You will not need to use any herbicides in the EarthBox® system. The mulch cover is designed to keep weeds out so that your plants have all the fertilizer for themselves to grow healthy and strong instead of competing with weeds.
Pesticides and disease control sprays, whether you choose organic or conventional options, may be beneficial to your plants depending on common garden problems and pests in your area. It is your personal choice whether you want to use these controls. If you choose to use any sprays or powders, always follow the application instructions on the product label.
Disease control sprays can be used to help prevent diseases on your plants when they are used before plants have a chance to acquire disease. Without preventive spraying, plants are susceptible to any number of diseases, which can occur from poor air circulation, infection by the saliva of chewing insects, airborne spores, and more. Once a plant is infected with a disease, there is no cure for it and the spray will aid in slowing the progression only. Always follow the directions on the disease control label.
Pesticides should be used only if you have a known pest in your area that you want to prevent, or your plants have become infested. Keep in mind that many pesticides—even organic ones—can easily wipe out any beneficial insects on your plants in addition to the bad ones. If you choose to use pesticides or disease control products, never spray or dust when bees and butterflies are active, typically in the mornings and daytime hours. Always wait until dusk when there is no insect activity and plants cannot be burned by chemicals from being in the sun. Always follow the directions on the pesticide label.
It is important to inspect plants daily to check for eggs or larvae, insect damage, frass, discoloration, wilting, and overall plant health. A good time to do this is when you are filling the water reservoir. If you see insects or eggs on your plants and you don’t know what they are, don’t remove or kill them right away. Many beneficial insects will lay eggs, which will help your garden once they hatch; but until they grow into the more easily recognizable adult insects you may be familiar with, you may not know what they look like in other lifecycle stages. Check our Insect Identifier or take a photo and consult a Master Gardener at your county’s Extension Service.
