Pests, Diseases and Cures

I guess you've never seen how far rats can jump then!? As others have said, it's possible to get humane traps that don't kill the mice, maybe get hold of and deploy a couple of those and get hubby to deal with the traps once they're occupied?

Yeah, as the others have said I think ants aren't generally a problem directly, but their aphid farming habits are obviously something to keep a look out for. I tend to leave them myself, unless they start getting into the house.

Sounds like whitefly to me, Beanie. They wont be eating the plants though. More likely Keel slugs, put down some pellets.:thumb:

Thanks chaps, I stuck down some FBB meal earlier but will get some Iron of Sulphate at the weekend

Fmay, a simple tip on recognising Fireblight. If the tree looks as if it`s been set on fire, then9 times out of 10 it`s Fireblight. Also, not all cases of it are reportable. Check the Plant Health website for the current list of notifiable diseases.:thumb:

Hi all, The beetles don't survive frosts but the pupae overwinter underneath the soil near the lilies. They are quite hard to spot so I try to replace the top layer of soil either in Autumn or early Spring, before the adults emerge. They don't get down to the bulbs. Then in spring as the...

Hi Sam, I know I should avoid them-I was warned when I bought it, but I had just seen some photos of a large park in Japan which was beautiful. I imagined that is what heaven looked like. And this little buddy was my tiny piece of it. I am always torn right in two about my garden-English...

I agree Bob, bottom end rot. Irregular/not enough water. Once the plants are burdoned with swelling fruit, they develop a thirst like there's no tomorrow. Another symptom is fruit splitting as it ripens. Both are common problems with tomato growing.

Thanks - when it stops raining, I'll try to get a picture!!

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...

Have a question about commercial/chemical aphid control sprays: Do they inhibit pollination? Ie by killing or repelling the bugs that would (absent spray) pollinate the plants?

If you've got mushrooms in your lawn it's because conditions are right for them to grow there. So therefor it's almost impossible to eradicate them without damaging your lawn as well. At this time of year I'm cutting the lawn at least twice a week and any shrooms that grow disappear into the...

I see greenfly as a problem too. This year I had them on the tulips. :eek::eek: I have never seen that before. I tried the fairy liquid trick, it did not work and in the end I resorted to the chemical spray. They had spread form the tulips to the roses. The black-fly seem to be causing more...

I've seen them in the garden centre borrowers - 'peaches and cream' they may have been called?

When you sink it into the ground you also want to bend it horizontal for at least 6" as well so that there is a flat 6" of netting under the ground. Rabbits will dig down and try to get under obstructions but only try and do it alongside the obstruction. S oif they hit the netting underground...

Hi !!! They usually "feast" on hostas, French marigolds,campanulas, tall lobelia and naturally lettuce.This season,it is mainly gazanias,lupins,varigated iris leaves and flowers and shasta daisies, I wonder why?cherrio!

Well, if it is the thing I think it is it is called cocciniglia in italian... Surely it also has a name in english... but I don't know. Very helpful, I know. Check,because I am not sure without a picture, but the only egg like thing I can think of is this.

That's very helpful as it seems that once blight strikes, it progresses very quickly. Whereas, I've had brown patches for a couple of weeks and they haven't collapsed yet!Also, my neighbour shares half my garden and he doesn't have the same problem and you would have expected it to...

All this talk has made me hungry and my hunter killer obviously can read too, cos he just walked across the patio with a bunny towards his favorite eating spot. He sits on the woodchip pile and jumps on warren exiting bunnies. Good lad.