flutter Spoon is primarily used on whitefish and lake trout. We will use this spoon for walleye in the fall especially when the walleye stack up along the steep fast-breaking drop-offs.
We also use the Swim Jig mold. The Swim Jig mold replicates the old Rocker Minnow jig that was famous in the early 80’s. Folks, this just might be my favorite jig/spoon designed lure ever.
You can buy a mold for the smaller weight sizes. We wanted a mold that would make a half-ounce, a three-quarter ounce and a one-ounce. So, we bought a blank mold and had a toolmaker friend make up a sample.
I tracked down the inventor of this lure and he sent me six one-ounce lures. From that my friend was able to design this on a CAD/CAM program. Our first problem was in finding a hook that would work.
All hook manufacturers dropped the unique designed hook with a bend in it. It was only available in the smaller sizes. This resulted in us making a small hook bender. Boy, does this spoon catch fish.
We also bought a mold that makes round ball jigheads. This mold is designed for a longer gap hook. When you fish for crappies or walleyes using a small weighted jighead, most come with a smaller hook and gap.
This mold allows us to make a lightweight jig with an oversize hook. The result is a much better hook-up ratio.
When you fish walleyes on our inland lakes, I would suggest concentrating on weedbeds and deep points. Walleye and crappies relate to cabbage weeds all season long. We catch plenty of walleye while chasing crappie. Gun Lake, as an example, hosts a decent population of walleye. Don’t expect a limit but landing a few fish while chasing down crappies is more than doable.
We also make up our own bell sinkers. The main reason is that we use a fair amount of one, two, three and four-ounce sinkers. These size sinkers can be hard to find. Most of our fishing group really likes using three-way rigs as compared to bottom bouncers so they come in handy.
Virtually all of the items made are painted with powder coat paint. Glow in the dark paint is used on all. Some of the baits we might paint a two-tone color scheme. These paint jobs are not a piece of art; they are a fish catching tool and nothing more.
I like tying up a basic fly. Going sparse is better than adding too much material. A few strands of Crystal Flash or something similar grabs the attention of a fish. A strand of Maribou will create some lift or puff to your bait.
Rubber legs are added for our bluegill baits. Mitzi or Crockett material is used when cutting mini wings for both bluegill and perch baits.
Regardless if you go for a scouting hike or decide to make a few fishing lures, keep moving and stop in and visit Grand Valley Sport Shop.
DNR: 2025 Black Lake Sturgeon Season Lasts Just 17 Minutes
After only 17 minutes of fishing, this year’s sturgeon season on Black Lake in Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties ended at 8:17 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1.
The season, which included spearing and hook-and-line fishing, was scheduled to run Feb. 1-5, or until the harvest quota of six lake sturgeon had been reached.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources set the harvest limit for the season at six fish, though anglers were allocated a season quota of seven sturgeon by agreement with tribal governments. This limit was placed to accommodate the expected number of anglers and anticipate the possibility of near simultaneous harvest of more than one fish. Such a scenario occurred this year, as a seventh fish was harvested before notification of the season closure could be sent out.
There were 797 registered anglers this year. The harvested sturgeon ranged in size from 43.5 inches to 64 inches long and weighed 18.2 pounds to 78.3 pounds.
• The first fish was a 45.7-inch sturgeon that weighed 18.8 pounds.
• Fish number two was a 43.5-inch sturgeon that weighed 18.2 pounds.
• Fish three was a 46.1-inch sturgeon that weighed 19 pounds.
• Fish four was a 64-inch female that weighed 78.3 pounds.
• The fifth fish was a 56.7-inch fish that weighed 41.9 pounds.
• The sixth fish was a 51-inch fish that weighed 25.5 pounds.
• The seventh fish was a 60.5-inch fish that weighed 47.8 pounds.
Only two of the harvested fish had been captured before by Michigan State University and the DNR during spring spawning runs in the Black River or during past surveys of Black Lake. The harvested 45.7-inch fish was captured and tagged during the 2023 netting survey of Black Lake, while the 64-inch fish was originally captured in the river in 2010.
Besides the 64-inch female, which was captured previously during the spawning run, the sex of these fish is not yet known and will be determined using DNA from fin clips collected when the fish were registered.
Participating anglers were notified of the season closure in a variety of ways, including text alerts and ice shanty visits from DNR personnel. All methods were used to indicate the season’s end within minutes of the final fish being harvested. DNR law enforcement officials and other DNR personnel were embedded in the on-ice fishing communities and were able to quickly and safely report harvested fish this year, as well as to quickly contact all lake sturgeon anglers on the ice to close the season.
