Taking Care of 'Pillars

Butterflies are a delight to see in our gardens. They help pollinate plants and they're quite beautiful. Caterpillars, however, can become quite a nuisance. Here are some pet and environment safe ways to send those 'pillars packing.

• Get a bird house and a bird bath - These natural predators will help keep the population down
• Certain caterpillars and other bugs are repelled by certain plants. Look in a companion planting guide to find out which plants are the best companions for what you want to grow (try chives).
• Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) is a safe, natural pesticide. It is a bacteria that infects caterpillar stomachs. It is safe for bees and other insects, so you don't have to worry about harming other wildlife. You can find it in most gardening stores under the names Dipel, Biotrol, or Thuricide.
• Take them out/off by hand. You can also kill them by hand, or collect them in a container (with lid) and move them to a place where they can live without your tomatoes, cucumbers, or other foods in their mouths. Maybe there is a public butterfly garden in your area!

Planting Tomatoes? Don't Forget the Basil and Parsley!

Planting basil and parsley with your tomatoes isn't just for eating. They help each other grow!

Companion planting is a great way to help your garden help itself--that means less work on your part and more reward.

Today, we'll look at three plants that are great together.

If tomatoes are your pride, then you'll definitely want to plant basil nearby. Basil helps tomatoes repel both insects and disease--in addition to aiding in growth and flavor (before and after you cook them!). Parsley will also add to tomato growth and hardiness.


Basil also repels mosquitoes and flies (including fruit flies).
Parsley also benefits asparagus (another good companion plant for tomatoes) and roses (against rose beetles).

from onlyfoods.net

from ghorganics.com

from tulsamastergardeners.com