These sections are updated regularly with all of the answered questions that pass through the Gardeners Club, so click back and check each section periodically for future assistance in your garden.
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Questions & Answers - Other Pests
| Aphids
|
From:
Freddie L, UK |
|
What are the small grey scabby things
with white sticky stuff underneath that seem to be infesting
my trees and shrubs? How can I treat them?
|
 |
From Christine J, UK
This could be woolly grey aphids. If it is, it is hard to
control once you have it. With deciduous trees and shrubs
you can apply a winter wash when all the leaves have dropped.
Otherwise a program of systemic spraying in the spring should
kill off the emerging aphis as they hatch. If you manage
to kill most of them off, this should help control further
attacks. Apparently it has been getting more of a problem
because we have not had enough winters to kill them off
properly.
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|
Badgers
|
From: Jan G, Clevedon, UK |
|
Please can anyone out there tell me how to
stop badgers making our lawns look like a battlefield every night?
Jan |
|
From John S, UK
Badgers are a protected species. To stop them
digging/burrowing in your lawn you may have to resort initially
to
the Local Council Environmental Officer. The Local Branch of English
Nature can also assist with the help of The Conservation Officer.
There should be a Local Badger Group, which would be able to advise
you on how to proceed to stop Badgers digging up your lawn.
(Badgers are protected from Humans not the other way round).
The NATIONAL FEDERATION OF BADGER GROUPS can be contacted on:-
15 Cloisters Business Centre,
8 Battersea Park Road,
London SW8 4BG
Tel:- 020 7498 3220
Fax:- 020 7627 4212
e-mail elaine.king@nfbg.org.uk
web.site www.nfbg.org.uk
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Blackbirds
|
From: Joe M, UK |
|
I need some advice. my discovery apples are being eaten by a pair of blackbirds. they have bitten into 10 apples. please help. Thank you, Joe |
|
From Michael Barratt, The Gardeners
Club resident gardener
Apples and other top fruit being eaten by Blackbirds or Starlings
is not uncommon at this time of year as both the high moisture and
sugar content of the ripening fruit are very attractive to them.
Keeping them off will not be easy and will to a degree depend on
the size of tree. Netting is one option, (black is better) to be
placed over the whole tree, but care must be taken to ensure that
they cannot fly under the tree and become trapped within the netting.
The other option is there are a variety of harmless (both to humans
and animals) sprays that can be applied over the tree as deterrents
and are freely available from garden centres. Most are short term
effect and may need several applications relative to the weather.
From Anne, M
I was having all my fruit eaten by crows and I hung strings with
old computer discs (all the ones I have received unsolicited through
the post from various ISP's) about 3 feet apart along them between
the trees. They make excellent bird scarers! Anne
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| Chafer
Grubs - Nematodes |
From
Adrian, UK |
|
I look forward to the demise of these horrible grubs (last year
we lost the whole of our back lawn and ended up digging the whole
lot up and returfing it this spring-we removed 2 bucket fulls
of the beasts from the old lawn when we dug it up)Can I ask a
couple of questions?
1. The other lawns around us are infested with these little devils
(Including
out front lawn) Once I've applied the nematodes will I have to
do it again
next year, or will the nematodes survive to attack next years
larvae as the
beetles will obviously invade our lawn from the surrounding gardens.
2.
We also get the daddy longlegs here too. will the nematodes in
the Chafer
pack kill these too?
|
|
From Clare, Gardeners Club Secretary
Hi Adrian
In answer to your questions:
1. As with all nematodes, they will die back to background numbers
when their food source ie chafer grubs is exhausted. Once the
lifecycle is broken by killing one generation of grubs you should
get several clear years before more invade from elsewhere however,
if adjacent lawns are also infested, this could be a problem as
adults will fly over from other gardens.(You should try to persuade
your neighbours to use Nemasys Chafer Grub Killer as well!)
2. The nematodes in the Nemasys range are specific so would need
to by Nemasys Leather Jacket Killer to kill leatherjackets, the
grub stage of daddy-longlegs. This is available on the Gardeners
Club site:- www.gardenersclub.co.uk/clubshop.asp
Damage
caused by birds and animals searching for food is pretty similar
for both chafer grubs and leather jackets, but if the damage is
the pest eating the roots, chafer grubs are the more voracious
feeders.
