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Post by Chuckles on Feb 4, 2014 12:43:25 GMT
As I went up the garden to do the chickens this morning I noticed my Heuchera cappuccino which is in a pot looked a bit sad, on the way back I decided to give it a tidy up ::Eek:: it pulled out in one go.......VINE WEEVIL ::Eek::
On inspection there were only 3 larvae but they had eaten the main roots. The pot got emptied into the chicken run and I managed to save 2 pieces that had young roots growing so I potted them up ::FingersCrossed::
Its been so mild we will most possibly be in for a bumber year with bugs
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Post by Ladygardener on Feb 4, 2014 16:21:29 GMT
Blimey that's early Chuckles, good job you were able to get to the Heuchera in time. They do love them and Lilies too. Tig will have to start back on the look out as well, she's normally plagued with them. |
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Post by Tig on Feb 4, 2014 16:53:16 GMT
Did you know .... here is another one of my odd bits of knowledge .... that vine weevil larvae contain their own antifreeze? Even in a pot that is frozen solid they will survive! I am hopeful that lots of ladybirds and other beneficial insects will have survived too, so that there is a natural balance. I shall be watering my lilies again this year with Provado - the difference it made last year was amazing, they were all lily beetle free for over 4 months, it's just remembering to give them a second treatment before the buds set, don't want to kill the bees and hoverflies!
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Post by Chuckles on Feb 13, 2014 11:10:32 GMT
Did you know .... here is another one of my odd bits of knowledge .... that vine weevil larvae contain their own antifreeze? Even in a pot that is frozen solid they will survive! I am hopeful that lots of ladybirds and other beneficial insects will have survived too, so that there is a natural balance. I shall be watering my lilies again this year with Provado - the difference it made last year was amazing, they were all lily beetle free for over 4 months, it's just remembering to give them a second treatment before the buds set, don't want to kill the bees and hoverflies! I've read something about this Tig, I'll see if I can find it and expand on it, quite a scary thought really |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 9, 2014 18:24:51 GMT
Its that time of year when daddy long legs are mating and they then lay thier eggs in your lawn, after a couple of weeks the eggs hatch and start eating the roots of the grass ::Eek:: I had small patches on the lawn a couple of years ago and excavated to find the leather jackets. There seems to be a lot of daddy long legs around atm, I've just stamped on at least 20 of them, not sure if they had laid eggs or not. Some help www.grassclippings.co.uk/grassclippings/controlling-leatherjacket-larvae.htmlWell I obviously killied them after they had laid eggs ::Eek::  There was an area about 7ft x 2ft effected and after raking the surface off I had some help from the chickens to debug the area, Poppy was the only one that wanted her photo taken. At least I didn't have to use any nasty chemical  |
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Post by Tig on Mar 9, 2014 19:02:58 GMT
Good grief Chuckles  That was an infestation and a half! Thank goodness for your chucks, and a bit of extra protein for them. |
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 10, 2014 8:04:56 GMT
Poppy is such a great asset Chuckles, she's a pretty lady with her lovely white feathers.  |
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Post by maggy on Mar 11, 2014 16:05:56 GMT
Poppy must have thought it was Christmas  Id love to have chucks  but my two cant even leave the blackbirds alone!! pests!! |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 12, 2014 9:57:17 GMT
There were at least 20 plus clumps of larvae like the photo I posted, I could of cried tbo as that area had been newly turfed last year and was growing really well. All 3 chickens must of thought it was thier birthday and christmas rolled into one they normally get short thrift if caught scratting in the garden There are a few members that have/had chickens maggy, have a look here gardenworld.proboards.com/thread/4286/animal-farm-comes-garden-near I have a couple of cats frequent the garden and they've never bothered with the chickens. |
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Post by maggy on Mar 13, 2014 15:22:36 GMT
Chuckles my two Chihuahuas even chase blackbirds I couldn't keep them though we go away to much in the m.home. |
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Post by Chuckles on May 16, 2014 20:14:05 GMT
The red lily beetle beasts have emerged from where they've been hiding. I squished 5 this morning and 6 tonight, a couple of them were at it but they won't get chance to lay eggs now  I read somewhere that the black jelly like substance you see with the young grubs in is actually there own poo  they cover themselves in iy to supposedly fool us. |
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Post by Tig on May 16, 2014 23:37:53 GMT
I am finding them daily and they are in flight at the moment. I did find some 'poo' on the bottom leaves of a side shoot, wiped it's bum now and killed the grubs! Darned things! What with them, massive greenfly and blackfly, thrips, caterpillars and vine weevils it's a wonder we don't all just throw in the towel  Noooo, we continue to battle, stubborn gardeners that we are  |
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Post by Rosefriend on May 17, 2014 5:28:04 GMT
I started spraying with a system spray very early on when the first Lilies poked their noses through the ground and (touch wood) I have not had any red devils up to now. This morning I shall make up another 2 litres and spray the lot again - I seem to have some green fly on the roses but that seems to be all at the moment..
