I have more problems this year than an entomologist or exterminator would know how to handle. Besides the trouble with the deer, rabbits, earwigs and brown beetles, this past weekend I found what I believe is a leafhopper and some white flies. I've also found my first half dozen or so JB's in the past couple days. Some of my plants look diseased. Could be a virus or something caused by the bugs. I took a bag of leaves showing different characteristics to the Ohio State county extension office yesterday. Some were yellow veined and others were crinkled or had black areas around the edges. The master gardener wasn't available. I hope to hear something by the end of the week. I sprayed some plants with Sevin last Saturday and bought a bottle of Bayer's insect and disease control. I'll hold off on any more spraying until I hear from the ext. office. With our temps in the 90's, spraying isn't recommended.
I had one big bud starting to open. I looked this morning and three JB's had wedged themselves inside and were eating away. I don't think I've had this much trouble combined in the 9 or 10 years I've grown dahlias.
Geof, I wouldn't hesitate to use anything if I thought it would help. With all the work and expense we've put into these plants since digging last fall, it's hard if not impossible for me to even think about idly standing by and seeing things destroyed without using every means at my disposal.
Some of the plants are looking a little better. Some have shiny, almost waxy, dark green leaves that beaded water when I hand watered this morning. I have foliar fed most plants with fish and seaweed fertilizer. I've read this can produce the shiny appearance. I hope those are actually as healthy as they look right now.
