Pests, Diseases and Cures

Anyone else noticed it so much this year? I first noticed it in the place I work. It only seems to be affecting the young laurel leaves. I've kept an eye out for it and have noticed it on lots of Laurels in the area. I would put it down to the wet weather but last year was much wetter

Nicotine spray. But we've done this before. Try the "Search" bit

cajary, It is still manufactured. I buy it trade sold as ' topel' and use it to deal with apids and caterpuillars etc on non eddibles however for edibles i use liquid derris.

Thanks for the help and advice. I will trim and feed, and keep fingers crossed!

Good luck, my Brussels Sprouts are covered in caterpillars of various sorts at the moment and becoming a lot less like gardening and more like constant squeezing of bugs and inspections 4 or 5 times a day. If a plant survives I may get some for my Christmas table!

Give it a No 1 in autumn. Next spring you will see the benefits of such a strategy. My white one is amazing. I wish i could recover like that.

I have that in my garden and the poxy (!!!!) cat sat and did it's business right next to it so NO...it does not work for me. the only thing that seems to work at the moment is lots of bamboo sticks in the flower beds, specially where there is freshly bug soil. I'm still toying with the idea...

Hang on Mike - wishing for an early winter - we haven't had much summer in Norfolk yet ! Where do you live then ?

Hi Flinty. Here`s the link. It says that the mesh size is 1.35mm and that it keeps out most pests. A bit expensive though, although it SHOULD last for years, hopefully. Cheers...freddy.

I personally consider it to be beyond porn-slug orgies!!

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.