RF
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Post by Rosefriend on May 17, 2014 7:38:54 GMT
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Post by Ladygardener on May 17, 2014 10:48:07 GMT
I like how he writes Rosefriend. I think for sure it would stink to high heaven. So far so good with the lilly beetles, my biggest problems come from greenfly/aphids. Nasty little critters, I wish the blue tits would eat them. |
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Post by Chuckles on Aug 23, 2014 16:54:14 GMT
Has anyone had problems with Flea Beetles this year or at any time, its a new pest on me. I noticed this year lots of tiny tiny holes in the leaves on some wall flower plants I grew from seed (LG seed  ) and also on some Allysum I'd planted in pots, infact the Allysum was totally wrecked. I've sown salad leaves 3 times this year and every time its germinated and then vanished within a day or so. I kept an eye on the 3rd crop and noticed these tiny holes. I took this photo a day or two ago and everything has now vanished   |
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Post by Ladygardener on Aug 24, 2014 6:57:05 GMT
Oh dear Chuckles the flea beatles are a real pest are'nt they. I'd say it was s&s that ate the leaves after the flea beetle has made the holes. I've had a bit of damage too this year, perhaps the warm weather brought them out. We don't usually get really hot weather but did in July this year. |
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Post by Barbara on Oct 23, 2014 13:17:07 GMT
I have a problem with white fly at the moment, they are everywhere at the allotment, when I walk past the sprouts it's terrible, I sprayed last week but it hasn't done any good, I think I need a cold spell to kill them off properly, do they over winter in soil, ? if so I do need to light a bonfire when I take the sprouts out.
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Post by Jilly on Oct 23, 2014 16:58:14 GMT
hopefully a good frost will see them off Barbara, think that's the only disadvantage of these warm autumns. I'd like to remind everyone to check their pots & strangely hanging baskets (how the devil do they get up there shockex) planted with perennials, for the dreaded vine weevil grubs. Especially Heucheras, Sedums & Fuchsias. I've had a lot of damage year (mostly my own fault for not getting round with the Provado), but I'm going to give everything a dose at the weekend, even if it is a bit late. |
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Post by Rosefriend on Oct 23, 2014 17:34:42 GMT
I have a problem with white fly at the moment, they are everywhere at the allotment, when I walk past the sprouts it's terrible, I sprayed last week but it hasn't done any good, I think I need a cold spell to kill them off properly, do they over winter in soil, ? if so I do need to light a bonfire when I take the sprouts out. I hate to say this Barbara, Jilly, but although frost will kill the adults it wont kill the eggs. Olaf has had to leave one GH empty of toms this years as he hasn't been able to kill the white fly eggs... I googled a bit and found this - bit tongue in cheek - made me smile as well...still doesn't help your problem though...sorry!! www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/02/alys-fowler-whitefly-brassicasRF |
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Post by Barbara on Oct 23, 2014 19:10:53 GMT
Right then I'm burning the sprout plants in a bonfire on the part where they are growing and hope that at least kills some of them off, the sad thing is I planted marigolds all round the brassica beds and it hasn't helped one little bit, I thing Hubby would leave home if I started hoovering the greens. |
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Post by owdboggy on Oct 23, 2014 19:49:56 GMT
Provado will kill your Sedums. They are terribly sensitive to any insecticide and just turn black, as do Sempervivum, in fact any of the Crassulaceae. All I do these days is wash the roots clean and repot in fresh compost. Use a peat free one as the V.W. seem to like peat composts.
