Aphids - These insects are small and round in shape. They like to feed on new growth. A
do the job.
Black Spot - These will have a yellow halo on roses. The affected leaves will usually drop.
Water in the early morning will allow the foliage to dry and control the fungus. During our
raining season you may need to use a fungicide.
Borers - These insects are often found boring into the wood of your plants. Often they
come because the plant is having a bigger issue. Check to see if the plant is weakening by
inspecting the trunk of the tree for and tacky sap or sawdust around the plant or branches.
If these pests seem to be out of control please check with us for a spray. If they still persist
please check with a specialist. Severe damage may make it necessary to remove the plant.
Brown Patch - This can usually be controlled by a fungicide. It looks like large brown or
black circular areas. Often comes during are moist rainy months. This can also be
controlled by a fungicide.
Caterpillars - We receive calls about these creatures all the time. It is really best if they are
removed by hand and destroyed as they like to feed on the leaves of you plants. They are
one of the stages of butterflies and moths. They are very interesting to our garden and
encourage their development. If you do not want to kill them or are not sure what the
creature is... You can always bring it into us! Plants can also be treated with a natural
insecticide.
Chinch Bugs - These are very common in one of my favorite Central Florida grasses, St
Augustine. They cause those horrible yellow spots in your yard that just seem to get bigger
and bigger. And will continue until treated. Full grown they are only about 1/4 inch big.
Usually black and white in color and they do have wings. The insects can usually be found
on the edge of the green and yellow. Treat with an insecticide that is for chinch bugs and
lawns.
Cutworms - They do as they are named. They chew through the stems of your plants near
the ground and are not really picky to what they eat. Make sure when preparing a bead for
new plantings they are not present. If so use a general insecticide labeled for preplanting
and treat the soil.
Dollar spots - This is a lawn fungus that fertilizer can usually control.
Garden Fleahoppers - This is a very very tiny black insect that looks much like a Flea.
They suck the juices from herbs, vegetables and flowering plants. Use an insecticide
labeled for sucking insects for the plant infected.
Grasshopper - Seek and destroy is the usual rule of thumb. Otherwise, you can use an
insecticide for chewing pest.
Grubs - These white fat worm like insects are the immature beetles. They love to feed on
lawns and can be a big problem. Just like Brown patch or Chinch bugs, there will be a yellow
patch. To detect these bugs dig up the portion of the lawn infected. If it is Grubs the lawn
will usually lift. To control them apply a granular insecticide to the lawn. It may have to be
washed through. Read the instructions carefully.
Lawn Caterpillars - The grass will look like it has been mowed very closely, however, when
looked at it has more-like, been chewed. Always try something natural first then you can
move to a synthetic method. After treated keep your lawn moist in the infected area for
regrowth.
Leaf spots - This is fungus on the leaves. It can be yellow or brown and targets the older
leaves on a plant. Depending on the plant type you will need to either use a Copper
Fungicide or Synthetic.
Leaf Miners - This is a moth or fly that tunnel in your leaves during the caterpillar stage.
You may use a properly labeled insecticide, however putting flytape near the plant is always
effective.
Mealybugs - Act and look much like Aphids and are treated much in the same way. Use a
soapy solutions to wash them off or use a natural insecticide. Some choose to use a cotton
swab and dab rubbing alcohol on them.
Mites - This is an insect that can be found on many houseplants and also in warm weather.
Damaged leaves can be yellowish and also suck the juice from a plant. They can often be
found under the leaf if you can see them. They are so small you may need a magnifying
glass. They usually make webs in the leaves and can be orange or clear. A soapy water
mixture not used in daylight will usually control them. They can also be washed off with a
heavy stream of water.
Mole Crickets - Are very common and in most lawns. The eggs usually start hatching in
May. They are pretty easy to flush out of your lawn and detect. Take a tablespoon of mild
dish washing liquid to about a gallon and a half of water. When you poor it onto your lawn
the crickets should rise to the surface in a few minutes. If more than two crickets come up to
the surface. You should then treat your lawn. They sell a poison the crickets eat at night. It
is good to wait after a rain. Follow instructions on container.
Mildew - This is a disease that may appear in your landscape. If you see a white covering
you may want to pretreat and get rid of this problem before planting any new foliage. It is
going to look like a power, this is a fungus and can be treated with copper fungicide.
Nematodes (Root Knot) - This is a round worm that appears in many gardens. It is
microscopic and can really affect the health of you plants.
Palmetto Bug - (weevil) This beetle likes feed on most palms here in Florida. Contact your
extension service for treatment. Scales
Scale - These insects can come in a variety of colors. Most are yellow or dark in color and
look like wax. When you remove the scale part with your fingernail or toothpick, there will be
and insect underneath. You can user a soapy water mixture to clean the plant. However,
this may take a few applications. Applying Nem Oil in the winter will help reduce your
chances of getting scale or mold. This should be applied when the temperature is above 42
yet not above 82.
Snails or Slugs - If you see holes on the leaves of your plants or vegetables it is most
likely snails... Or slugs. They are best if hand picked and destroyed. The best way also is to
get them drunk by placing a plate of beer next to the plant they are feeding on. There is
also slug and snail bate that can be purchased.
Thrips - This is usually detected when the flowers on you plants are not opening correctly.
If you open the petals you can usually find theses Thrips. They do make insecticides that
control them. Follow the instructions on the packaging.
Whiteflies - This is the most common problem I hear at the Garden Center. Especially with
indoor plants potted with cheap soil. They can be treated with a soapy water. Continue the
treatment until they are gone.
do the job.
Black Spot - These will have a yellow halo on roses. The affected leaves will usually drop.
Water in the early morning will allow the foliage to dry and control the fungus. During our
raining season you may need to use a fungicide.
