Pests, Diseases and Cures

Have to agree, pete. The theory goes that you prune in early spring. If I do that, the shrubs struggle to regain their strength. Put on lots of wispy shoots, but don't flower as well. I leave them alone now, apart from dead-heading the seed pods. quite big shrubs normally and I really don't...

Thanks guys for sharing your experience’s with the dreaded mealy bug, and thanks Michael for the tip’s much appreciated

Thanks for your reply ricky101. I should have said orchid bark chips rather than compost as that is what I use. I will check out your suggestion.Matches are interesting. I thought I had accidentally found a remedy with soda crystals.I had a jar of diluted soda crystals to soak stained...

These look like mine - which are this years plugs grown in fresh compost. I don't think that there's anything wrong as such - it's just a 'feature' of the plant.It's drawing near to the time to prune them back for Winter storage - cut the stems back to around 3" to just above a...

Thank you Bark is still moist and green so have pruned as you suggested Thank you

They tend to take a few bites at courgettes rather than eat the whole thing. I don't grow pumpkins anymore but seem to think they left them alone. I have ornamental gourds this year which haven't been touched.

Grreat - that seems like problem solved! Thanks very much

They've stripped quite a few hedges around here but people are persevering! Dig out and plant an alternative

Yes, we think mealy bugs. Thank you.

Thanks all for your responses! There was just too many of them so I started work on the front lawn instead! Will check again tomorrow and work up the courage to work alongside them. Perhaps, but they definitely weren't that big! The plan for tomorrow is to hopefully finish off levelling and...

i do use organic pellets and even slug trap and copper tape its a shame that this is what is eating our plants

Hi,Is this what you have seen ?If so its not so much the leaf damage thats the problems, its the grubs eating the roots away over winter, then you notice the plants are dying next spring.Two main courses of action use an insecticide drench like Provardo or a dench of Nematoes like Nemasys.

I had that happen in Bucks and it was Clematis Wilt.

I planted three Campanulas a few months ago, and one of them has had all its leaves eaten leaving only stems, presumably by slugs. Another one has had a lot of leaves eaten, with just the stems left, but still has a lot of surviving leaves and beautiful starry flowers. The third one, with...

He's done it on his own plants and it works.Have to do it more than once like in the videos.

Best thing that ever happened!!!I was afraid I had to deal with those box bushes for the rest of my life after buying them together with the house. My wife liked they but in my eyes they are absolutely useless for nature.So when the box blight came i had a good excuse to root them all out...

Thank you.

Hi Vicky, I've just spoken with him again and he agreed that it could be red spider mite. His plant is over 5 foot tall and has a lot of leaves but only 4 seem to be showing varying degrees of disease.He said that he knows it won't bloom indoors but bought if for it's foliage. Stunning plant...

Thanks @jowwy - I once tried using stick on velcro strips for shading in my greenhouse, but the stick-on didn't... and I didn't think of superglue - though perhaps something like 'Sticks Like' would have worked on the flimsy shading net.

Swap Shop reference there....I've scooshed on some rose plant fungicide stuff as well as I can.The healthy leaves will soon be outnumbered by yellowing leaves, then my plants will be past the point of no return, with no new buds on the main stalks to replace the fallen ones.