Q:  I have significantly more aphids now than in the last couple of years. I assume it is because of the warm spring, but I am not sure what to do. I would be doing some serious garlic-pepper tea spraying, but I have a fairly strong population of hoverflies and do not want to mess that up.  Should I avoid the garlic-pepper tea? I’m planning to get some ladybugs and maybe order some lacewings, as well as kick up my seaweed spraying. S.M., Fort Worth

A:  Garlic-pepper tea would be fine. It is more of a repelling spray than a killing one. A diluted essential oil spraying would be the next-stronger choice, if needed. The ready-to-use products will be strong enough to kill the beneficial insects, so be careful when using them.

Q:  I removed the turf in my yard years ago and have native plants all around my house mulched with shredded hardwood. I have discovered termites in my house. I would like an organic approach to treat them, if a reliable one exists. I also would like your thoughts on applying mulch next to the house’s foundation; it is below the brick line.  T.B., Plano

A:  All sites have termites, but they are not encouraged to eat your house because of shredded mulches. The best control around the house is beneficial nematodes and the use of orange oil-based products if they infest the wood on the house. The proper management and elimination of leaks and wet wood is a critical part of a termite- control program.

Q:  The product Thrive’s instructions trouble me. It says to add 5 capfuls to a gallon of water. It does not specify nonchlorinated water. My concern is that by adding Thrive to tap water, the chlorine in the water will kill any microbes in Thrive.R.B., Fort Worth

A:  In a perfect world, clean, filtered water would be best, but Thrive and other mycorrhizal fungi products are used with tap water on a regular basis.

Q:  When I bought a fruit tree, I was told not to let the fruit develop the first year. Do you agree with this, and does it also pertain to all fruit trees? K.M., Mansfield

A:  No, let the fruit develop but thin it out a bit so the fruits are not so close together and each fruit can get larger. The width of your fist is a good measurement.

Q:  I am using river rock instead of mulch in several beds around my river birch trees. I have had comments from several individuals that this is a bad idea and will harm the tree roots and the yucca I planted in these beds. D.M., Denton

A:  It won’t hurt the trees except by maybe holding heat around their bases in summer. I prefer shredded native tree mulch.