Rehabilitation of lake sturgeon in the Cheboygan River watershed is a cooperative effort involving the DNR, the Black Lake Chapter of Sturgeon For Tomorrow, Michigan State University, Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership, the Bay Mills Indian Community, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
For more information on lake sturgeon in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/Sturgeon. To learn more about all fishing opportunities statewide, go to Michigan.gov/Fishing.
The season, which included spearing and hook-and-line fishing, was scheduled to run Feb. 1-5, or until the harvest quota of six lake sturgeon had been reached.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources set the harvest limit for the season at six fish, though anglers were allocated a season quota of seven sturgeon by agreement with tribal governments. This limit was placed to accommodate the expected number of anglers and anticipate the possibility of near simultaneous harvest of more than one fish. Such a scenario occurred this year, as a seventh fish was harvested before notification of the season closure could be sent out.
There were 797 registered anglers this year. The harvested sturgeon ranged in size from 43.5 inches to 64 inches long and weighed 18.2 pounds to 78.3 pounds.
• The first fish was a 45.7-inch sturgeon that weighed 18.8 pounds.
• Fish number two was a 43.5-inch sturgeon that weighed 18.2 pounds.
• Fish three was a 46.1-inch sturgeon that weighed 19 pounds.
• Fish four was a 64-inch female that weighed 78.3 pounds.
• The fifth fish was a 56.7-inch fish that weighed 41.9 pounds.
• The sixth fish was a 51-inch fish that weighed 25.5 pounds.
• The seventh fish was a 60.5-inch fish that weighed 47.8 pounds.
Only two of the harvested fish had been captured before by Michigan State University and the DNR during spring spawning runs in the Black River or during past surveys of Black Lake. The harvested 45.7-inch fish was captured and tagged during the 2023 netting survey of Black Lake, while the 64-inch fish was originally captured in the river in 2010.
Besides the 64-inch female, which was captured previously during the spawning run, the sex of these fish is not yet known and will be determined using DNA from fin clips collected when the fish were registered.
Participating anglers were notified of the season closure in a variety of ways, including text alerts and ice shanty visits from DNR personnel. All methods were used to indicate the season’s end within minutes of the final fish being harvested. DNR law enforcement officials and other DNR personnel were embedded in the on-ice fishing communities and were able to quickly and safely report harvested fish this year, as well as to quickly contact all lake sturgeon anglers on the ice to close the season.
Rehabilitation of lake sturgeon in the Cheboygan River watershed is a cooperative effort involving the DNR, the Black Lake Chapter of Sturgeon For Tomorrow, Michigan State University, Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership, the Bay Mills Indian Community, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
For more information on lake sturgeon in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/Sturgeon. To learn more about all fishing opportunities statewide, go to Michigan.gov/Fishing.
Hunting Antler Sheds: A Fun and Informative Winter Pastime
Hunting for antler sheds can be a fun activity during the winter months.
Photo by Sam Smith, Saranac
By Katie Ockert
Michigan State University Extension
Michigan has an abundant deer population, and many people enjoy searching or hunting for antler sheds as a winter outdoor activity.
The antler cycle is controlled by photo period, or day length. Male deer grow antlers rapidly in spring and summer. After the breeding season, as the days get shorter, the amount of the reproductive hormone testosterone drops.
Testosterone controls the antler cycle; when testosterone levels drop, specialized cells called osteoclasts are activated. These osteoclasts eat away at the pedicle, or base of the deer’s antlers, which cause the antlers to become weak and eventually fall off. This cycle occurs annually in deer. The best time to search for antler sheds is between mid-January and March.
Here are some tips for a successful antler shed hunt.
• Look along deer trails. Deer trails are a great place to find sheds because the deer are traveling along these routes, likely bounding or jumping over downed logs, fences or small streams. The impact of landing may help antlers to drop. Also, look in areas on the trail where brush is thick. The thick brush may pull at the antlers, helping them to drop.
• Areas that offer a feeding site can also be areas where sheds can be found. During the winter months, areas that offer abundant and quality nutrition will be a natural congregation site, which increases the odds that sheds can be found.
• Deer sheds pose very little risk in spreading chronic wasting disease. Wipe any organic material from sheds and always practice good hand hygiene after handling antler sheds.
Deer antler sheds can give you valuable information about the deer herd in your area as well. Antler size is dependent upon the animals’ age, the quality of nutrition it is receiving, and its genetics.
Evaluating antler sheds can give you an idea of the age structure of the bucks in the area. A one-year-old deer will have thin beams, or the central stem of the antler, and the spread is usually inside the ears of the animal, whereas a four-year-old deer will have thicker, heavy antlers with good bases and multiple points. The spread will expand beyond the ears.
