WSU Extension Q&A: Tips to reduce mosquito habitat
Q. What should I do to reduce mosquito habitat around the farm?
A. Thoroughly clean stock tanks at least once a week. Fill in or drain seepage areas, ponds and puddles in corrals, pastures and other areas around the farm. This may involve checking and repairing leaky faucets, pipes and irrigation systems. Remove or frequently empty any containers that accumulate water, including discarded tires. If old tires are used around sprinkler heads to protect them from damage, drill holes in them so they can’t collect water. In addition, avoid over watering your pasture to prevent standing water puddles.
Q. I have a backpack sprayer I use to treat my weeds. How much chemical do I put in the sprayer?
A. Make sure it is calibrated correctly. Watch this video to see how to do it properly and quickly. Then, read the label and calculate the amount of product based on your calibration. Lastly, consider buying a constant flow valve’ to control your pressure and get a more even spray pattern and reliable output.
Q. I have a bet with my gardening friend. I say all aphids are green, and she says they come in different colors. Which of us is right?
A. She is correct. There are a variety of aphids, some green, but there are others that are black, gray or rosy-purple. They also come in different sizes. Some of the biggest in our area are the cinara aphids that attack needles on evergreens like pine, spruce and fir. They are black and .125- to .25-inch in length. Another big aphid is the giant willow aphid that attacks willows. It is grayish brown and a little smaller than .25-inch in length.
Q. I was driving north of Pasco recently and noticed a lot of potato fields. What happens to all of the potatoes grown in Washington?
A. Potatoes grown in Washington are sold to many markets and make numerous products. The majority are grown under contract for processing companies to make frozen potato products such as french fries, tater tots, hash browns and other similar items. Washington-grown potatoes are also used to make dry flakes, and of course, sold in grocery stores as fresh produce.
Questions should be called in to the WSU Extension offices in Kennewick at 509-735-3551 or Pasco at 509-545-3511.
This story was originally published June 12, 2016 at 6:42 AM with the headline "WSU Extension Q&A: Tips to reduce mosquito habitat."