Pests, Diseases and Cures

AdamAs others have said, try everything! By the sound of it, you're not averse to using chemicals so pellets are likely to be your best stand by.I'm not convinced about the effectiveness of physical barriers after one night when I found my biggest, roughest, woodiest, twiggiest thyme...

Good advice there

just a wild guess but they don`t like smoke do they, not suggesting you light up but light a candle or two ,in a safe place for 10 mins or so before you water

Thanks for the advice, folks. I've been away for a few days, but before I went I gave the shrub a good feed and will follow up with severe surgery, as suggested. I'll keep my fingers crossed.It's nice to have found such a helpful forum. Thanks again.

I can't imagine anything looking worse, Pete, but if you say so, I believe you. No, there are no aphids on it. Mr K has even watered it often during the hot periods. It must be something with this tree (the oldest one) as the others don't have this problem. Just hope it's not catching ...

MarkFor widespread leaf damage to fruit bushes, the first culprits that come to mind are sawflies. But they tend to leave the leaf veins. And you can often see the little so-and-sos at work if you look closely enough. Have you sprayed the bushes with any insecticide yet?

Boiling hot water.......................Simple as:D

Full marks to all those who suggested slugs. A handful of slug pellets last night, and this morning I have at least 6 fat (dead) slugs and buckets of slime.

It should do Pam, if you cut the stem close to the base after it has finished flowering, you could also collect and dry some of the seeds if you are happy with the plant but they will not flower in the first year. Sounds as though you and cajary are the only satisfied customers, good luck with...

Dont even think of using jeyes fluid, it will kill the grass. There are no real solutions for ants.

Thanks for the info folks:thumb: I would prefer to plant it in a border but Mrs Pal is after a bigger planter...:rolleyes: Wonder who'll get their way??

Thank you, John, for your reply. Read the useful article you recommended - You may well be right about the overheating - I've moved all the toms into a sheltered spot outside, keeping the sick ones well apart, although I don't suppose there's any help for them - they may be too far gone to...

Many thanks, Daitheplant.

Morning Gardenesse and welcome,the coffee beans are a good deterent especially when fired from a catapult.:D

Lor!........... I hope it is nothing too poionous, I have made chips from spuds like that!

Have you fed the plants with anything this year?

I guess you've never seen how far rats can jump then!? As others have said, it's possible to get humane traps that don't kill the mice, maybe get hold of and deploy a couple of those and get hubby to deal with the traps once they're occupied?

Yeah, as the others have said I think ants aren't generally a problem directly, but their aphid farming habits are obviously something to keep a look out for. I tend to leave them myself, unless they start getting into the house.

Sounds like whitefly to me, Beanie. They wont be eating the plants though. More likely Keel slugs, put down some pellets.:thumb:

Thanks chaps, I stuck down some FBB meal earlier but will get some Iron of Sulphate at the weekend