Strange Spider - Problem Web!

Strange Spider - Problem Web!

Hopefully someone will be able to help me out.
I have this Spider problem in my garden; the web of this spider is very fine and seems to smother the plants and causes them to die off.
I�ve included a few pictures of the Spider & it�s web,

click for larger pics:




Any advice on how best to deal with this would be very much appreciated, thanks

 

Hi Fernside and welcome. I think it`s just a common garden spider, we all have them and at this time of year it seems as if we are overrun. The webs aren`t going to smother the plants. I think the leaf damage is caused by scorching with a secondary fungal infection. David.

 

I agree with David, I dont think the spider or its web is causing any problems, more likely a fungal disease.

 

Hi Fernside it looks like a Linyphia montana it's a type of money spider(of which there are about 270 species)they build their webs in this fashion close to the ground but as Daith and Pete says will not harm your plants.

 

Thank you for your responses, it is nice to know you all seem to think it is just a common garden spider. The problem still remains that underneath the web the plant does definitely have some damage but you seem to think this is not related. What else could it be? If it is fungal any ideas on how to treat it?

 

Fernside, the leaves have been scorched at some point, either by wind or sun, and this has let in the secondary condition, which is a form of botrytis (fungus). Spraying with a contact fungicide should sort the problem. David.

 

Many thanks for your response - will give it a go.