Kelli Meyer

Hello! I'm still new to all of this (everything!). Looking for help with an aphid infestation.

We have an aggressive aphid problem on our mature plum tree and now my potted dill, and I'm assuming there are more to come for my other plants. I found the aphids after noticing the dill plant looked a little unhealthy, and I noticed it was covered in ants (I'm guessing they are herding the aphids). We are in a large grassy area, surrounded by other grassy properties in the high desert of Central Oregon. The dill is in a pot right next to some yarrow, cilantro and parsley (but nothing is flowering yet). The plum tree has plenty of leaf curl where the aphids are hiding.

I've looked around and have found that green lacewing larvae are recommended predators for aphid problems. Is it "ok" to order these online, or does that open up a can of worms for other problems by introducing a new bug population artificially like that?

I know ladybugs also control aphids, but I really don't think I have never seen a single one on our property. I'm adding more and more flowering plants every year but there is still much to be done.

Thank you for your thoughts!

Thanks for your reassurance! I will poke some holes and just get on with it. Thank you!

Hello! Very new to all gardening in general and had recently thought I came up with a pretty great idea, but now I'm not so sure.

My husband and I are setting up some raised beds in our backyard. We shaved off the grass that was in the area before, stapled wire mesh to the bottom of the boxes (for critters). Then nailed some 2x4's to the bottom so that we could move the boxes after they've already been filled. I put a layer of CARDBOARD on the bottom of the box before filling with soil.

This all worked great, until I started hosing down the soil and the thing took a while to drain. My husband is convinced the box will become a soggy bathtub every time we water. I might try watering it again tomorrow to see if it will drain better after being saturated with water.

I've seen the cardboard thing so many times online, I was sure it would work ok. Does anyone have experience with drainage problems using cardboard in their raised beds? Should I try to get underneath and poke some holes or should I scrap this whole idea? I really don't want to use landscape fabric, which is what he thinks we need to use.

Thank you for your advice!