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Chafer Larvae
|
From: Tim M, UK |
|
Can you tell me if there is any way of getting
rid of Chafer larvae in my lawn; apart from anything else badgers
love them and they are digging up my lawn!
|
|
From Alex M, UK
Hi Tim, try spraying with Gamma-BHC (Lindane) although the best
cure is digging to expose them to the birds (obviously not suited
to your situation)..........A
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| Deer |
From
Kara, St Louis |
|
I just purchased and planted gerbera daisies and carnations. I
thought, after the planting was finished, about deer. Will they
eat my flowers? When I woke up this morning one of my daisy heads
were gone, but I am not sure if it was because of deer or children.
If deer like to eat these flowers, is there anything that will
hinder their feast?
|
|
From
Michael Barratt, The Gardeners Club resident gardener
Deer, as lovely as they are, are terribly destructive in the garden.
The main plant group that they tend to avoid are those plants
that have aromatic foliage, such as Balm, Eucalyptus, Lavender,
Rosemary, Perowskia, Sage, Thyme, Santolina, Laurel.
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|
Deer
|
From: Pat, UK |
|
Need help. Can you please tell me of any plants
deer don't eat.
They don't eat Rhodes or Azaleas.
|
|
From Michael Barratt, The Gardeners
Club resident gardener
Deer, as lovely as they are, are terribly destructive in the garden.
The main plant group that they tend to avoid are those plants that
have aromatic foliage, such as Balm, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Rosemary,
Perowskia, Sage, Thyme, Santolina, Laurel.
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if you can help |
Fish/Slug Eggs
|
From: Martin B, UK |
|
Can someone describe to me what fish eggs
look like in a pond and where they will be found? I appear to have
egg like things appearing all around the edge of the pond in the
greenery.
|
|
From Alex M, UK
If these egg like things are ouside the water and are about 1/8th
inch diam and are are white in colour this suggests to me the are
'Slug' eggs my advice to you is 'crush them.
I believe different fish have different laying habits i.e.eggs stuck
to underwater plant life or buried in the gravel at the bottom of
the pond. Sorry I can't be more helpful.......A
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| Foxes |
From
Pauline, UK |
|
We have a family of foxes living in the overgrown alley behind
our houses,
they come into the gardens and dig up plants, dig out flowerpots
and worst
of all mess all over the lawn and paths, no food of any kind is
available
to them so why do they keep coming.Can you suggest a good deterrent
that
has worked.
|
|
From John, UK
Try mixing a chemical repellent called Renardine, a black liquid
usually obtained from garden centres, with some sand until it
becomes slightly discoloured. Scatter the sand around the area
the foxes are fouling and digging. This should then discourage
the problem. Since foxes are creatures of habit they will quickly
learn to avoid the area.
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|
| Frogs |
From
Simon, Coventry |
|
I recently (March) emptied my pond, and filled it with rubble,
it cannot re-fill as I have opened up the liner at the base so
it drains away. I have also now decked over the entire area and
sealed all the edges. What I now need to do is rid my garden of
FROGS as my partner has a very real phobia about them, I removed
almost 60 of the little blighters to a nearby stream at the time
of emptying, but have since taken out approx. 20+ more.
I have gone to enormous lengths to stop anything getting into
the garden from outside the fences etc. but they STILL keep returning.
I have created a lovely serene, Mediterranean style garden, but
cannot enjoy it due to my partner's phobia, can anyone help please.
|
|
From Robert
The frogs will eventually stop returning as the generations that
were born in your pond die out. Some of the frogs will remain
in your garden in any moist sheltered area, living off your garden
pests such as slugs.
From David, UK
Like slugs&snails etc;they return to where they came from/covering
large distances/it is a very large pond;they need to be re-located
to .like a large town or village pond.a river &stream passes
through.they need land /woods to forage for food etc...take steps
to cure her phobia;for both your sakes;a former of mine ,it was
pidgeons;around her on the ground &in the air..
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Houseplant pests
|
From: Brian S, UK |
|
My houseplants have been enjoying the summer
out on the patio. Some I have placed in the border still in their
pots. In September it will be time to bring them in again before
the first frosts arrive.
