It’s National Strawberry month – get ready to celebrate with some strawberry shortcake! One of the delights of spring is filling a bowl with vibrant red, juicy strawberries from the garden. These easy to grow delicious fruits can sometimes be bothered by pests, though most are easy to manage. As fruit develops, watch for signs of aphids, leaf-rolling caterpillars, and snails.
- Aphids – knock them off with a blast of water
- Leaf-rolling caterpillars – pick them off and dispose
- Slugs and snails – pick off in early morning and/or use copper around the perimeter of bed
And if earwigs are the problem, learn some easy ways to trap them.
Haven’t started growing them yet? Check out this information about good varieties for Marin, and their planting and care requirements.