Pests, Diseases and Cures

Water soluble caterpillars? Great idea, I wish my slug population would take a leaf out of that book The thing sort of looks like a moth larvae. It's not hairy at all and is out and about quite late in the season.

Unfortunately we have lots of rats in the UK. Probably the result of our bad habits of throwing fast food away in places they can access. A lot of farms have 'farm cats' which are semi wild but encouraged by the farmers to hang around so they keep down vermin. The mothers teach the kittens how...

Thanks, they're doing well now, even flowering quite actively (although that's likely to change as it cools off this weekend).

Cornus Alba Siberica should grow well in your region, but if it's not doing so great, maybe give it a good drink now and keep an eye on watering. If the leaves have turned brown, it might be a sign of stress. These shrubs like well-drained soil and regular watering, especially during dry spells.

If you want to stop them next year, you might want to consider some preventive measures like companion planting with plants that deter aphids, using neem oil, or ladybugs as natural predators. And don't forget some extra care with pruning and maintenance.

Bummer about your cabbage! Sometimes it happens to the best of us. Maybe check for pests or diseases, and keep an eye on the others.

Looks like you're dealing with springtails. They're tiny and can gather in damp areas. Try to reduce moisture around the porch – fix any leaks, ensure proper drainage, and clear debris. They usually move inside to escape dampness. Some bug spray could help if they're really bothering you.

No worries @tugrul mine is exactly the same it'll come good it seems to do it every year at this time.I'm guessing it's down to the fluctuations of temperature and it'll be losing it's leaves before long.

If you are talking about the red dots, it's nothing to worry about. Mine always had them and it won't cause any problem

Sorry in taking so long to reply to you I've hardly been on here this week & then only on the weather thread, mostly, from my phoneThanks for the reply. I've grown Carnations on the balcony many times before as they are a favourite flower of my wife's but I've never seen the moth on the...

I will give this a shot.

Hi guys At the end of 2021, I planted a shortish mixed hedge. In it I included Ilex aquifolium and Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata'. Throughout last year, presumably because of the drought, all of the sulked and refused to do very much. This year I am seeing good new growth on all, with...

We use 5L of white vinegar to a cup of salt, been doing this for 5 years on paving, treating it twice a year

HI, thanks for all the advice on the reason my dahlias are spotty. I’ve given them a rose clear spray and it seems to have halted the spots. Soon I will dig one up and have a look at the tubers, but the problem isn’t so obvious now. Keep fingers crossed. V

That's what is in xentari.A friend has replaced all his box hedging with ilex crenata, looks very similar to box but is slower growing, it's not affected by the caterpillars.

Root aphids feed on different types of plants, damaging the health of the source. Many aphids thrive in the stems and leaves, but the root aphid is different. This insect is found under the surface of the soil. Root aphids attack the plant’s root system, often killing the plant if not identified...

Well, having been up there just now, I suspect it was the wind. Pictured through the enviromesh:

Perhaps your cat feels deficient in iron!. I believe that the pure ferric phosphate is 'safe' to mammals; it's used in human food(?) Its the chelates EDDS &EDTA i ngredients which are toxic .I would be happier if the bait was attractive (to molluscs) and reliably fatal.

It's difficult. We can only trust the labelling, I guess (although that is backed up by law). Some places (e.g. Wilko) give a "germination guarantee" ("Should these seeds fail, we will be happy to replace them"). What that's worth I have never tried to find out. I'll be interested to see what...

There is a reason for neither soapy water or plain water being mentioned, neither of these have been licenced as pesticides for the control of blackfly and it would, technically, be illegal for the RHS to recommend their use. Note many contact insecticides contain soap or soap like compounds...