Hort Shorts
- Try to identify pest damage or disease before reaching for a pesticide that may do nothing to solve the problem. A wonderful online resource for troubleshooting is the Plant Pest Handbook, which you can view free at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Web site www.ct.gov/caes/cwp/view.asp?a=2823&q=378182. With its convenient A–Z search feature, you can learn how to diagnose the woes of plants from azaleas to zinnias.
- Liquid laundry detergent bottles make inexpensive and functional watering cans. Using an electric drill with a small bit, carefully drill enough holes in the cap to create the degree of “sprinkle flow” you like. Remember to rinse containers well before the first use.