Pests, Diseases and Cures

We had the same problem with emergency housing & cat fleas, the place had been empty for a while & then suddenly it was jumping. We didn't use any pesticides, just kept hoovering & it was over in a week or so, they couldn't feed off us (although they tried) and just starved to death.

im a gardener ,theres a bloke at work who cant prune conifers as he comes up in a rash ,i think this is quite common!

Cut down the plum and get the roots ground out - a bit expensive. Get rid of what you can and dont be tempted to either keeping it for the insects/birds or using it as mulch.Make sure you keep all your other plants healthy and well fed and always clear away and dispose of tree and shrub...

I'm fearing the worst now as no signs of new shoots.

Daitheplant - thanks for the advice. This tree is a replacement for one that didn't thrive, although that was rootballed. I paid a bit extra on top for a pot grown specimen thinking that it would fare better. It can't be anything to do with the soil as it was planted in a good layer of tree...

Hi Hoka and welcome to the forum.The pest you are reffering to on your lupins is called a Lupin Aphid.Horrid little blighters and I have found the best way to get rid of them is to spray them with Pravado Ultimate Bug Killer which you can get in an Areosol spray can. It is a systemic bug...

seed

Hope you find a solution kels, we have a pair that visit our garden regularly, mainly to drink from the pond, know last year they had cubs too, heard them calling in the night, freeeeaky sound, must say I don't mind them they don't do any damage, but we do have a big rabbit problem and they help...

Hi Shelby, With indoor grown Ivy there is very little else that can damage them. They are very prone to over watering-even if the leaves look like they are dried to a frazzle they could still be getting over watered, you should only ever water them if the soil feels dry-not a bit moist but...

Thanks for setting my mind at rest Jazid!

I go "Slug Lamping", armed with a large pair of scissors and a powerful led torch, I go out about 10pm and look for the slugs. When I find them I cut them approximately in half. the birds are welcome to the remains (at least they don't have to chase them).

What?? You are having a hot spell?? You lucky thing We are simply having rain, rain, and rain Some of my own acers are drying up on the leaf edges We haven't been having a normal summer here, so one has to expect some signs of stress in these plants

I highly doubt this as squirrels are "diurnal" (animals of the day) and most common breeds of rats are "nocturnal". This is genetically built into them. Does this mean that the Squirats are insomniacs?

Ahhh... Sprintails eh? - Many thanks guys, I feel much better knowing that they aren't going to eat me or my plants : ) yes, I probably am a horticultural hypocondriact.I doubt I'll kill they little things, as they don't sound like they do any harm to anything. But I may stick to sterilised...

I have French marigolds in pots, about 8 of them, just dotted around the greenhouse. They make the greenhouse look pretty and their pungent smell ( I dont dislike it ) helps deter aphids from the tomatoes they are guarding :skp:

You could perhaps put some plastic around the plant / container so that the rain runs off,rather than into, the container? That would prevent it getting any more wet in the winter. Or move them into garage / under carport / overhang (they'd need light periodically if in garage though, so that's...

glad its not just mine then

Thanks for this. They seem to be doing better now, with new growth, and it doesn't seem to be spreading as I had first feared. So, I think it probably was mainly due to underwatering, and maybe a bit of leaf spot too.

Hornbeam, I am starting to get confused, my friend. Never mind, I get confused when I read simple poetry so it doesn't take much. I do like the "legend" that slugs pollinate Aspidistras so I'll spread that word - folks will be well impressed!Cheers! Roy

Not if you keep using Provado, Strongy!!