Question
Hi again,  my question is general in nature.  I am in the process of turning my garden organic, or the best I can.  Can you recommend a home made remedy or a store bought product that keeps undesirable insects (leaf eating insects for example)at bay.  

Secondly, I have two Paperbark Maple and two Flame Maple trees which I have trained and turned into specimen trees.  I realize a little insect damage will occur on the foliage regardless of how well you maintain trees, but I am curious if you have a home made remedy or store bought product I can use for general tree care.

Thanks again,

Craig Rupert, Washington DC area

Answer
I'm not sure I can help you with the Maple Tree problems, but in general, you can get all bugs with a Neem, an organic Bug Killer.

But my favorite Bug Killer is Beneficial insects.  These are incredible.

Ladybugs happen to attack the insects pestiest to me -- Aphids on Roses vanish after Ladybugs hunt them down.  Scale on houseplants, gone in a week, and permanently.  I have also purchased caches of Praying Mantids, beneficial (nonstinging) Wasps and soil Nematodes for different kinds of Bad Bugs.

Fighting Fire with Fire.  Fighting Bugs with Bugs.

If you keep your Garden Organic, they will breed there and return year after year after year.  Can't complain.

Gardens Alive! sells several packages of these insects:

www.gardensalive.com

Let me know if you need any more information on this.  Thanks for wirting.