Is it just me that having problem with greenfly

By using provado you're probably killing the ladybirds too. I realeased 25 adult ladybirds and 200 lacewig larvae to help with the problem and it does seem to be reducing the numbers but very slowly gonna spray them with the hose tonight and shoot most of them off then spray with an eco soap mixed with water and see if that keeps the blighters away lol

 

I would spray perhaps once a fortnight-but it is very subjective because sometimes I don't. I use the soapy water if it is particularly thorny rose so as not to get too many pricks, I have a seagull rambler and you know it if you catch one of their thorns. Or if it is a delicate plants and I am as likely to do as much damage to it as the greenfly do. I would do it after the sun has gone off for the day, absolutely dousing them and then twenty minutes later I will rinse it off with the hose-as much to get rid of the bodies as to keep the residue off the leaves and prevent scorching. I know some people do it the other way round and perhaps that's just as good-I just don't like the residue being left on them personally.


I don't have a particular regime, and I do very little unless I have to lol, so when I see the need is when I would do it.

 

The only problem I seem to have found with shooting them off with the hose is that they just then went and landed on another plant :( It also didnt get rid of all the eggs they are profusely laying :(

Am all for ditching the horrible sprays .... If i can find something else that will work, or else I am going to end up with no plants left the way they are covering them.

 

I agree, but more so in that they are invariably being farmed by ants who just come along and put them straight back where you sprayed them off from.

They have to be killed first I believe then hosed off I think. Then turn our attention to the ants next, who quite frankly, are taking the proverbial lol.

 

Sunflowers will move the ant farm off other plants.

Or some jam higher up the plant ...

Plant Calendula (English Marigold) to attract Hoverflies (their grubs eat aphids)

 

Hmmm yes I have noticed a lot of ants in the bark this year. Havent even bothered to try to tackle these yet ........ I havent even a clue if they damage the plants or not !

With sprays I know you cannot spray than more than once in a fortnight period (well thats what it says on the label anyway). With soapy water, can these be increased ? or are you risking the plant further the more you spray it ?

I also wondered if flies were attracted to any sort of fruit or something, that you could lay round the garden to attract them and then dispose of the fruit when they are swarmed ? I know this works with other insects but havent a clue with green/black flies.

 

How many Marigolds would you need to plant Kristen? As they are all over the garden, would you need to plant just a couple of pot fulls anywhere .... or a few Marigolds all over the garden ?

 

I too am suffering with a mass infestation this year. I find spraying all the time a temp messure and too expensive, so I work it into my daily watering routine to kill as many as possible. Finger and thumb run along the stem does the trick. I also have a problem with ants farming the little blighters. Just another thing to crush in the mornings. I must kill hundreds a week ;-) My wife the veggie doesn't like it though ;-)

 

BTW, be careful with how much wu liquid you put in your home made concoction as too much will damage the plant.

 

Ants : "I havent even a clue if they damage the plants or not !"

They are farming the aphids to get the honey-dew they produce ... I don't think they damage the plants directly.

"How many Marigolds would you need to plant?"

No idea, sorry! I have grown French Marigolds to keep the whitefly at bay in the greenhouse (had a bad infestation last year), and I have planted those between each plant to be protected - they fit quite nicely between the Tomato and Melon plants ...

I've only read up on Calendula this year, so haven't grown any as yet.

By the by, apparently the single flowered French Marigolds are preferable to the doubles. Another thing to rectify next year!!

 

I don't think the ants damage the plants but they squirt something at the good bugs that are trying to eat the aphids and help the aphids as the aphids provide them with the honey-dew. I've put glue bands round some of the trees affected to stop the ants from climbing up them

 

There is a risk that their nest building can damage root structure too, so whilstthey aren't even approaching the same level of risk as say vine weevil, it still exists.



Phew----its dangerous out there lol.

 

Well, for now the ants can stay. They only seem to be in the bark and as I dont walk on that, they arent bothering me and if they wont harm the plants .... then for NOW they are safe lol

As for the flies, well they are definately not welcome. Am off in the garden for the afternoon. See how many I can pick off :(

 

Enjoy yourself Sam.


I have half an hour left and then its get ready for my baby girls (yes she is 6yrs I know I am mollycoddling her) school assembly. Shoulder to shoulder with other mums in a small old school hall-and on a day like today and all!!!

 

Just finishing my lunch - before I forget to eat and then come in starving when its too late !!

Ahhhhhhhh i remember school assembly's. .... i cried during one when Lewis got up and read out something he had written about. Was the ultimate proud mum!!

Rubbing shoulder to shoulders with all the other mums who seemed to know each other so well, was never my thing though. Maybe I was/am just a miserable old bag lol