Tips

Parsley flower. Look closely. The brown spots are flea beetles. 

Most experienced gardeners recommend weeding early and often. Truth. It will make gardens more productive. Mulch is the first option here in the hot, hot south.

My tip, which ties weeding for first place? Look closely at all your plants every day. One thing leads to another. An example: Looking at my newly planted ground cherries I saw leaves were  peppered with holes. Hmmm. Slowly shifting gears I looked up and just above a flowering parsley plant left for native bees. Aha! Flea beetles nestled the underside of parsley flowers. One hand under each flower, the other giving a gentle shake and down fall the flea beetles. It takes a few seconds for them to right themselves. No chemicals used.