I am amazed at your persistence. Your method works but is very work intensive. There are herbicides designed to work in an aquatic setting but there are different laws in different states when it comes to using them. Check with your local Co-operative Extention Service.

Thank you! Regarding the agastache, I started it from a packet of seeds that were supposed to be Purple Pygmy, but it isn't. I'm thinking it's rupestris, Sunset Hyssop, but I'm not positive. I had quite a few seeds germinate, and some of the seedlings grew, but only two have grown into mature plants. The other one is in another bed. The lobelia are growing in a spot where water catches whenever we get a heavy rain, and they love it so much. The red has spread by seed all over, the blue was new last year, so hasn't spread as much, and the purple is sterile (I'm guessing, never had a seed pod on it with seeds inside). I'm being optimistic about this now that I know I'll have more space to expand this garden much bigger than it already is. When my boyfriend first told me the idea of the garage, I was not pleased. But now, I see potential. I just have lots of work ahead of me. :) Karen

I got some Bayer Rose and Flower Insect killer pre-mixed in a spray bottle, says it has some residual effect, but hate to use it unless they get really bad again, wouldn't have let 4 get away this morning, one pair mating on my yellow coreopsis, another pair doing the same I got. Overcast and chilly, but still quite a few to pick in front, many sitting on leaves rather than blooms, found a couple in blooms but not like last night. If enough people weigh in and convince me BBB really works and isn't too expensive, especially in my zone, I'm open to trying it. The ones that get buried deep in blooms, sometimes as many as five, I have to spread open enough to hit them with spray no matter what I use or do I? I will be sooooo glad when this is over for the season. Despite my vigilance and picking 3X and more a day, I see damage since last picking that was not there then. So far it sounds like for some, BBB has some residual effect but not for long. 4 weeks tomorrow. The person who said they use insecticide and anti-fungal. What is it, how well does it work and for how long? Had a long talk with the master gardener at the ext ofc yesterday, wanted to apprise him of the work at the U of Mich, hadn't heard about it. He said he uses 24 oz cottage cheese containers, grows roses, raspberries and grapes plus damaging his birch as well this year, counted 10,000 one year. OMG. I've had nowhere near that even with traps. He says he just goes out early am and late evening, can't get them at 11-ish and 3, I can and do. Some do get away, yes. He thinks traps just draw more in and don't get them all anyway. I'm not convinced either way, bait may be weakening in my traps or had to move them where there is little sun. I bagged a lot where they were before but much more damage to nearby plants. He also uses Sevin even on roses but not on larger trees and has to be careful with his fruit crops. I don't know about Sevin on roses. I don't count, just guesstimate. Many more in front facing south than in the back now but still have to pick one row of roses and check all over there, too, just watch for signs elsewhere and eyeball stuff quickly.

Hi Debbie, I know it is very difficult to ask some one to id a fig without knowing the leaf pattern and fig color, size and color. I guess I am just irritated because last year this tree dropped all its fruit and I wasted another year babying it without knowing what it is. Last year I did not pinch it. This year I am pinching and I'm starting to see some branching lower. I can not ship this tree out. It's too large. It's currently over 5 foot and in a 20 gallon containter. I may give it and plant it in my brother in-law's yard. He loves figs but don't know the problem I've had with it. Since he broke my riding mower 5 years ago and totally disassembled it without repairing it, I think this may be payback... I mean the perfect gift for him. Hehehe Now, I will have egg on my face if that tree is planted and starts producing some awesome fruit! Oh well,I may just plant it in my yard and let the bird and squirrels have it! cheers, Dennis