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Post by Jilly on Oct 24, 2014 7:10:20 GMT
Thanks for the timely advise owdboggy, I know provado is dangerous to some plants but hadn't realised Sedum was one of them. Sadly there wasn't a lot of root to wash, but I have planted up some of the pieces in small terracotta pots with loads of perlite & they seem to be surviving. |
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Post by Ladygardener on Oct 24, 2014 7:27:24 GMT
Jilly, I find that they survive with barely a root at all. Fingers crossed for yours. I tipped out a large container yesterday morning as I wanted to use it for bulbs and was sure I'd find some grubs but I did'nt. Thanks for the tips about Heuchera, mine are in the ground so I'm hoping they'll be ok but my Hardy Fuschia are in containers so I'll have to check on them soon too although I'm nearly sure I used the Provado on them last month.
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Post by Barbara on Oct 25, 2014 7:27:15 GMT
We went shopping last night and bought bug sprays then we went to the lotty and sprayed all the sprouts, it was dusk and not one whitefly flew up when we sprayed, and normally there are clouds of them when you spray, so hopefully we killed them in their beds, |
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Post by Rosefriend on Oct 25, 2014 7:42:42 GMT
We went shopping last night and bought bug sprays then we went to the lotty and sprayed all the sprouts, it was dusk and not one whitefly flew up when we sprayed, and normally there are clouds of them when you spray, so hopefully we killed them in their beds, Make sure on the waiting time for eating those sprouts Barbara.... I have had real problems with White fly et al and two years ago came across a system pesticide that is marvellous. No waiting time, can be used on veg and flowers and stops the real nasties... You spray twice (no more) young plants and that is it..no white fly, no red devils etc etc.. There is a normal one and a veggie one - when I went to see if I could find anything the woman, who obviously knew her stuff, said that the Veg one was exactly the same but less strength and less amount for the same money...!! She told me to get the "everything" one and also told me the reduced amount for veg and it is fantastic. My tom plants were always a pain - I was in clouds of white fly most years - this year I didn't have one - forgot to spray my beans which were next to some outdoor toms and the beans were full, the toms didn't get one!! I spray the Lilies as they emerge and then a little while later and that is it - no red devils...not one..you can also add it to the soil but I have just used it as a spray up to know. Not sure it works for VW - must look because we do not have Provado here in Germany. RF |
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Post by Barbara on Oct 25, 2014 7:50:49 GMT
Well tell us what it's called then . dont be keeping secrets from us. |
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Post by Rosefriend on Oct 25, 2014 8:07:57 GMT
Well tell us what it's called then . dont be keeping secrets from us. Hahahaha - well I didn't because I haven't a clue if it is in the UK or if it is then under another name... Here it is called Celaflor - Careo Konzentrat The stuff in it is "Acetampirid" Ideal for a long list of things , including white fly and aphids on veg including caterpillars etc!! Can be used in GH and outside.. It is not dangerous for bees, most beetles (mmmh - bet that includes VW) lacewings, ladybirds and spiders etc... You will have to google Barbara, see if the is anything similar in the UK - can't see why not as Germany is way behind in some things... I have used it for 2 years and it has saved me a lot of heartache.. Aaahhhhhh - just seen that it is also against Vine Weevils......whey hey !!!!!!!! |
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Post by Ladygardener on Oct 25, 2014 8:56:10 GMT
Very interesting Rosefriend, more investigation is needed. I use bug gun on the flowers and it normally works a treat. I never spray anything I eat but that means if I can't get rid of greenfly or whitefly I get rid of the plant. A bit drastic I know, I need to find out more about these things. |
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Post by owdboggy on Oct 25, 2014 11:28:01 GMT
Acetamiprid is a neonicotinoid and although not reckoned to be harmful to humans it is implicated in Bee colony death. Personally I would avoid using it.
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Id love to have chucks 
but my two cant even leave the blackbirds alone!! pests!!
they cover themselves in iy to supposedly fool us.
Noooo, we continue to battle, stubborn gardeners that we are 
) and also on some Allysum I'd planted in pots, infact the Allysum was totally wrecked. I've sown salad leaves 3 times this year and every time its germinated and then vanished within a day or so. I kept an eye on the 3rd crop and noticed these tiny holes. I took this photo a day or two ago and everything has now vanished 
