The Use of Ortho in Flower Beds for Bugs

Flower, Fruit and Vegetable Insect Killer Sprays

• Ortho's Flower, Fruit & Vegetable insect killer sprays kill bugs on flowers, fruits, vegetables and shrubs. These are good products to use if you have both flowers and vegetables in your garden. These sprays kill Japanese beetles, whiteflies, thrips, caterpillars and aphids among others. The two varieties of this spray are essentially the same, except that the "Ready-to-Use" version can be applied directly from the bottle while the "Ready-Spray" version must be attached to a garden hose. To apply, spray the "Ready-to-Use" product onto leaf surfaces where pests are likely to flourish, including undersides of leaves, petals and stems, from a distance of 8 to 12 inches. To use the "Ready-Spray" version, attach the bottle's sprayer to your garden hose, turn on the water, turn on the product's nozzle and spray flowers from the same distance, making sure to fully wet all surfaces. Reapply the product to flowers after seven days, up to five times per growing season.

Rose and Flower Insect Killer

• Ortho's Rose and Flower insect killer spray has the same active ingredient as the Flower, Fruit & Vegetable insect killer spray and comes in a ready-to-use bottle. Apply it in the same manner and at the same interval as the Ready-to-Use Flower, Fruit and Vegetable spray. It can protect flowers for up to four weeks and can be applied up to five times per season.

Bug-B-Gon MAX Garden Insect Killer Dust

• Ortho's Bug-B-Gon MAX garden insect killer dust can be used on fruits, vegetables and in ornamental beds, so this is a good multipurpose product. When used on flowers, it controls the Japanese beetle, omnivorous leafroller, lygus bug, cabbage looper, asparagus beetles and beet armyworm. The powder can be applied directly from the bottle. To apply, wear gloves and stand at a 12-inch distance from the flower. Lightly squeeze the bottle while holding it at an angle. Apply a thin layer of dust to all leaf surfaces including the undersides. Depending on the kind of plant you apply the dust to, application timing varies, but the product typically lasts around two weeks.

Bug-Geta Plus Snail, Slug and Insect Killer

• Bug-Geta Plus snail, slug and insect killer is a granular product that controls a wide range of pests, including snails, slugs, cutworms, earwigs, armyworms, crickets, grasshoppers and sowbugs. To apply, water your flower bed and then scatter granules evenly by hand or with a small spreader. Avoid allowing granules to pile up and make sure they remain on the surface of the soil, not on flowers' petals or leaves. Water the area lightly after application and reapply every two weeks.

Considerations

• Make sure you have properly identified the insect at hand and chosen a product that is safe for your flowers and designed to control that insect. Read and follow all labels carefully. If the product is swallowed, call your poison control center immediately as it can be extremely dangerous to children and pets. Always wear proper skin and eye protection when using chemicals in your garden.