Q. We have tiny (pinhead sized) brownish/reddish bugs everywhere in our soil. The soil is from Miracle Grow. I don’t think these bugs are clover or spider mites but they are around the same size. We’ve noticed some “silvering” and premature dropping of our leaves, but no mite-like webbing or discoloration. What are these bugs, and what soil would you recommend getting?
Englewood, Colorado
A. The insect could be a number of options. The best recommendation is to either take an insect or two in a jar to your local garden center for an exact identification or send me a photo. I would be happy to ID it for you.
Insect controls are like prescription drugs, not every product controls every insect just like not every drug cures every disease.
Todd A. Efing, CNLP
Nursery Manager
Van Putte Gardens
Rochester, New York
