Pests, Diseases and Cures

I know what you are saying about losing your flowers but you will have more & better ones if you tidy them up. I agree with ladybird :( you don't have to be to severe but I would definately give them a nice compact shape so you will need to cut off a couple of inches I would think...

Bio control is a bit of a pet interest of mine, not so much in localised situations, but in large scale pest eradication. This link gives some info on bio control plans for Japanese Knotweed, and a pretty good overview of how it works generally:Japanese Knotweed AllianceMy only concern is...

You little darling! and so quickly answered!I've ordered some already

Can you still get nimrod T lynne? It used to work miracles on mildew. Helen its a bit early for mildew on cues, usually occurs later on, after a dry spell.

Your best bet is probably to wash them off with the hose - chemical spraying at this time of year will get the good guys as well.Green soap sprayed on can be effective too.

Have you read the book '50 ways to kill a slug'? Very entertaining for those looking for new and novel ways of dispatching the critters. I saw it in the gift shop at the Alnwick Garden and just had to buy it for my mum who is an avid slug killer...

Wow Steve - thanks - there is plenty choice there - and some of them I like too!Thanks againMairi

Im not sure it sounds like disease. Could it be scorch where water droplets have magnified the sun and burned little bits of the leaf?

Thanks Rosemary, I havent tried to put any pictures on yet. I have read all the instructions its sounds difficult I must find time to work it all out.I need to pester my husband for the technical side. Jacqui

hi pete,the little devils are pulling all the new tender shoots off the main stems,they seem to be doing it to a hand full of the new emerging annuals aswell.And that is why i came on to thank the guys i placed come upturned bottles near the plants and an assault course of green canes and jute...

Bayleaf,this is what you wrote on March 23rd :-Hope I'm not too late with this one. Armillatox has been banned for use as a fungicide, the manufacturers, rather than withdraw sales, have simply re-labelled it for another use. The active ingredients (tar acids) are known carcinogens;...

OH no I have already sprayed it WOOPS!!Yes Steve it is an upright flowering cherry thanks for the correct spelling.I have lots of garden books but didnt have time to look it up. I think this is a great usfeul site for a busy mum like me. Must log off and get some sleep as on duty tonight and...

Thanks for the washing-up liquid cure. I've done it, and now my honey-suckle is covered in DEAD aphid ha ha ha ha ha!! I did find a ladybird and put her on but I haven't seen her since.

Help we have been invaded by swarms of insects, they look like jet black mosquitos. A friend said that they were called robber flys but I have never heard of them or seen them before they are everywhere.They don't seem to bite but they are orrible, anyone heard of them :(

HelloI thought that this site might be useful. It is a fairly comprehensive list of comon pests and diseases and how to deal with them. I liked it because it gives lots of space to environmentally friendly alternative as well as suggesting chemical controls. It also has lots of pictures...

LOL I will try it! (as long as it helps their shells to crack on landing)

Whaddya mean "if".........a cherub like me could go nowhere else!

Hello, I'm having a problem trying to work out what is going on in my garden. Normal garden books dont seem to help. My Jasmine plant has leaves which are going black from the inside stem outwards. Last year this also happened to my Astilbe, Clematis and Weigela. It didnt appear to affect new...

Try contacting your local RSPCA, or wildlife trust (see below) for links. They usually give quite sensible advice. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/index.phphttp://www.naturenet.net/orgs/uknatureorgs.html I have one squirrel that visits, he does steal the bird food & buries stuff all over but...

I think it would kill them as most garden hoovers are also shredders, which is why I said about not being superstious. I don't mind them myself but I don't have to worry about my child eating them.