| (1)I have a tomato vine that has a lot of snails and something eating the leaves. What can I do that is organic to correct the problem? (2) My grapefruit tree appears to be dying. There is sap coming from the base of the tree and the tree is not vibrant - it is losing its leaves. It is very old. Would you recommend a tree doctor in the Los Angeles area. |
| For snails on your tomato: These mollusks are found throughout North America, particularly in moist, temperate climates. Snails require calcium for their shells, so are less common in areas where this mineral is lacking. Slugs are gray to black or brown and soft-bodied, often with soft hump in center; snails have a hard calcium shell. Both snails and slugs feast on just about any plant, especially young tender transplants, leafy vegetables, and succulent plant parts. Their presence is indicated by large irregularly shaped holes in the leaves of plants and shiny slime trails. They are active mostly at night and in wet weather. Slugs and snails are very prolific; individuals of some species lay up to 500 eggs per year. Prevention and Control Make plants less accessible by reducing daytime hiding places in the garden. Handpick and destroy slugs and snails as you encounter them; you can capture more by "hunting" at night. Fill shallow containers with beer and sink them into the soil to trap slugs and snails. Surround plants with copper barrier strips -- they give slugs a slight shock on contact. Poisonous iron phosphate baits are a safe alternative to other pesticides. Decollate snails prey upon other species of snail and slug, as do toads. For your grapefruit tree: It sounds like it may be a disease called phytophthora. Here's a link to information and a photo. If that doesn't seem like your tree's problem, please send another email with more detail. Unfortunately, we are not able to recommend anyone. You might check with your local U of California Cooperative Extension office. They may or may not be able to recommend professionals. Good luck! http://www.garden.org/regional... |
