Home gardeners - custodians of the environment

People who have the privilege of owning and tending a piece of land or garden earn with that privilege a significant responsibility. They are, after all, custodians of the environment not only for themselves and their families and friends to enjoy, but also for the generations of people, animals and organisms that follow. Through their gardening practices they have a direct and powerful impact on the future state of the environment. If you are one of these garden guardians, and you’re committed to making environmentally-responsible decisions about how you care for your garden, we salute you for striving to ensure that your gardening legacy is a healthy one.

Commercially available biological controls have become a reality in Europe and other countries; learn more by visiting the website of Syngenta Bioline at www.syngenta-bioline.co.uk Unfortuntely these products are not yet available in South Africa for use in gardens but it will become a reality in the future.

There are many pesticides ( insecticides, fungicides, herbicides), adjuvants, plant foods and fertilizers available for home garden use. This website’s main purpose is to guide you the gardener to solve problems the most friendly way. The only way to do so is by giving maximum information regarding the negatives and positives of garden care products. The Garden Guardian’s guide to environmentally responsible garden care by Johan Gerber contains such information, especially when it comes to the use of pesticides.

Most small home garden pack size chlorpyrifos and various other organophosphate formulations have been voluntarily withdrawn by their suppliers from the shelves for use in the South African home garden since March 2009. This clearly shows that suppliers have become more environmentally-conscious and that South Africa is following the trends set in the European Union, United States and other countries.

GARDENING DIRECTORY

Visit www.syngenta-bioline.co.uk/ICM.htm  to experience the world of beneficial insect predators and parasites used commercially to control problem pests on various crops.

PESTICIDE INFORMATION

Biological controls- Nature's little helpers

Information on various biological controls for use in integrated crop
management to control problem pests on crops ranging from ornamental to fruit and vegetable crops can be found on the Syngenta Bioline website.

Visit www.syngenta-bioline.co.uk/ICM.htm  to experience the world of beneficial insect predators and parasites used commercially in greenhouse and field crop production.

Insecticides (insect control)

Ludwig’s Insect Spray; Pygar Super

Authorised for use in organic agriculture by ECOCERT SA F-32600
Broad spectrum organic insecticide for the control of insects on most edible crops, roses, and ornamentals. NOT suitable for IPM spraying programmes. Biological controls can be released 48 hours after application. Spray will kill most insects on contact.
Contains:
Garlic juice extract, canola oil, natural pyrethrum (pyrethrins)
Main uses and environmental hazard information
Insects:
Ants, aphids, red spider mite, white fly, astylus beetle, chafer beetle, CMR beetle, Flower beetle, American bollworm, thrips, wood-eating termites.
Dosage:
50 to 100 ml per 10 litre water. Higher rate for CMR and Flower beetles.
Crops:
Fruit, vegetables, roses, ornamentals, bulbs, salads, herbs, lawns( whole garden)
Environmental hazard:
Canola oil kills targeted small bodied insects on contact by means of suffocation. Garlic keeps insects away from plants. Pyrethrum has a contact and stomach poison activity of a few hours. Beneficial insects and natural predators can be killed on contact. Toxic to fish, moderately toxic to bees. Very low toxicity towards mammals. No secondary poisoning. Formulations can be phytotoxic to very sensitive plant varieties like maiden hair, normally soft on most plants. Non persistent in the environment. Harvesting of edible crops 48 hours after last application.

