Kirby speaks with BDN about solutions to garden pests
Clay Kirby, an insect specialist with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, told the Bangor Daily News that some garden pests, including flea beetles, are ”waiting for you to plant your seeds and put those seedlings out.” To minimize damage without using pesticides, Kirby said it’s necessary to “bring in a number of tactics to have an overall positive effect… All of the approaches should be regarded as fitting into an overall battle plan. There is no silver bullet,” he said. Row covers and trap crops are two options, says Kirby, who adds that he picks them off plants and puts them into a coffee can of soapy water. “After a rough day at the lab, it’s therapeutic,” he said.