Good nutrition is essential for antler growth. Regardless of age, a buck needs an adequate intake of protein for growth and development; as the deer ages, its protein requirements will decrease because it is using less of the dietary protein for body development therefore it can be utilized in antler growth.
Additionally, deer require vitamins and minerals, calcium and phosphorus in particular for antler growth. While the antlers are growing, the deer mobilizes calcium and phosphorus from skeletal sites, such as rib bones, and then uses it in antler development. If the soil in your area doesn’t contain the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals, antlers may not develop to their full potential.
Lastly, genetics play a role in antler development. The buck will inherit physical characteristics from its parents; the combination of the parents presents a “genetic potential.” It is difficult to measure how influential genetics are in antler development due to the various external factors that impact antler growth—nutrition, stress, environment, and overall animal health.
For more information about deer management, chronic wasting disease, tips and tools for hunters and venison consumers, and other deer related topics, visit Michigan State University Extension’s Chronic Wasting Disease website at canr.msu.edu/chronic-wasting-disease/index.
Michigan State University Extension
Michigan has an abundant deer population, and many people enjoy searching or hunting for antler sheds as a winter outdoor activity.
The antler cycle is controlled by photo period, or day length. Male deer grow antlers rapidly in spring and summer. After the breeding season, as the days get shorter, the amount of the reproductive hormone testosterone drops.
Testosterone controls the antler cycle; when testosterone levels drop, specialized cells called osteoclasts are activated. These osteoclasts eat away at the pedicle, or base of the deer’s antlers, which cause the antlers to become weak and eventually fall off. This cycle occurs annually in deer. The best time to search for antler sheds is between mid-January and March.
Here are some tips for a successful antler shed hunt.
• Look along deer trails. Deer trails are a great place to find sheds because the deer are traveling along these routes, likely bounding or jumping over downed logs, fences or small streams. The impact of landing may help antlers to drop. Also, look in areas on the trail where brush is thick. The thick brush may pull at the antlers, helping them to drop.
• Areas that offer a feeding site can also be areas where sheds can be found. During the winter months, areas that offer abundant and quality nutrition will be a natural congregation site, which increases the odds that sheds can be found.
• Deer sheds pose very little risk in spreading chronic wasting disease. Wipe any organic material from sheds and always practice good hand hygiene after handling antler sheds.
Deer antler sheds can give you valuable information about the deer herd in your area as well. Antler size is dependent upon the animals’ age, the quality of nutrition it is receiving, and its genetics.
Evaluating antler sheds can give you an idea of the age structure of the bucks in the area. A one-year-old deer will have thin beams, or the central stem of the antler, and the spread is usually inside the ears of the animal, whereas a four-year-old deer will have thicker, heavy antlers with good bases and multiple points. The spread will expand beyond the ears.
Good nutrition is essential for antler growth. Regardless of age, a buck needs an adequate intake of protein for growth and development; as the deer ages, its protein requirements will decrease because it is using less of the dietary protein for body development therefore it can be utilized in antler growth.
Additionally, deer require vitamins and minerals, calcium and phosphorus in particular for antler growth. While the antlers are growing, the deer mobilizes calcium and phosphorus from skeletal sites, such as rib bones, and then uses it in antler development. If the soil in your area doesn’t contain the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals, antlers may not develop to their full potential.
Lastly, genetics play a role in antler development. The buck will inherit physical characteristics from its parents; the combination of the parents presents a “genetic potential.” It is difficult to measure how influential genetics are in antler development due to the various external factors that impact antler growth—nutrition, stress, environment, and overall animal health.
For more information about deer management, chronic wasting disease, tips and tools for hunters and venison consumers, and other deer related topics, visit Michigan State University Extension’s Chronic Wasting Disease website at canr.msu.edu/chronic-wasting-disease/index.
Outdoor Truths
I love the warmer days of winter. It gives me a chance to walk my hunting areas.
Because the leaves are off the trees and because there is no concern about spooking deer, I can gather all kinds of information from the last season. It is a great time to assess the good and bad of the previous year and plan some changes for the next.
The woods will give a hunter plenty of information about the previous year and about the possibilities of the next season. One just has to do go out, walk around, be attentive, and let it all speak.
This year, more than anything else, I’m just looking for signs of life. Mainly the life of bucks. I saw very few of them in one area. So, I want to find out why.
Again, the woods will speak. Hopefully they will speak volumes and certainties. But regardless, they will speak.