Margaret Roberts Organic Insecticide ; Kangar 931

Authorised for use in organic agriculture by ECOCERT SA F-32600
Organic insecticide for the control of small bodied insects. NOT suitable for IPM spraying programmes. Biological controls can only be released after spray has dried. Contact with the spray will kill most small bodied insects.
Contains:
Garlic juice extract and canola oil
Main uses and environmental hazard information
Insects:
Aphids, red spider mite, white fly (should also control insects like mealy bug, scale and Australian bug).
Dosage:
150 to 200 ml per 10 litre water. Use highest rate for scale. Dosage can be increased to 300 ml per 10 litre water as a dormancy spray after pruning in winter for best results.
Crops:
Herbs, vegetables, fruit, salads, roses, ornamentals, bulbs
Environmental hazard:
Canola kills targeted small bodied insects on contact by means of suffocation. Garlic keeps insects away from plants. Low impact on bigger bodied beneficial insects and natural predators.
Harmless to fish, birds, wild life, pets and humans. Never allow oil formulations to form a layer over water surfaces, huge quantities of any oil will cut off oxygen supply to aquatic organisms which can result in harm to aquatic life like frogs etc. No harmful toxic residues for prolonged periods. No secondary poisoning. Formulations can be phytotoxic to sensitive plant varieties at highest dosage rates. Short persistency in the environment. Harvesting of edible crops within 24 hours.

Grovida (Dipel DF) Caterpillar Wise ; Margaret Roberts Biological Caterpillar Insecticide

Authorised for use in organic agriculture by OMRI (organic materials review institute)
Microbial insecticide (biological agent) for the control of leaf-eating caterpillar larvae on various edible crops, ornamentals, roses, bulbs and lawns. Can be used with IPM spraying programmes.
Contains:
Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki
Main uses and environmental hazard information
Insects:
American bollworm, lily borer (amaryllis borer), semi-looper, diamond-back moth caterpillar, orange-dog caterpillar, lawn caterpillar and many more leaf-eating caterpillar species ( Lepidoptera spp.).
Dosage:
5 g per 10 litre water
Crops:
Vegetables, fruit, flowers, bulbs, clivias, lawns, herbs
Environmental hazard:
Targets destructive leaf-eating larvae of Lepidopterous spp. No harmful toxic residues. No secondary poisoning. Harmless to bees, birds, fish, pets, wildlife, beneficial insects and natural predators. Can cause harm to young larvae of butterfly species, has no effect on adults. Avoid spraying onto plants visited by adult butterflies. Harvesting of edible crops direct after application.

Grovida (Vectobac) Mosquito Wise; Margaret Roberts Biological Mosquito Insecticide

Microbial insecticide (biological agent) for the control of mosquito and fungus gnat larvae in their breeding sites.Can be used with IPM spraying programmes.
Contains:
Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis
Main uses and environmental hazard information
Insects:
Mosquitoes and fungus gnat larvae ( also used in Africa for the control of blackfly larvae)
Dosage:
Average 40 g per 10 litre water/ 1000 m•breeding areas.
Crops or area:
Ponds, marsh and wet areas, lawn and potting soil.
Environmental hazard:
Kills larvae of mosquitoes and fungus gnats. No harmful toxic residues. No secondary poisoning. Can be used over breeding areas of mosquitoes, e.g. fish ponds. Harmless to bees, birds, fish, pets, wildlife, most beneficial aquatic insects and natural predators. Does not kill adult mosquitoes, only larvae. Very low dosage.. Non persistent in the environment.

Grovida (Smite) Red Spider Mite Wise; Ludwig’s Rose Spider Mite

Not approved for use in organic farming.
Very pest specific (selective) insecticide/miticide for the control of mite species on various crops. Suitable for use in IPM spraying programmes.
Contains: Etoxazole
Main uses and environmental hazard information
Insects:
Red spider mite, European red mite and bryobia mite
Dosage:
2.5 to 5 ml per 10 litre water
Crops:
Roses, ornamentals, apples, pears and tomatoes
Environmental hazard:
Kills the eggs and juveniles of mite species ONLY. Very pest specific. No harm to natural predators of mites or beneficials. Very low toxicity. Biodegrades, short to medium persistency in the environment. Non phytotoxic to targeted host plants. Secondary poisoning very unlikely. No, or very low toxicity to birds, fish, wild life, pets. Can be used on most ornamental plants, including seedlings.

