Pests, Diseases and Cures

Me again, just in case anyone out there is interested, I found out that these caterpillers are friendly (after I panicked and killed a few) and they eat black and greenkfly.That's why they went black when squashed!! Durrr I gather they are the larvae of the hoverfly.

Just googled, as I have (luckily) not come across this pest. Interesting page about them - thought it might be of...

Interesting - thanks Walnut

Hi,sorry to hyjack but i`m having a similar problem with this climbing rose.The leaves are going yellow and also very brittle.Not all but dotted about including new leaves.I give it loads of water and recently some rose food.It doesn`t seem to have affected its growth as it`s already hit the...

Could these grubs be the offspring of the dreaded weavil, if so you are in deadly trouble.

I think hopefully they have gone, went to the garden centre and bought some stuff that you can spray on cabbages and still eat that day, not that they are ready yet, but i guess that means its not too dangerous stuff. Last night the curl in the leaves had gone and i couldnt see anything so...

Pete, you are right as usual, it is ferric phosphate. I don't use the metaldehyde ones because of the danger to other creatures. My greenhouse is securely closed at night, which is when the pellets disappear. could be a rodent burrowing in, I suppose, I am just puzzled by the apparent lack of...

Dave W and pete I used a toothbrush and meths on woolly aphis that was on eight of my apple trees. It eventually got rid of it. I don't know whether it works on other nasties.

Hi Naepace, to me the plant in the first picture looks as if it is suffering from scorch damage, this happens when water droplets stay on the leaves and act as a magnifying glass for the sun or for cold winds, the second pplant looks to be suffering from slug or snail damage. David

I have been known to soak root balls in malathion to kill off ants that have built nests in pots, and its done no harm to the plant. Cant think what you could use these days though. If you give it a good soak then presumably a contact killer would work.

Lol..I went to a shop today to replace my Acer and it will cost �£15 for a straddly one...think I will nurse my baby and get it back somehow..maybe I will buy another one because they are gorgeous and give wonderful contrasts.As for the brolly...Mines got a brewery sign all over it..will...

Trouble posting pics at present. Its been in leaf now for over a month. Its been outside for two years now sheltered by a south facing fence. I'll try a pic again tonight after work!

Hi,Thanks for your reply. I live by the seaside and I wonder if the Azalea suffers from the general conditions. I probably feed and give the Azalea ericaceous compost approx twice per year.Here is a closer picture of the leaves (taken last year).Thanks again for any help.

most conifers do not regrow though a few do - so I would go with the previous advise and just cut out the dead stuff.

If you followed the instructions, then no.

I found some lilly beetles on mine too. Didn't know what they were until I saw roders pic above. Aren't the little blighters copulating in that pic!!?

Cheers dendrobium.I filled in the details,got to credit card details and have just spent the last 10 minuites searching for the card.I`ve probably thrown it in the bin! :( Must telephone the bank first thing in the morning!!

We have white fly flying about in Kent. I also have loads of whitely in my compost. Do you think this will affect white fly in the rest of the garden? :(

Wow thanks everyone I am going to try all of those. Will let you know how i get on. I odnt wan tto start using pellets again as htre are a lot of nice robins attached to the garden.

I have a massive amount of white flies in my compost heap and have had all through the winter. I do find that they love the kitchen waste and don't like lawn cuttings and news paper/cardboard etc. So probabley covering the kitchen waste with some of the other might do it. But everyone tells me...