Borers - These insects are often found boring into the wood of your plants. Often they
come because the plant is having a bigger issue. Check to see if the plant is weakening by
inspecting the trunk of the tree for and tacky sap or sawdust around the plant or branches.
If these pests seem to be out of control please check with us for a spray. If they still persist
please check with a specialist. Severe damage may make it necessary to remove the plant.
Brown Patch - This can usually be controlled by a fungicide. It looks like large brown or
black circular areas. Often comes during are moist rainy months. This can also be
controlled by a fungicide.
Caterpillars - We receive calls about these creatures all the time. It is really best if they are
removed by hand and destroyed as they like to feed on the leaves of you plants. They are
one of the stages of butterflies and moths. They are very interesting to our garden and
encourage their development. If you do not want to kill them or are not sure what the
creature is... You can always bring it into us! Plants can also be treated with a natural
insecticide.
Chinch Bugs - These are very common in one of my favorite Central Florida grasses, St
Augustine. They cause those horrible yellow spots in your yard that just seem to get bigger
and bigger. And will continue until treated. Full grown they are only about 1/4 inch big.
Usually black and white in color and they do have wings. The insects can usually be found
on the edge of the green and yellow. Treat with an insecticide that is for chinch bugs and
lawns.
Cutworms - They do as they are named. They chew through the stems of your plants near
the ground and are not really picky to what they eat. Make sure when preparing a bead for
new plantings they are not present. If so use a general insecticide labeled for preplanting
and treat the soil.
Dollar spots - This is a lawn fungus that fertilizer can usually control.
Garden Fleahoppers - This is a very very tiny black insect that looks much like a Flea.
They suck the juices from herbs, vegetables and flowering plants. Use an insecticide
labeled for sucking insects for the plant infected.
Grasshopper - Seek and destroy is the usual rule of thumb. Otherwise, you can use an
insecticide for chewing pest.
Grubs - These white fat worm like insects are the immature beetles. They love to feed on
lawns and can be a big problem. Just like Brown patch or Chinch bugs, there will be a yellow
patch. To detect these bugs dig up the portion of the lawn infected. If it is Grubs the lawn
will usually lift. To control them apply a granular insecticide to the lawn. It may have to be
washed through. Read the instructions carefully.
Lawn Caterpillars - The grass will look like it has been mowed very closely, however, when
looked at it has more-like, been chewed. Always try something natural first then you can
move to a synthetic method. After treated keep your lawn moist in the infected area for
regrowth.
Leaf spots - This is fungus on the leaves. It can be yellow or brown and targets the older
leaves on a plant. Depending on the plant type you will need to either use a Copper
Fungicide or Synthetic.
Leaf Miners - This is a moth or fly that tunnel in your leaves during the caterpillar stage.
You may use a properly labeled insecticide, however putting flytape near the plant is always
effective.
Mealybugs - Act and look much like Aphids and are treated much in the same way. Use a
soapy solutions to wash them off or use a natural insecticide. Some choose to use a cotton
swab and dab rubbing alcohol on them.
Mites - This is an insect that can be found on many houseplants and also in warm weather.
Damaged leaves can be yellowish and also suck the juice from a plant. They can often be
found under the leaf if you can see them. They are so small you may need a magnifying
glass. They usually make webs in the leaves and can be orange or clear. A soapy water
mixture not used in daylight will usually control them. They can also be washed off with a
heavy stream of water.
Mole Crickets - Are very common and in most lawns. The eggs usually start hatching in
May. They are pretty easy to flush out of your lawn and detect. Take a tablespoon of mild
dish washing liquid to about a gallon and a half of water. When you poor it onto your lawn
the crickets should rise to the surface in a few minutes. If more than two crickets come up to
the surface. You should then treat your lawn. They sell a poison the crickets eat at night. It
is good to wait after a rain. Follow instructions on container.
Mildew - This is a disease that may appear in your landscape. If you see a white covering
you may want to pretreat and get rid of this problem before planting any new foliage. It is
going to look like a power, this is a fungus and can be treated with copper fungicide.
Nematodes (Root Knot) - This is a round worm that appears in many gardens. It is
microscopic and can really affect the health of you plants.
Palmetto Bug - (weevil) This beetle likes feed on most palms here in Florida. Contact your
extension service for treatment. Scales
Scale - These insects can come in a variety of colors. Most are yellow or dark in color and
look like wax. When you remove the scale part with your fingernail or toothpick, there will be
and insect underneath. You can user a soapy water mixture to clean the plant. However,
this may take a few applications. Applying Nem Oil in the winter will help reduce your
chances of getting scale or mold. This should be applied when the temperature is above 42
yet not above 82.
Snails or Slugs - If you see holes on the leaves of your plants or vegetables it is most
likely snails... Or slugs. They are best if hand picked and destroyed. The best way also is to
get them drunk by placing a plate of beer next to the plant they are feeding on. There is
also slug and snail bate that can be purchased.
Thrips - This is usually detected when the flowers on you plants are not opening correctly.
If you open the petals you can usually find theses Thrips. They do make insecticides that
control them. Follow the instructions on the packaging.
Whiteflies - This is the most common problem I hear at the Garden Center. Especially with
indoor plants potted with cheap soil. They can be treated with a soapy water. Continue the
treatment until they are gone.
Any photos of pests to be placed on
DondroGardens.com. If you have any
pictures that you would like to submit
please email them with a short note
stating that we can use them on the
site and you have the rights to them.
Thank you!
Email to Tiffany@dondrogardens.com
DondroGardens.com. If you have any
pictures that you would like to submit
please email them with a short note
stating that we can use them on the
site and you have the rights to them.
Thank you!
Email to Tiffany@dondrogardens.com
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