FUNGICIDES ( Disease control)

Copper Count-N

A copper containing fungicide solution for the control of many diseases on a wide variety of crops. Can be used with IPM spraying programmes if biological controls used are not fungal or bacterial.
Not approved for use in organic farming by all regulatory bodies.
Contains:
Copper ammonium acetate
Main uses and environmental hazard information
Diseases:
Black spot, downy mildew, rust, bacterial blight, bacterial spot, early blight, leaf curl, scab and powdery mildew.
Dosage:
50 ml per 10 litre water
Crops:
Fruit, vegetables, roses
Environmental hazard:
Withholding periods vary from crop to crop, average 3 to 7 to 14 days.
No or low toxiciity towards bees, birds, beneficial insects, wild life, pets. Low toxicity to fish. Very low toxicity towards humans. Acute poisoning very unlikely. No secondary poisoning. Short to medium residual activity.

Margaret Roberts Organic Fungicide ; Kanguard 940

Broad spectrum organic fungicide/bactericide solution for the control of diseases on edible crops, ornamentals, herbs and roses . Authorised for use in organic agriculture by ECOCERT SA F-32600. Can be used with IPM spraying programmes if biological controls used are not fungal or bacterial.
Contains:
Plant organic acids ( activated ascorbic acid main ingredient)
Main uses and environmental hazard information
Diseases:
Registered in RSA for powdery mildew on roses, ornamentals and peas. US (known as Lonlife) and EU uses include bacterial leaf spots, anthracnose, damping-off, downy mildew, botrytis rot and many more diseases. Experimental trials for registration of diseases other than powdery mildew in process. Once efficacy completed, diseases can be added to the label. Consult manufacturer or distributor for more info.
Dosage:
15 to 30 ml per 10 litre water, weekly applications.
Crops:
Roses, ornamentals, peas, tomato , herbs, seedlings
Environmental hazard:
Formulation has a very low oral toxicity towards humans, wild life and pets. No harm to fish, birds, wild life, beneficial insects and predators at recommended dosage rates. No secondary poisoning. Harvesting of edible crops 24 hours after last application.

ADJUVANTS

Ludwig’s Spray Stay
Reg.no L 7106 Act36/47
Organic sticker for pesticide and other foliar sprays. Consult manufacturer regarding IPM use.
Contains:
Pine tree oil (d-l-p menthene)
Main uses and environmental hazard information
Dosage and use:
12.5 ml per 10 litre spray mixture.
Increases the efficacy of pesticides and foliar plant foods. Extend the life of sprays on plant surfaces. One hour dry period needed after spraying with the addition of Spray Stay to diluted spray mixtures.
Crops:
Use with most pesticide sprays on all plants with a waxy and smooth leaf surface.
Environmental hazard:
Harmless to fish, birds, wild life, pets and humans. No harmful toxic residues. No secondary poisoning.

FERTILIZERS

Ludwig’s Vigorosa 5:1:5(25)
Reg. no K 6327 Act 36 of 1947
Ludwig’s Vigorosa is a well balanced organically enriched granular fertilizer. High concentrates might affect microbial controls in the soil used in IPM.
Contains:
All the essential nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur and trace-elements like Iron, Boron, Manganese, Molybdenum, and Zinc). A well-balanced blend of chemical and organic components in one fertilizer.
Main uses and environmental hazard information
Crops and use:
Ludwig’s Vigorosa 5:1:5 (25) is perfect for feeding roses, as well as vegetables, ornamental flowers and shrubs, lawns, groundcovers and container plants Enhances general healthy stem and leaf growth and flowering. Contains a high percentage of carbon in the form of humic acids.
Dosage:
Use 30 g per rose bush or m•lawn. For optimum results feed every 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how hungry your plants are.
Environmental hazard:
Harmless to birds, wild life, pets and humans at recommended application rates. No harmful toxic residues. Low toxicity towards fish life, do not use as aquatic fertilizer. No secondary poisoning.

Fertilizers

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