wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm a novice gardener, and this year I find that my garden seems to
have attracted a lot of troublesome insects. Does anyone know a web
site where I can see examples of pest damage, so I can identify the
culprits?

Right now, something is cutting little half-inch tears all over the
foliage of my coral bells, coleus, and just about everything else with
big, tender leaves. I'm not interested in using poisons, so if anyone
knows what could be causing this and if there is an effective,
'natural' way to stop it, I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks in advance,



While you're investigating your bugs, try rinsing the bottoms & tops of
leaves with a water spray. Some pests are only around for a very short time
each season. Sometimes all it takes is to dislodge them from their snacks
for a few days using water, and the trouble passes. Focus on the most
vulnerable plants first.

For low-growing plants (and watering in general), this is a cool thing to
have:
http://www.dramm.com/html/main.isx?sub=18

Another option is to brew some hot pepper spray. Simmer red pepper flakes
until the water smells nasty. Pour through a strainer and spray the plants.
4-5 ounces of flakes to 2 gallons of water is about right.