pests Bugs, Birds, Mammals and More Bugs

Now that the rains have come and it's warming up in Queensland, I was wondering what everyone is doing to keep pests away.
I am really struggling to keep the aphids, thrips, spider mites, birds, possums, bush turkeys and who knows what else, away from my plants.
I'm going through pyrethrum, garlic and wire like there's no tomorrow but they're still getting attacked. The pyrethrum works almost instantly but it's seems to be a never ending bug cycle.

Bush turkeys?

Flakes said:

Bush turkeys?

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HAHA, classic. About as useful too http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Brush-turkey

Whilst they have the same conservation status as humans, they are protected. Something about them being heritage listed.

For bugs I have been using Neem Oil and Diatomaceous earth(human grade) with success. The Neem does an initial kill and the Diatomaceous earth keeps them off. Since I live in a farming area, I get the Diatomaceous at a local animal feed store. We also put it in the horses food.

We also have tons of birds, possum, and turkeys, but I've never had a problem with them getting in my garden. Wild pigs and deer were my biggest problem, but pissing around the yard took care of that. The possums prefer to knock over my trash can and eat garbage. I have recently been using pepper-powder to keep the possums out of the trash.

I've heard that fake owls or fake snakes work for keeping birds and squirels away.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth

Diatomite is also used as an insecticide, due to its physico-sorptive properties. The fine powder absorbs lipids from the waxy outer layer of insects' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate[7]. Arthropods die as a result of the water pressure deficiency, based on Fick's law of diffusion.

Florida_country_boy said:

I've heard that fake owls or fake snakes work for keeping birds and squirels away.

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We have lots of real snakes and owls, so I don't think that's scaring them away (does a good job on the human visitors tho). Most are only pythons so they're not too bad.
Diatomite hey, might have to give it a go. I might even have to buy some predators for the bugs but they're expensive. I'll try and lure them first I think.

Spider mites actually thrive if you use some poisons.
Don't use it if you have them.

Link:

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7405.html

Quote:

Chemicals
Spider mites frequently become a problem after the application of insecticides. Such outbreaks are commonly a result of the insecticide killing off the natural enemies of the mites, but also occur when certain insecticides stimulate mite reproduction. For example, spider mites exposed to carbaryl (Sevin) in the laboratory have been shown to reproduce faster than untreated populations. Carbaryl, some organophosphates, and some pyrethroids apparently also favor spider mites by increasing the level of nitrogen in leaves. Insecticides applied during hot weather usually appear to have the greatest effect on mites, causing dramatic outbreaks within a few days.

If a treatment for mites is necessary, use selective materials, preferably insecticidal soap or insecticidal oil. Petroleum-based horticultural oils or neem oils are both acceptable. Do not use soaps or oils on water-stressed plants or when temperatures exceed 90°F. These materials may be phytotoxic to some plants, so check labels and/or test them out on a portion of the foliage several days before applying a full treatment. Oils and soaps must contact mites to kill them so excellent coverage, especially on the undersides of leaves, is essential and repeat applications may be required. Sulfur dust or spray can be used on some vegetables, but will burn cucurbits. Do not use sulfur dust if temperatures exceed 90°F and do not apply sulfur within 30 days of an oil spray. Sulfur dusts are skin irritants and eye and respiratory hazards. Always wear appropriate protective clothing.

Spider mites killed my whole garden this year.
Nothing worked-Soap,Neem,Malathion,Bayer Systemis(and 2 other poisons by their Co.)

Only a few things slowed them down a tiny bit.
Once the temps. got 80 degrees+ there was no winning the war.
Bennificials just end up dead in the mites webs...Lacewings,Ladybugs(even 1 that only eats mites.Didn't try the mites that only eat mites-temps were too hot for them at the time.
Might get some of them this spring...to try and make sure the mites are gone.
Miticides can't be used on food products,at least the few I found at the nursery.

I have the fertile females(red) on my plants now waiting for warm weather.
38 dgree nights didn't faze them with rain either.

I gotta find something to make sure my grow area is completely clear of mites before I can start anything.
Suckers are hard to deal with.

Mites suck





Before/early infestation

I feel your pain.... my last season was a complete and utter disaster due to possums and mites.

This season I used Rogor to control my mites and it worked like a charm. I sprayed all plants only once about a month ago and so far so good.... not a single sign of them (knock on wood).

As for possums, NOTHING works! The only way to stop the rotten little shits is to either cage your plants or bring them in at night. If you have the option, growing at an alternate possum-less location works too (like I am doing this season)

I think I'm gonna buy a trap for the possums and relocate them a couple miles down the road.

Man that sucks, at least mine aren't that bad yet. Had pretty good success using pyrethrum, and moving the plants well away from any vegetation until they recovered.