Watering time is good inspection time

Steve Kawaratani

“The majority of water pollutants are invisible.”

-- CATHARINE COOPER

“There must be 50 ways to kill a snail.”

-- WITH APOLOGIES TO PAUL SIMON

June’s continuing, mixed weather challenges a gardener’s

horticultural skill and patience. The combination of morning drizzle

and afternoon sun fosters snails and slugs, foliage eating

caterpillars, powdery mildew and crabgrass. In addition to those

usual suspects, blazing sunlight can cause wilting, leaf sunscald and

gardener’s sunburn, particularly to unprotected skin.

The cloudy, cooler mornings have a plus side, many spring bloomers

have displayed a prolonged flowering period. Native sages are

blooming later, while the jacaranda remains regal among flowering

trees. Warmer afternoons have encouraged Catharine’s tomatoes to grow

to unprecedented heights and set fruit. Soon, my father’s legacy of

homegrown tomatoes will come to fruition once again.

Timed, automatic irrigation can be problematic this time of the

year. The sprinkler clock has no idea if the clouds or the sun have

made an appearance on a given day. Ideally, watering should be

untaken on an “as needed” basis, rather than scheduled on a recurring

cycle. I avoid the dilemma of how and when to time the automatic

sprinklers, by hand watering when my plants require water.

Hand watering plants is not only practical for garden plants;

gardeners may also find it calming. I often spend watering time

musing about friendship and travel, and whether the house down the

street might be too large. I also inspect each plant, looking for

signs of insects or disease. Then again, I do so because I have

always enjoyed playing doctor.

Leaf appearance can often reveal the condition of a particular

plant. Jagged holes on leaf edges may signify the presence of snails

or slugs. Certainly, slime trails would confirm their presence with

certainty. Numerous smaller holes throughout the leaf would likely

indicate worm damage, particularly on susceptible plants like roses

and geraniums.

Once a symptom has been recognized and acknowledged, the

“evil-doer” must be identified correctly, whether, worm, snail, aphid

or other. The experienced gardener can then determine the proper

course of action. Beginners should rely on help from their local

nursery. Often, simple extraction works fine, particularly in the

case of larger pests like tomato hornworms or snails. When numerous,

smaller pests are involved, such as a colony of aphids or mealybugs,

bring out the hose and attempt to wash them away.

If the problem persists, consider the use of products like

horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Only if this course of action

fails, should stronger pesticides be considered.

A pest free garden is neither practical nor safe. Who would want

to live in a toxic, waste dump that won’t support life? Accept a

little damage as nature’s way of displaying the variety of life in a

garden ... from the humble worm to the most enslaved of all, the

garden fanatic. See you next time.

* STEVE KAWARATANI is the owner of Landscapes by Laguna Nursery,

1540 S. Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. A “local” guy, he makes his

home with wife, Catharine Cooper, an artist and writer, and their

three cats. He can be reached at (949) 497-2438, or by e-mail at

landscapes@ln.coxatwork.com.