Pests, Diseases and Cures

Hi Paul,I had the same problem with my Hosta's and also my Echinacea, I found that the slug pellets worked well. If you get the green waxy ones they will be safe around pets too!Hope it helps."Its a dog diggidy dog not a ball and a chain" :D

Hi ismeval the black slug(arion ater)is probably the least damaging of all the slugs an omnivorous species, eating carrion and dung as well as vegetable matter. It prefers rotting vegetation to living plants and consequently rarely does much harm in the garden. Largely nocturnal, but large...

Yes good idea.I will get my camera out tomorrow hopefully.Thanks Pete

I ventured out into the pouring rain this afternoon to have a look in the garden. I had a good look at the potaotoes and tomatoes which I planted in a portion of my neighbours' garden, and noticed some blight on both lots of plants which i hadn't seen before. I think it may be too far along to...

Tropical I agree with you entirely, and, monroe, when you`ve cut out all the affected parts spray the rest with a systemic fungicide every 10 days. David.

Hi mum4t. Is there a cat in the area? if there is it could be that it is " spraying " that is marking it`s territory. This causes the lower foliage of the tree to die. David.

Thanks Lisa. Obvious really, but too intelligent for me - I'll go look now.Kate

We had early blight this year on our potatoes, it started about 6 weeks ago on the earlies now we all have it on every plot on the allotment, i planted 28lb of maincrop this year, there now infected. did the spraying work, NO!

I found this on another gardening forum, just wondering whether or not anybody has tried this method before, and if they have was it a good way of getting rid of slugsThe old idea of making slug traps with beer is very effective but can be expensive as the beer either gets rained out or dries...

Thankyou v much David x

they've not been in that long (18 months) and went into pretty ****py ground (improved) i've popped some growmore round to little effect, i will dose them up with iron and a splash of trace elements. cheers lads

Yes its been very useful! How long can they stay in the ground after you've chopped the foliage off?

Hello again!!I gave up trying to find out for sure what they were and asked my husband to pick them all off individually............poor thing - but he has done a wonderful job! He has saved two shrubs by doing this.......bless

Try soaking nettles in water for 10 days instead, as with the rhubarb strain it and spray it onto the plants. I havent tried this yet, but Ive heard good reports.

For all you mole lovers out there the answer is mothballs. When you see a mole hill, dig down into the run and place a mothball in it, they hate the smell of camphor. Guaranteed to work without the nucleur deterent. David.

Hi Foxy, have patience, the plant is establishing iself in the ground, it`s making new roots at the expense of new leaves. Give it time. David.

Hi Clare, the damage has already been done but if I do get any more buds and these flies reappear(assuming that they are the culprits) then I will try your tip,as you said, it shouldn`t harm.

I wouldn't waste money on sprays it is seasonal depending when we get the dry and wet spells it will lose its leaves but will come back ok,I have had one that has good and bad years.

Well, after reading this article, I have bought some universal indicator and aluminium sulphate home from work today. The article gives a dilution, but doesn't say how often, just, 'throughout the growing season'. Any idea how often would be OK? Thanks

Some brilliant tips there, thankyou!One thing to be wary of with comfrey cream, never use it on a fresh deep wound. Its so good at healing your skin it can and will heal the surface before the underneath has had chance. This traps puss under the surface.