Before I bring them indoors, what can I do to remove all the leather
jackets, ants and the like that are probably enjoying the shelter
in the pots. The last thing that I want is to put a pot on the dinning
room table and then find that all manner of wildlife is starting
to creep out from the pot.
|
|
From Elizabeth C, UK
In short Brian ................. Repot them.
Tip them out, shake off present soil, inspect for a creepies and
repot into some nice, new compost. I quite agree about your creepies,
you can well do without them crawling all over everywhere. My problem
here is Woodlice. My greenhouse is alive with them despite frequent
murderous sessions .
Best of luck ............Elizabeth.
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Leaf Curl on Roses
|
From: George H, UK |
|
Some of our roses are displaying leaf curl;
what causes this and what is the cure? George UK
|
|
From Elizabeth, UK
Roses with leaf curl or just generally poorly looking - mine are
exactly the same and I blame the cold winds we have been having
and even frosty nights.
I have pruned mine again to give them another go. ..... Elizabeth.
From Alex M, UK
Sounds like your problem is "sawflies". Getting rid of
them is a bit of a problem simply because they are protected within
the curled leaf. With most sawflies you could spray them with Malathion
and this should do the trick but with this variety removing the
affected leaf/leaves seems to be the only cure. You could try spraying
with malathion to ease the problem of further leaf curl.
Sorry, thats about all I can offer.
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Lily Beetles
|
From: Diana and Barry S, UK |
|
How can I get rid of Lily Beetles? |
|
From Alex M, UK
I can suggest two methods, one organic and one chemical :-
Organic - Pick off by hand and dispose of
Chemical - Spray with Malathion to the makers specifications.
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| Mealy
Bugs |
From
John, UK |
|
What are the little white things in the soil of my house plants? |
|
From
Clare, Gardeners Club Secretary*
It sounds like they could be Mealy Bugs. They look like small
tufts of cotton wool leave a waxy mark on the leaf. Try a houseplant
insecticide, or try dabbing them with Methelated spirits.
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Pepper Maggots
|
From:
Maurice, UK |
|
Can anybody advise me please? My peppers are
being eaten as holes are appearing in the leaves. Also today when
I went to pick some fruit I found that the flesh of the peppers
was being eaten. I cannot find anything visible. Can I spray these
as I have quite alot of fruit on the plants?
|
|
It sounds like pepper maggots. If there is a tiny hole and a small,
white worm inside the pepper, it is a pepper maggot. The adult fly
lays eggs on the fruit in midsummer. When the eggs hatch, the larvae
(worm) enter the fruit. For control, Charlie Nardozzi recommends
in "Vegetable Gardening for Dummies" to cover young plants
with row covers, use reflective aluminum foil mulch to confuse the
flies, and use yellow sticky traps to catch the adults before they
lay their eggs. I hope this helps!
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Rats
|
From:
Hilary R, Suffolk, UK |
|
I am about to purchase a composter, but as our garden backs onto
a field I am concerned that we may have a problem with rats going
after the waste products - is this likely to happen?
|
|
From Julie G
Hi Hilary, with regards to rats going after the waste in your composter,
this should not happen if you only use Kitchen waste, paper, leaves,
weeds, etc. It is usually meat, bones, things like that, that attract
rats, which you dont put in composters anyway. hope this helps,
Darkcrystal
From Alex M, UK
More likely field mice, and this is more likely during the winter
months. If you use an activator to rot down your waste e,g ' Garrotta'
this might work as a deterrant.
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| Shield
Bug |
From
Tony, UK |
|
We have identified a brown beetle in the garden as a SHIELD BUG
but cannot find out much about it.
Can you please tell me how to get rid of this pest and if it actually
does cause any damage
|
|
 From
Clare, Gardeners Club Secretary*
Shield bugs belong to the Hemiptera family, although they are
often mistaken for beetles. They feed by sucking sap from a wide
range of plants but cause no noticeable damage to cultivated plants,
even when numerous. They overwinter as adults but before seeking
shelter they are seen in late summer and autumn sitting on plant
foliage in the sun. They are also visible in early summer when
they lay small clusters of eggs on the undersides of leaves. Don't
worry because this
bug is totally harmless.
