Borers - Garden Pests

Borers of many kinds 20 betray their presence in hollyhock, dahlia, squash and other plant stems by  droppings (which suggest sawdust) on the ground  outside the entrance to their burrows. When these burrows are not plugged up but are open the worms  may be killed without damage to the plants by pushing a flexible wire through the entrance hole, then up  and down inside the burrow. When this is done  quickly enough the worm may be killed. But to make  assurance doubly sure fill the cavity by means of a  medicine dropper with a charge of Black Leaf Forty diluted according to manufacturers' directions. 

Should the hole be too small to admit the nozzle of the dropper, slit the stem up and down with a razor  blade and after the application of the poison place a  thin wood splint 4" or 5" long over the wound and,  starting at the top, bind it snugly to the stalk with  tire tape so as completely to cover the wounded area.  When the wound has healed (in a few days) the tape  must be cut down the splint side and removed. Otherwise growth might cause a girdle at the constricted  point and the plant might suffer. Adapted from an article by Carroll Bill in Horticulture. 

Copyright Information: Gardening Short Cuts

See Also: Garden Pests