Had a huge problem with stink bugs and the giant green caterpillars this year. How do you fight them?
Those stink bugs - I used diatomaceous earth last year sprinkled some on the soil and mixed it up and sprayed on and under the leaves.
Hornworms don’t strike till around this time, and usually only one or two so I pick them off and cut them in two with the trimmers.
I have also squashed the stink bugs, but they give me the creeps, so I really don’t like to do that.
I think that the homemade pepper spray would work on them, but I was too lazy to make a batch.
Just take some garlic and smash it, chop up an onion never mind about peeling off the husks and put them in a quart jar, put in some cayenne pepper and fill with boiling water. I put a metal spoon in the jar so that it won’t crack. Put a lid or dish on to cover and let it sit 24 hrs.
Then strain through a dish cloth into the srayer. A drop of dish washing liquid or oil, shake it up and you are good to go. Don’t spray when the bees are out. It is lethal.
The first batch I made, a bug ran across the basement, and I squirted him. He immediately rolled over on his back and 30 seconds later ceased all movement - dead as a doornail. I couldn’t believe it. No more insecticides needed here. LOL