Biologicals

This Week’s Sale*: All Vegetables FREE to Bates Rewards Members, 50% off 4-pack flowering annuals and 4P perennials, 30% off annual hanging baskets and ornamental grasses/sedges

I think we are all feeling better after a week of rain. We certainly needed it. I hope you got a chance to survey your garden during the deluge. It’s the easiest time to spot standing water, a telltale sign of a spot in need of amending.

Those of us who garden in the South know the effect our climate has on our plants. High humidity and ample precipitation are prime growing conditions for diseases like black spot, powdery mildew, and shothole fungus. Biologicals are emerging that can accompany or even replace traditional synthetic chemical fertilizers and fungicides. We’ve been using some of them for years, such as Neem Oil, Spinosad, and Bacillus thuringiensis. While safer, if used improperly, some can still harm pollinators.

Biologicals are products that are botanically derived or constituted of beneficial living organisms used in plant maintenance to enhance resilience and support growth. There is a wide variety available, but we will focus on the ones at our disposal. Last year we started carrying a brand called Arber**, which utilizes biologicals with an emphasis on safety for humans, pets, and pollinators. Unlike traditional synthetics, many of these can be used up to the day of harvest.

Arber’s line utilizes naturally occurring soil bacteria that work by colonizing root and plant surfaces. In their Bio Fungicide, these bacteria prevent pathogens from taking hold. Their Bio Insecticide works similarly to inoculate the plant, leaving beneficial insects unharmed while targeting pests. Mycorrhizal fungi, which has been a key component of EarthMix® Garden™ since the beginning, is another addition that can make a noticeable difference in vitality, working to bring water and nutrients to the roots. Products like EarthMix® Veragra™ Worm Castings and Bio Protectant can also be used indoors and out to reinvigorate and nourish your plants.

These biologicals also boost the soil, improve yields, and increase stress tolerance. While they aim to replace your traditional methods of bug and disease control, they can also be used in conjunction to increase efficacy. 

That’s it for this week. Tune it to Gardening Inside Out every Saturday morning at 8 am. Queue up the podcast for your next road trip. Follow us on Instagram for the Know Down — your questions answered with a side of humor. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Happy Gardening,

Sara Bates

* sale is limited to BatesRewards Members only, herbs and groundcover are excluded from the sale/giveaway, in-store only, through 6/4/26

** This is not an ad, I just really believe in their products!