Pests, Diseases and Cures

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 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...

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.

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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

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

Or cider if that's your thing.

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.

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

In a small space, plants [of any kind] have to earn their keep @ricky101 , so it's better to have something that will suit your site and conditions.

yes, but not as much fun as a pair of scissors!

Yes - it'll be happier, and so will you if it's in the ground! Much easier to manage them. They're fine for a while, as most trees and shrubs are, but keeping anything like that long term in a container is a lot more work. You'll probably find that there's a lot of roots and not so much soil...

I've never seen aphids on privet, but the yellow, spotted leaves are common. Privet isn't evergreen, although people tend to think it is, but it will always drop some foliage from time to time. Usually nothing to worry about though. The healthier the hedge is, the better it will manage to shrug...