I know I talk and write about this a lot - the truth of how creation speaks, but it is never more illustrated for deer hunters than this time of year. Maybe a warm February day ought to cause us to be reminded of how creation also speaks to us about things more important than deer. After all, it is still the primary way God speaks to mankind.
While God wants to speak to his followers through the Scriptures, He still speaks to all people through creation. And this is so neat to me, because it shows me His dogged and determined pursuit. That is, He is going to show Himself to us and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.
While a man may burn a Bible, he can never burn all of creation. And even in a fire, God will reveal His desire to purify and start something new. We just can’t hide from God. And that’s not a bad thing. It’s a good one.
It’s good because not only does it show that we can’t hide from God, but it shows that God will never give up until he finds us. And what will He do when He finds us? He won’t condemn or even criticize. He will celebrate. The lost coin was celebrated when found. The lost sheep was celebrated when found. The lost son was celebrated when found. And God wants there to be about 7.9 billion celebrations, because His desire is that every single lost soul be found.
What was the message as I perused my hunting area today? It was revealed in the trees. I saw every limb of every tree reach to the heavens in celebration. And the message for me was to live in celebration because this will be the posture of all those in heaven as we welcome all those, like us, who have been found.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 21 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoor truths.org.
Because the leaves are off the trees and because there is no concern about spooking deer, I can gather all kinds of information from the last season. It is a great time to assess the good and bad of the previous year and plan some changes for the next.
The woods will give a hunter plenty of information about the previous year and about the possibilities of the next season. One just has to do go out, walk around, be attentive, and let it all speak.
This year, more than anything else, I’m just looking for signs of life. Mainly the life of bucks. I saw very few of them in one area. So, I want to find out why.
Again, the woods will speak. Hopefully they will speak volumes and certainties. But regardless, they will speak.
I know I talk and write about this a lot - the truth of how creation speaks, but it is never more illustrated for deer hunters than this time of year. Maybe a warm February day ought to cause us to be reminded of how creation also speaks to us about things more important than deer. After all, it is still the primary way God speaks to mankind.
While God wants to speak to his followers through the Scriptures, He still speaks to all people through creation. And this is so neat to me, because it shows me His dogged and determined pursuit. That is, He is going to show Himself to us and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.
While a man may burn a Bible, he can never burn all of creation. And even in a fire, God will reveal His desire to purify and start something new. We just can’t hide from God. And that’s not a bad thing. It’s a good one.
It’s good because not only does it show that we can’t hide from God, but it shows that God will never give up until he finds us. And what will He do when He finds us? He won’t condemn or even criticize. He will celebrate. The lost coin was celebrated when found. The lost sheep was celebrated when found. The lost son was celebrated when found. And God wants there to be about 7.9 billion celebrations, because His desire is that every single lost soul be found.
What was the message as I perused my hunting area today? It was revealed in the trees. I saw every limb of every tree reach to the heavens in celebration. And the message for me was to live in celebration because this will be the posture of all those in heaven as we welcome all those, like us, who have been found.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 21 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoor truths.org.
Organic Insect Pest Control in Vegetable and Flower Gardens
A cabbage worm feeding on mustard greens.
Photo courtesy MelindaMyers.com
By Melinda Myers
You can have a beautiful, productive garden while working with nature to manage insect pests. As you incorporate various eco-friendly pest management strategies, you will encourage songbirds, beneficial insects, and pollinators to visit your gardens.
You will find slight variations of definitions, but most organic gardeners agree the focus is on cultivating a system that supports and sustains all its members. This includes plants, soil microbes, and other beneficial organisms.
As with any garden, it starts with creating a healthy soil foundation, selecting the plants best suited to the growing conditions, and providing them with proper care. When you do these things, you will be able to grow healthier plants that are more tolerant of pest attacks and more resilient when damaged.
Removing weeds from garden beds is an important pest management strategy. These uninvited plants compete with your desirable plants for water and nutrients. Many also attract and harbor plant-damaging insect pests and disease organisms in the garden.
No matter how well you plan, plant, and care for your gardens, insect pest problems can arise. Include nature’s pest managers in your organic garden approach. Ninety-six percent of terrestrial North American birds rely on insects for part of their diet. They also add color, motion, and entertainment to our landscapes.
Many beneficial insects eat or parasitize insects. Lady beetles, green lacewings, young and old, eat hundreds of aphids a day. Parasitic wasps, depending on the species, can attack specific or a variety of insects including caterpillars like the tomato hornworm, aphids, leafhoppers, scale, beetles, and true bugs.
Attract more beneficial insects, both pollinators and pest managers, to your gardens with plants. Grow plants like sweet alyssum, columbine, thyme, lavender, goldenrod, sedum, asters, and other plants that attract beneficial insects to your garden.
