I see "mom" as part of your GW signature, so I am assuming your are indeed someone's mother :-) If so, you might want to reconsider your plan to "nuke" your garden with Orthene. The active ingredient in Orthene is acephate, an organophosphate. Organophosphates are nerve disruptors and can impair brain activity - children, the elderly and pets and other small animals have a much greater sensitivity to these types of chemicals than do adults and their health can be very easily compromised by exposure to them. This is one of the reasons why Diazinon was banned from household use and sale.

FWIW, there are all sorts of less toxic and even organic controls you can employ to rid your garden of insect pests. Not only will these be less harmful to yourself and your family but also far more advantageous to the environment and less broad spectrum. Often when plants are plagued by insect problems it is because they are under stress for other reasons - excessive fertilization, poor soil conditions, insufficient watering or incorrect siting, etc. Addressing and correcting these problems will typically also reduce insect and disease problems as well.

For the sake of your family and your neighborhood, look for alternative solutions to your problems. It's just not worth the risk.

Here is a link that might be useful: organophosphates

Bravo Gardengal48. Like tree topping, blanket pesticide applications are a good way to insure that you will have future problems - the opposite of what was intended. The insects and other invertebrates that feed on the pest insects reproduce more slowly than the pest species, when you kill everything off the controls are removed and the pests come back stronger than before.

One thing I noticed is that you're apparently unsure of what pests you may have. Before selecting any method of control, try to confirm (through reading, a visit to a garden center or consulting with a university extension service) what the problem is. That way, you can target the offender(s) through the most inexpensive and safe (for your plants and family) way to control the problem.

With spider mites, for instance, many broad-spectrum insecticides do a fair to poor job of control. You might be better off with a specific miticide, or even just spraying the undersides of leaves regularly with plain water (spider mites don't like moisture and humidity).

Another thing to think about is whether certain plants are worth the effort of constantly spraying and fussing over. Alternatives may be far less trouble and equally or more ornamental.

Butterfly bushes will quickly outgrow any insect problems they may have at this time of year. Lots of insects are only active for a few weeks out of the growing season. They die, go underground or stop eating so much and plants recover. Don't worry about the butterfly bush.

Thrips are very hard to control. You might consider looking at a different type of rose if thrips are a problem in your area. If you want, there are several I would be happy to try to talk you into planting that would likely be trouble free.

Aphids aren't worth worrying about. I get 'em every year on the roses. They gather on very tender new growth and when the plant slows down as the weather heats up, the aphids go away.

Nuking the garden won't work.

Man, I had no idea. Those of you who have read my other posts know that this is my first backyard and my first introduction to insects, etc. I am still learning. Thank goodness for this forum. Well, I posted to see what the responses would be and I am not disappointed. What if I use that spray soap and spray oil that I have read about?

Incidently, I do have a small child and a very small dog. The last thing I want to do is harm either one of them.

Thanks all.

Spray soap does a good job on aphids and might be helpful on the azalea. I've never used the horticultural oil myself, so I don't know a thing about it.

If this is your first garden, rather than spending a boatload of money on this kind of thing this year, maybe it would be a good idea just to watch how the season plays out and see what kinds of insects cause damage you just can't live with. In some cases, your best answer may be to replace the plant with something that isn't so susceptible to bugs. in the long run, it costs less and you get to enjoy your garden rather than fight with it.

mswmom,
I wonder if you have an MSW. If so, that may account for how undefensive you are about all the advice you were given. I was going to remark on your openness before I looked at your gardenweb name.

REally, you are going to be a good gardener (and a great mom) if you are able to listen and take in advice so well.

I am a MSW! I try to be very open, Idabean. Thank you for the compliment. I really enjoy gardening, but it is hard work! I'm trying to learn ... this forum really helps.

MSW?

MSW----Masters in Social Work? Just a guess.

Since I grow mostly ornamentals I have a lot of choices. I choose not to grow plants that the bugs like to the point I would have to consider using a pesticide on them for all the reasons listed above. I do put up with a little cosmetic damage here and there, but there is no use in growing a plant that is not suited to where I live. One of the reasons to garden is to let nature teach me, instead of me teaching nature. I garden to learn and to see the beauty of nature.

MicroSoft Windows?

Also Municipal Solid Waste, but I guess that's not the one referred to here!

For others, see link

Resin

Here is a link that might be useful: Wikipedia: MSW

You might also want to consider what type of chemicals you are applying to your yard if you are. I would put the health of my child and dog before grass or shrubs.

You've been given some very great advice. Be sure to visit the Pests and Diseases Forum for some identification assistance should you be interested. Knowing just what you have to deal with is an important part of control. It helps take the some of the concern away.

I never use the toxic chemicals and never seem to need to. I keep insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, and Neem oil as my only 'weapons' against the occasional infestation.

Alright, jokesters...mswmom is too busy chasing a kid to have time to add to your knowledge base. MSW is a Master's in Social Work, and to earn one you have to, among other long and arduous academic requirements, be able to listen closely and well.

We are waaaayyy off topic, and it is all my fault.
Some of us have kids and swear off pesticides. Others, like me who are way past using kids as a reason for any kind of behavior good or bad, start keeping bees. (30,000 children in one home.)

I like you, Idabean! I am glad to hear you are keeping bees. I have seen very little bees this season and read that there is a problems with the bees. I just noticed that they seem to be coming back. My five-year-old daughter loves bees.

And, you are right ... it is Master of Social Work.

NO ORTHENE FOR ME!!! :)

>Some of us have kids and swear off pesticidesOthers have kids and swear. Period.

That too, bboy. I didn't think I needed to spell that out! Not infrequently, my "girls' (23,18) come up with some variation of a bodily functioned expletive. I wonder "where they learn that? ....ahem...