Pests, Diseases and Cures

Once Ziggy's finished then send Jack around to collect the donation

Thank you all! Now I know what it is I've got a chance dealing with it. No idea how I got them but I'm guessing one of the houseplants I've been given must have had eggs in it.

Red ants invade my veg plots/coldframes/mulch sheets/compost heaps/raised beds/bags of horse poo/pots/seed trays/all sorts of places and want to fight me whenever I try to weed/plant/etc. They have a preference for using clay to build their mounds and drag it back to wherever I've been...

I usually simmer 6 cloves in half pint of water then tip about 2tbspoons worth in a litre spray bottle n fill it up with warm water seems strong enough to me stinks

Yes, they are quite normal.

i tried everything to get rid of them in pots and 1 bed in the end i resorted to fine riddle and i emptied the bed and pots and riddle off the blighters out, then with all the stones in a plastic tub i poured boiling water over just to be sure that i had missed anyYou get em girl!!! Bet you...

I didn't mean stop all imports, just that they need to be checked before entering the country. I know that Australia for instance is very careful what plant material it lets in. Not sure if its still the same but in the US they had rules about what plant material could actually cross state...

Thankt you Silver Surfer, you were absolutely right slow release fertilizer it is.

Told you, mice are skin and bone, they weigh nothing, so dont set spring traps off, sticky pad, or better still electric one, stop feeding them and start killing them!!

Yes, I would expect to see not much left if rabbits were involved. And the strawberries are next to some nice veggies that are untouched as yet. Gazania

Hi You could also try almond oil in a small jar and they will be attracted to the smell and drown Spruce

I get this in my garden sometimes. Its fungal, but never found it to be a problem. My guess, and it's only a guess, is that it is a fungus that lives on dead wood as I've found it near decaying fence posts. Could even be mushrooms.

Well insecticides are insecticides and they are made to kill insects. Bees are a kind of good skadedyr (insect) that nobody wants to lose in a pesticide spray. Neem oil looks like a workable solution but still not sure about it. Please consult a registered pest controller firm to help you better.

Hey guys, I went to my allotment the other day just as the sun was going down to water some stuff and i noticed that there were absolutely loads of earwigs all over the new growth on my conference pear tree. Does anyone know if these guys are going to damage the growth on the tree or should i...

Mr and Mrs Robin had a wonderful time ate all 3 i found and when i dig more this weekend, i'll make sure anything i find will be available for the Robin duo. Hopefully, that'll save my plants!

You have to paint a Lily symbol on the pot for every one you kill. 20 kills gets you Ace status. The Beetles are pretty thick really as they just sit there in the sun thinking all is well with the world until..........stomp

I really do feel for you. Personally I can't bring myself to kill anything either... Good luck anyway

No offence taken n.p

I know that I have vine weevils in the garden because of the yearly decimation of my fuchsias while overwintering in the greenhouse. I don't have a problem outdoors, but having had the same trouble for several years [losing well-grown plants and finding larvae feasting on the roots in spring] I...

Try nematodes Liz they worked for me last year