Be proactive by regularly monitoring your gardens. Look for emerging pest problems and the good guys stopping by to dine on them. You will need to tolerate some damage so there will be food to attract and feed the predators in the garden.
If intervention is needed, look for the most eco-friendly control options. Barriers of lightweight floating row covers protect against cabbage worms, Japanese and bean beetles, cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and squash vine borers on susceptible plants. Just cover the plantings with row covers immediately after seeding. Since basil and beans do not need to be pollinated to produce the harvest, leave them covered for the season.
Uncover squash, pumpkins, melons, and cucumbers when they begin flowering so pollinators have access to the blossoms. Research found vine crops in this manner limited damage by squash bugs, squash vine borer, and the cucumber beetles that can infect and kill cucumber plants with bacterial wilt.
If you forget to cover your cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, enlist the help of a naturally occurring soil bacterial called Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk) found in Summit Biological Caterpillar and Webworm (SummitResponsibleSolutions. com). It only kills true caterpillars and webworms and can be applied to edible plants right up to harvest.
A strong blast of water is a great first step in managing mites and aphids. It knocks them off the plant, helping minimize the damage. If needed, apply lightweight horticulture oils, like organic Summit Year-Round Spray Oil, according to label directions. It kills a wide variety of soft-bodied insects in all stages (including eggs) on contact and poses few risks to beneficial insects that land on the treated plant.
Over time these eco-friendly strategies become part of your gardening routine. And the more we work with nature, the better it is for you, your plants, and the environment.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Summit for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
You can have a beautiful, productive garden while working with nature to manage insect pests. As you incorporate various eco-friendly pest management strategies, you will encourage songbirds, beneficial insects, and pollinators to visit your gardens.
You will find slight variations of definitions, but most organic gardeners agree the focus is on cultivating a system that supports and sustains all its members. This includes plants, soil microbes, and other beneficial organisms.
As with any garden, it starts with creating a healthy soil foundation, selecting the plants best suited to the growing conditions, and providing them with proper care. When you do these things, you will be able to grow healthier plants that are more tolerant of pest attacks and more resilient when damaged.
Removing weeds from garden beds is an important pest management strategy. These uninvited plants compete with your desirable plants for water and nutrients. Many also attract and harbor plant-damaging insect pests and disease organisms in the garden.
No matter how well you plan, plant, and care for your gardens, insect pest problems can arise. Include nature’s pest managers in your organic garden approach. Ninety-six percent of terrestrial North American birds rely on insects for part of their diet. They also add color, motion, and entertainment to our landscapes.
Many beneficial insects eat or parasitize insects. Lady beetles, green lacewings, young and old, eat hundreds of aphids a day. Parasitic wasps, depending on the species, can attack specific or a variety of insects including caterpillars like the tomato hornworm, aphids, leafhoppers, scale, beetles, and true bugs.
Attract more beneficial insects, both pollinators and pest managers, to your gardens with plants. Grow plants like sweet alyssum, columbine, thyme, lavender, goldenrod, sedum, asters, and other plants that attract beneficial insects to your garden.
Be proactive by regularly monitoring your gardens. Look for emerging pest problems and the good guys stopping by to dine on them. You will need to tolerate some damage so there will be food to attract and feed the predators in the garden.
If intervention is needed, look for the most eco-friendly control options. Barriers of lightweight floating row covers protect against cabbage worms, Japanese and bean beetles, cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and squash vine borers on susceptible plants. Just cover the plantings with row covers immediately after seeding. Since basil and beans do not need to be pollinated to produce the harvest, leave them covered for the season.
Uncover squash, pumpkins, melons, and cucumbers when they begin flowering so pollinators have access to the blossoms. Research found vine crops in this manner limited damage by squash bugs, squash vine borer, and the cucumber beetles that can infect and kill cucumber plants with bacterial wilt.
If you forget to cover your cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, enlist the help of a naturally occurring soil bacterial called Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk) found in Summit Biological Caterpillar and Webworm (SummitResponsibleSolutions. com). It only kills true caterpillars and webworms and can be applied to edible plants right up to harvest.
A strong blast of water is a great first step in managing mites and aphids. It knocks them off the plant, helping minimize the damage. If needed, apply lightweight horticulture oils, like organic Summit Year-Round Spray Oil, according to label directions. It kills a wide variety of soft-bodied insects in all stages (including eggs) on contact and poses few risks to beneficial insects that land on the treated plant.
Over time these eco-friendly strategies become part of your gardening routine. And the more we work with nature, the better it is for you, your plants, and the environment.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Summit for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
