Jerry Coleby-Williams
JERRY COLEBY-WILLIAMS: When it comes to dealing with problem pests in the garden, pyrethrum is a really good tool. Natural pyrethrum comes from flowers - flowers are the pyrethrum plant which is related to chrysanthemum. It's a cool temperate plant. I can just about grow it in Brisbane during our winter.
If you buy certified organic pyrethrum, then that will be quite expensive and it's a bit tricky to get hold of and that's why most of us tend to use the synthetic equivalent, but whichever one you use, they work in a similar way. They're contact or 'knock-down' pesticides which means you've got to actually hit it to kill it.
As far as pesticides go, pyrethrum breaks down very quickly. Relatively low toxicity, totally biodegradable. It's a good one to use, but I never blanket spray. I like to use a bottle like this with a fine jet so I can accurately hit each individual pest. I'm aiming at citrus bug here, but there are other things on this bush. There are native bees, there are citrus orchard butterfly larvae - and I like them - and there's also hunting wasps. I only want to kill the pests. The others can do their job.
Be careful when you're spraying in hot weather. Pyrethrum will burn soft-leafed plants - things like melons and zucchini. Another thing is - I've marked this bottle for pesticides only. I have another one for herbicides. It doesn't matter whether you're organic or not, accidents can happen. It's best to keep these chemicals apart.
One other thing about spraying with pyrethrum is that I've noticed that the manufacturers say that this one should be used at 20 millilitres per litre of water, but I can get just the same kill from 10 or 15 millilitres per litre. That means a bottle will go a lot longer and that keeps me very happy as well.
COSTA GEORGIADIS: Being economical in the garden is really helped by making sensible plant choices. Jane's with a gardener who's mastered this art in her tiny suburban space.
SERIES 24 | Episode 11Jerry explains the most economical and effective ways to use pyrethrum
"When it comes to dealing with problem pests in the garden, pyrethrum is a really good tool," says Jerry. "Natural pyrethrum comes from flowers of the pyrethrum plant, which is related to chrysanthemum. It's a cool temperate plant that I can just about grow in Brisbane during our winter."
"If you buy certified organic pyrethrum, then that will be quite expensive and it's a bit tricky to get hold of. That's why most of us tend to use the synthetic equivalent, but whichever one you use, they work in a similar way. They're contact or 'knock-down' pesticides, which means you've got to actually hit your pests to kill them."
"As far as pesticides go, pyrethrum breaks down very quickly. It has relatively low toxicity and is totally biodegradable. It's a good one to use, but I never blanket spray. I like to use a bottle with a fine jet so I can accurately hit each individual pest."
"If I'm aiming at a citrus bug, I don't want to hit other things like native bees, citrus orchard butterfly larvae and hunting wasps. I only want to kill the pests. The others can do their job."
"Also, be careful when you're spraying in hot weather. Pyrethrum will burn soft-leafed plants - things like melons and zucchini."
"I've also marked my pyrethrum bottle 'for pesticides only'. I have another one for herbicides. It doesn't matter whether you're organic or not, accidents can happen. It's best to keep these chemicals apart."
As a precaution, safety gear should be worn when using pyrethrum. Please follow the dilution rates suggested on product labels.
SERIES 24 | Episode 11Jerry explains the most economical and effective ways to use pyrethrum
"When it comes to dealing with problem pests in the garden, pyrethrum is a really good tool," says Jerry. "Natural pyrethrum comes from flowers of the pyrethrum plant, which is related to chrysanthemum. It's a cool temperate plant that I can just about grow in Brisbane during our winter."
"If you buy certified organic pyrethrum, then that will be quite expensive and it's a bit tricky to get hold of. That's why most of us tend to use the synthetic equivalent, but whichever one you use, they work in a similar way. They're contact or 'knock-down' pesticides, which means you've got to actually hit your pests to kill them."
Credits24 May 201324 May 2013Fri 24 May 2013 at 2:00pm
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