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|
Thrips
|
From: Tim T, UK |
|
Pear Thrips
According to the RHS Encyclopaedia I require insecticides containing
Fenitrothion or Pirimiphos-methyl or HCH - these no longer appear
to be available at Garden Centres. Could anyone let me know what
suitable insecticides are currently available.
Regards,
|
|
From Alex M
Gamma-BHC dust contains HCH so does Doff Weevil killer and comes
in puffer packs. Another chemical for Thrips is Dimethoate and you
will find this in Doff Systemic Insecticide.
From Sarah C, UK
Try not to use chemical warfare in this day and age, look out for
biological alternatives. Most insecticedes, herbicides, etc are
POP's (persistant organic pollutants) which are similar to dioxins,
and will linger in the environment for years and years. Needless
to say that these compounds are toxic, they do not degrade and will
accumulate over time. They are already causing severe problems in
the environment and you may have heard that the pyres of diseased
animals left over from foot and mouth have been put out due to dioxins.
Good look finding an alternative, please try.
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Unknown
Pest
|
From: Janice G, North Somerset, UK |
|
Has anyone any suggestions as to what could
be digging up my lawn.
I don't think the holes are big enough for it to be badgers, although
we know they are about. In the mornings there are many small pieces
of turf and lots of holes all over the lawn. We have had suggestions
of woodpeckers, mice, rats, badgers, blackbirds, etc. Does anyone
out there know?
|
|
From Elizabeth, UK
Hi Jan,
Could be Blackbirds but more likely to be a Thrush.
If so, don't deny this lovely bird a worm or two, they are unforrtunately
a disappearing species which is such a pity and the culprit may
breed with you and delight you with their song.
From Eddie W, UK
Hi janice,
I have had the same problem, it turned out to be magpies - they
are after the leather jackets and, incidentally, if anyone out there
can give me a tip on getting rid of leather jackets in the lawn
I would be grateful.
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Unknown
Pests
|
From: Niamh, UK |
|
I have a new rhubarb plant, just coming up now, but the leaves are
being nibbled. I thought that rhubarb leaves were poisonous? What
could be eating it, slugs, pigeons??? And what can I do? There was
another rhubarb plant in the garden when we moved in, buried in
undergrouwth, and the same thing happened to it when it was uncovered,
and this new one is in a different area. Please help, as I love
rhubarb crumble!!
|
|
From Mr Clark, UK
I would clear the area around the plants & put down a mass of
crushed egg shells & butter tubs of beer & wait & see
what it catches. It could be slugs. Some creatures are not affected
by some poisons and if so, gravel spread around the rhubarb in the
same way should work, still continuing with the beer - the stronger
the better - its the smell that is the attractant.
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| Wasps |
From
Kate, UK |
|
I have a hardwood bench and table which have both been treated
with the recommended oil. Wasps are stripping only the table.
Do you have any idea what can be done to stop them, and why they
are attacking only the table (it is clean!).
|
|
From Angela, Gardeners Club Secretary
If you feel wasps are doing significant damage to wooden garden
structures, the best remedy is to apply a wood preservative. I
have also heard that vinegar repells wasps, so you could try placing
a bowl of vinegar under the table.
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|
Water
Lily Beetle
|
From:
Martin B, UK |
|
Could someone tell me what to do about Nymphaea
(Water Lily) Disease. Mine appear to have tracks in the leaves as
if something is eating them - a micro organism or something. Most
grateful for all help so far on other subjects - thanks!
|
|
From
Alex M, UK
Hi Martin, sounds like the 'Water Lily beetle and/or its larvae.
They are most active June to August.
Your problem is you cant use any chemical pesticides because this
might kill your fish,so the best thing to do is to regularly spray
with a strong jet of water or submerge the foliage to dislodge
the beetle/larvae which the fish will eat.
nb dont leave the leaves submerged or this will kill off your
water lily......A
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|
 |
From Martin B, UK
Not a question but a thanks for advice, to Alex M. uk. The water
lily problems seem to have been resolved thus far....thanks for
your suggestion. Martin B |
|
 |
Previous Q & A's
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Composting
Flowers
Lawns
Pest, Diseases and Weeds
Ponds
Sundries (non-plant)
Seeds and Bulbs
Trees and Shrubs
Fruit and Vegetables
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