Question
I have columbine growing in the shade under a large flowering cherry and they do fairly well.  This past year they were attacked by what I think are leaf miners. The leaves look varigated and it didn't flower well.  How can I get rid of them with organics?  I also have a similar question about how to get rid of grubs (mostly probably japanese beetles) in the lawn and plant beds with something organic?  I hate to kill everything with a standard store bought pest killer.

Answer
Chuck, leaf miners can be controlled by using either pyrethrum or rotenone. Both are organic products extracted from plants. They are extrememly deadly to most insects, but are not harmful to humans, pets, or the environment. You can purchase these at select nurseries or on-line through companies such as Planet Natural or Gardens Alive.

http://www.gardensalive.com

Grubs can be controlled in the short term using Grub-ex. This is a very effective product, but far from organic.

The only organic solutions are Grub-Away from Gardens Alive, which releases nematodes to kill the grubs, or a product called Milky Spore. This product kills only the grubs, while sparing earthworms. Another benefit to milky spore is that it lasts for up to 15 years without needing to be reapplied. The only downside is that it can be costly.  But given the fact you only need to apply it once every 15-20 years, it is the least expensive alternative over the long term.

Attached is a website from which to purchase the product. Just type in milky spore in their search field.

http://www.planetnatural.com

Good luck, and please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike