Pests, Diseases and Cures

Yes, unfortunately, Kristen, Soft soap or any other used as a spray will affect the Ladybirds.

Thanks Woo, luckily we've seen very little rain here for the last two months, but are due some tomorrow.

Yes only planted about a month ago. Thank you for the welcome.

Scrungee thanks for the tip about the shed, I have some mesh that will do the job

Never been able to kill one of these - they only need to look at the ground before they root again!

Are these shiny? Do they also appear on the bark? I've seen very tiny mites that appear to travel up trees at this time of the year. As far as I know they are harmless. I dont think you have red spider mites, (never heard of black spider mites), they are slow moving. Red spider would not...

I think the term is "asbestos cement sheeting", or something like that. I've still got it on my shed roof and its still around in lots of places. Its not the really hazardous type and I think is mainly cement bound together with fibres. No way could a plant absorb any nasties from it.

In agreement with silu ... but wanted to add, get some cuttings from your Hebe before you give it a haircut. That way, you will always have a back up replacement. I'm a relative newbie to gardening, but I have been extremely successful with my hebe cuttings. Have never tried propagating...

Hi Nigel it looks like a Medlar ? tree I think it may be (black rot caused by a fungus called Botryosphaeria obtusa ) do you have "canker" on the tree as well ie on the branches , looks like a dark stain on the wood and may be dead small branches ? dotted all over the tree It would need...

Quite possibly any of those. I've been trying to ensure the soil stays damp. Have them a good soaking when I noticed at first. Hoping they survive!Sent from my GT-N7000

And I haven't seen any chipmunks round here except at the pet shop. JDweeler - what is your location? Looking back through your posts it appears it might be North Carolina USA, which probably explains why posters on this .co.uk forum don't know about chipmunks.

Oh thanks Armandii, please sent them to.........! Can't wait for my "present". As a swap/ payback which would you prefer, an all consuming deer which had NOT departed despite it being summer or a ewe and her 2 lambs which are competing with "Bambi" as to who can scoff more of my garden.

Its 'Argutifolius' or Corsican hellebore I have it too, as Bilbo says its normal for the plant to do this at this time of year I've just been cutting the old flower stems and leaves off mine

From the pic it looks like its just taking advantage of the soil conditions, don't think its interested in the plant. Off the shelf fungicide should take care of it. Its not easy to stop fungi coming in, the spores are omnipresent in the atmosphere and will take hold anywhere that has the...

not lot greenfly to be real honest just got them on my kiwi fruit ill try blast of water and see how it goes you never know ladybugs might just pay me visit at some point.hubby said i should just squash them as it wont cost him anything..lol

I got my Neem Oil off ebay. I recommend also mixing in some horticultural soap (that isn't cheap I'm afraid, but it is less likely to damage leaves than washing up liquid). Some leaves react to Neem Oil, but usually I treat those plants anyway and let the plant re-grow new leaves. Apply every...

Got ants in my bin too now, must turn it every week and its always pretty wet. Great to watch, oh and the spider nests too!

Hey Kris, for some reason I tried to quote your post to reply to you and I've accidently started a "conservation" with you. Can you tell I'm new here haha? Thanks for replying so quickly, and that link you gave me looks absolutely spot on !

I'm with Pete on this. My guess is that it's red spider mite. If it is it will spread unless you get on top of it. You can slow it by keeping the plants moist by misting and raising humidity. Neem oil, if you are organic, will work to a certain extent and you can also introduce predators such as...

My pleasure It would still be worthwhile collecting up affected leaves if possible..it reduces the chances of re-infection. There's also a really nasty pest called Pear Midge that lays it's eggs in the flowers and then the maggots burrow into the young fruit and make them drop off. And off goes...