Last week James and I were visiting some friends of ours, Anita & Rolf Nelson, also in the garden center business. They own Nelson’s Water Gardens in Katy, Texas. Anita reads our blogs and read what we recommended for whitefly.
She shared with me their way of controlling whitefly in the garden, organically. They spread worm castings in late spring at the base of plants that are susceptible to white fly. The digestive system of earthworms produces an enzyme called chitinase, which repels insects. They recommend working into the top few inches of soil and then watering in. Then in the dog days of summer when insects abound, your plants become a repellant to the sucking insects.
Great to know! Next May we’ll post in our monthly to do’s to add worm castings to your soil! Thank you Anita and Rolf!
-Sally
Marilyn says
I can’t seem to get rid of them! They’re everywhere- beddings and lawn.
Linda Price-May says
Where do we get worm castings? Live earthworms don’t appear to like it at my house on the Laguna Madre.