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Sarasota News Leader July 19, 2013 Page 81 natives or exotics. And organic products are available for those gardeners who want to impact the environment minimally. Mother Nature is a fickle gardener herself, doling out excessive amounts of rain sometimes and withholding it for long periods at other times. Irrigating, especially during dry seasons and dry spells, enables all species to avoid excessive stress and survive those times. Nature's way of pruning is primarily through storms, which occasionally remove small amounts of deadwood and foliage. But the more violent tempests may snap off major branches or even fell entire trees. The vigilant gardener knows that with proper pruning techniques, dense, ingrown foliage, deadwood and crossing branches can be removed to allow fierce winds to blow through trees and shrubs rather than knocking them down. Hibiscus is a Florida native plant commonly seen in Sarasota County. Photo by Kurt Stueber via Wikimedia Commons It is also a fact that pesky insects are completely unbiased about feasting on either native or exotic cultivars. I have spent many hours spraying popular natives, such as firebush, which have been attacked by aphids, scales, whiteflies and mealybugs. There just are not enough ladybugs, praying mantises and beneficial wasps to prey upon ravenous insect species. And for the ecologically sensitive gardener, there is a host of soaps and oils that will do a minimal amount of environmental damage while controlling the interlopers. So if you choose to use them exclusively or in concert with exotics, bear in mind that a little horticultural attention will keep the natives from getting restless. Rick Wielgorecki may be contacted at 362-0600 or wielgo@hotmail.com. % Marlberry produces white flowers. Photo by Homer Edward Prince via Wikimedia Commons