Pests, Diseases and Cures

I don’t! Thank you, I have some in the greenhouse.

In that case a better photo, close up and in focus of the marks on the top and bottom of the leaf. Soon as I try to zoom in or magnify the picture any definition goes. Personally I still wouldn't spray with anything, the season is just about over and their job is done.

Or cider if that's your thing.

No probs @Mad Meg. I hope things improve for you next year with them. The runners are best removed on such young plants, so that's the right thing to do. It's always a learning curve isn't it? Raised beds are really useful for me as the soil is heavy clay, but they drain more quickly, so again...

They're strangely hypnotic if you watch them 'dance'

We have moved some distance from gall mite certainly. Fingers crossed for a proper cold spell this winter, which might help with control.

Newly planted conifers of that size will need lots of water to enable their roots to establish and support the branches and foliage above. The one in your photo also looks very close to the fence, casting a rain shadow which will reduce the amount of rain reaching the roots. If the trees are...

My neeps are almost ready for pulling. Planted late plugs. My pet haggi are looking forward to them.

Not seen any on my Hemoracallis.I cut back my affected fuchsias hard too, @BB3 , and that works for a season or two and then they get it badly again.I suppose in some ways the fact these pests tend to attack only one species is good, as you don't lose huge swathes of planting in an...

Don't feed it @MWSmudge - they don't need it. If you've got it in a bigger pot, the soil mix is plenty. Shrubs and trees just need good soil - they don't need fed unless they're of a type that has specific requirements, but Amelanchiers don't. A bit of mulch every so often when in a container is...

Well, here's how the summer season has gone: I have had loads of snails this year. I regularly did a hunt in the morning and transported them down to the rain garden by the road. Did one this morning as it is drizzly weather and didn't get so many so perhaps I have had some effect on the numbers...

This thread is 15 years old and sussexgardener hasn't been on the forum since 2013.

Thank you both for your replies. I will repot and see how it goes

They're best pruned after flowering, whether it's an all over haircut, or a more balanced, natural approach. They don't like being too dry, and they always flower very readily on this side of Scotland, so it's pretty difficult to overwater them unless they're sitting in a bog. They're one of the...

On further investigation it seems the central spine of the leaf has thickening slightly and almost become two ridges, though these are still firmly joined to each other.

I would be inclined to blame it on the tree taking moisture from the soil. The weather has been so crazy this last couple of years that I'm beginning to think that the usual rules don't apply any more.Personally I would clear the area as suggested by @ViewAhead, maybe cover it with bark or...

Thank you. We are in a very wet, clay area. From what you are saying it looks as if it is here to stay and I’ll have to learn to live with it. I’ll keep trying to scoop it up off the most obvious areas. It just seems odd that it hasn’t been a problem till this year. Presumably the...

I appreciate that the OP wasn’t necessarily seeking advice on neem oil but as several posters mention it, I would point out that it is not approved for use as a pesticide in the UK. A recent technical report by the HSE noted that it had negative impacts on both humans and nature. The active...

Thanks @pete . It seems to be spreading at a heck of a rate. Due to life getting in the way, (and even if I had the inclination to try and fight it), I will be pulling them out next week when the weather cools down. At least they put in a fantastic show for many weeks and the neighbours...

That’s interesting @fairygirl, I’ll have a look and see which ones my alleged perennials were. I’ve fallen in love with the Gloriosa Daisy ones, after getting some free with a magazine. Our second year growing them this year. We lost a few to slugs but not too many.