http://greenmethods.com/site Biological Pest Control and Integrated Pest Management Tue, 13 May 2008 04:21:36 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en http://greenmethods.com/site/weblog/2008/05/more-controls-for-pest-nematodes/ This is a practitioner interview with Aimee Andersen. Aimee has 21 years of research greenhouse experience at Cornell University. She enjoys learning about and using biocontrols. She also taught an IPM internship for Cornell students for a couple of years. Currently she is the Safety, Health and Environmental Management Coordinator for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Greenhouses.]]> http://greenmethods.com/site/weblog/2008/05/practitioner-interview-aimee-andersen/ Green, green, everywhere it's green. That seems to be a big focus in 2008, green power, green cars, green computing. It amuses us in a way -- since we've been green since 1992 as a company and gardened green our entire lives -- that the marketplace has suddenly turned so green, but it's all good. We know it's nothing new, but to those who have previously never embraced the concepts of environmental responsibility, sustainability, and other green goodness, this is a dawning moment and we're happy to see it. It seems a good share of the world has decided to trade in their Hummers for hybrids in 2008 and that's good, since we sure do need it.]]> http://greenmethods.com/site/weblog/2008/05/the-green-marketing-era/ It's that time of the year when getting lawn grubs -- before they munch turf roots causing yellow patches later or grow into troublesome adults -- is priority one. Last year Japanese beetles, as a classic example, laid their eggs in your lawn around attractant plant material. Those eggs hatched and the small larvae began to feed, building reserves for the winter. Now that winter's over the larvae have resumed their activity and will do so until mid- to late-June. Then they pupate as a segue to adulthood. This plays out the same way, or close to it, for many grubs. You can do something about it, and save money.]]> http://greenmethods.com/site/weblog/2008/04/a-timely-say-no-to-grubs-sale/ Word has it that a new trend is afoot. It's called a recession by the press, and it's a state of being that begins as simple pessimism. Individuals and business have a reason to be pessimistic, but they learn it from the press -- whom the general public, apparently, regards as the pundits of pessimism. Let's face it, bad news and unrest sells.]]> http://greenmethods.com/site/weblog/2008/04/did-someone-say-recession/ Waste is a terrible thing, that's why we reuse everything we can here at The Green Spot, and what we can't reuse we recycle. The items we reuse are ice packs, foam boxes, even packing materials like packing peanuts (which we get from the University of New Hampshire), and shredded paper (which we make from our own in-bound junk mail). Not only is this action expected because we are a "green" company, but it is our responsibility as stewards of our planet. But not everything can be reused by us. We need your help, in such a way that you may find benefits your needs.]]> http://greenmethods.com/site/weblog/2008/04/help-us-reuse-our-old-catalogs/ Praying mantises, Tenodera aridifolia sinensis, are often mistakenly lauded for their prowess as biocontrol agents. Exaggerations such their willingness and ability to control a wide variety of pests are sometimes printed in catalogs and on the web. These claims are made to deceive (to help sales), or they are based on a lack of real knowledge. Regardless, they're just not true. But it doesn't mean mantids don't have value. They do: They are both very cool, and symbolic.]]> http://greenmethods.com/site/weblog/2008/04/praying-mantis-egg-cases-on-sale/ The time will soon be upon us. In fact, in some parts of the country, you better get going because the time is now. That's right... it's fly parasitoids time. Every spring -- usually around the beginning to the middle of April (here in the Northeast) -- we start prompting our customers to begin their filth-breading fly control program. The kick-off is slightly delayed this year, but we're aiming for the last week in April.]]> http://greenmethods.com/site/weblog/2008/04/dont-delay-on-starting-fly-parasitoids/ The number of times we've been asked if interiorscapers should reveal to their clients what they are doing to control pests is nothing short of surprising. Is honesty in short supply in the interiorscape industry? No, that can't be it. So what is the issue that makes interiorscapers ask this? Well, it can probably be summed up in two words: Client acceptance.]]> http://greenmethods.com/site/weblog/2008/04/should-interiorscapers-tell-all/ A partnered division of our company, GBHXonline.com, has just launched a new web and blog hosting site. This is the site's fifth incarnation, and it really needed to be done. Even though version four was an award winning site, it was over two years old and it was time for a "reboot" as they say in the web development industry. Like this site we chose WordPress for the site's back-end (admin) affording the GBHXonline team the ability to get as much power as possible out of the site while ensuring ease of maintenance.]]> http://greenmethods.com/site/weblog/2008/03/gbhxonline-web-hosting-launches-new-site/ Here's what we hope is another timely discount on one of our more popular biocontrol agents: Ladybugs, Hippodamia convergens. For a limited time, we will be offering a discount on all sizes of the aphid-predatory beetles everyone knows and loves. Ladybugs -- being that they can be stored and are inexpensive -- are already a great investment. Thanks to this sale, the value is truer than ever.]]> http://greenmethods.com/site/weblog/2008/03/ladybugs-on-sale-for-less/ It's that time of year again: We're hiring. Specifically we're looking for a local person -- located in the south-eastern part of New Hampshire -- looking for part time employment, between 24-32 hours per week from April to September. We want a person who is dependable, responsible, and detail-oriented. This position could become a full-time spot for the right person. If you're interested, keep reading...]]> http://greenmethods.com/site/weblog/2008/03/help-wanted-for-the-2008-season/