Pests, Diseases and Cures

Yep I think it's working then I've also heard that some cats are actually attracted into the garden by the sound these things make, so I guess they don't always have the desired effect.

It looks fairly normal to me Stephen, mine have those yellow spots, always have. It doesn't seem to affect growth. I've always thought it was normal ageing, or at the worst a bacterial disease that the plant seems to live with.

GOT IT! Just been out to the greenhouse with a torch and found the little b***er that's been munching my tomato seedlings for the past couple of nights. Now I can sleep easy.

They'll farm greenfly on things like beans but otherwise no.

Was out on dawn patrol checking for these today... no signs so far...

Mine is doing really well , has made a huge den under the bamboo mini grove with all the leaves. Caught him picking up any bits of fallen seeds from the bird feeders. Spruce

Ah but my chickens are on their final written warning They've been thoroughly spoiled and I'm still only getting three eggs a day from five hens. They get into pest control or it's chicken marengo time.....

oh dear, im now pretty sure it's trips! thank you!

Hi Pip The Chemical imidacloprid is slowly being withdrawn from the market the big companies like B&Q etc have already started to withdraw from sale only professional groundsmen can get hold of it now , or you may still get on line "Lawn Grub killer Provado" but its very dangerous to bees...

Well just to say, I have got rid of those pesky rats as the wood pile was giving them a place to hide. So the wood pile has gone and with it the bugs for the birds. If push comes to shove then I will do without until I can rat proof the garden (never). Mr.G, I do not think that my dog will...

Watch out for Lilly Beetle a bit later on - just in case that's not a pest that you've come across before; they will wreak havoc with your Lilies if left unchecked (a search here will no doubt find threads from late Spring / early Summer in previous years where we have all moaned about them!

yes spray all over plants,i only sprayed once a month worked well, white residue on toms easily washed off

They'll probably be Indian Ringnecks.

Think of some of our poor Oaks and others, They too have a hard time of getting some form of resistance to what has been brought in from other countries and come across on prevailing winds.

I caught a mole once when I was a kid. I wanted to keep it as a pet but it panicked and bit me and it hurt so I let go and it legged it.

Good to know that they're animal/human safe Ross, I was wondering about that.

Thanks folks - that's a relief

Well it looks like the bi-carb is working. I drenched the soil in all my house plants last week and the gnats are now down to a minimum, just the odd one here and there. I'll wait for the soil to dry out a bit and give them another drench, hopefully that should finish them off.

Thanks for the info on our other types of Fraxinus. I will keep an eye on them for any disease. If i do have to fell them, can I use the wood for our wood burning stove?

You could always paint them a little to make them look like they fit in lol