Keeping your garden healthy and weed-free is an on-going challenge, so why not tap into our horticultural knowledge banks to find some solutions.
Currently 118 solutions listed
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Vine Leaf Blister Mite (Pests)
Description: These mites are very small about .2mm are not visable to the naked eye. The first sign of these mites is the blister-like swellings on the upper surface and corresponding dips in the underside full of tiny hairs.
Affects: Vines
Solution: Lime Sulphur spray has been shown to help control these mites.
Note: Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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Vine Moth (Pests)
Description:
These are large and colourful (black with yellow lines and red spots)with long white hairs over the body. The larvae cause damage by chewing the vine leaves and leaving large holes.
Affects:
Vines
Solution:
There are two non chemical options:
Spray with Dipel as soon as caterpillars are seen. Respray weekly and after rain.
Spray with a Spinosad based product ie Yates Success Naturalyte
Note: Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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White Fly (Pests)
Description: The young whitefly is pale yellow while the adult is white and they collect in large numbers under leaves. As sap suckers they facilitate the spreading of disease systemically, though the loss of sap and their toxic saliva also cause rapid loss of vigour in the plant. They also secrete a honeydew which encourages the formation of sooty mould.
Affects: Tomatoes, beans, cucumber and most greenhouse vegetables and ornamentals.
Solution: Hose them off in the first instance , spray with soapy water or Pest Oil
Montdorensis is an Australian predatory mite that feeds on thrips, whitefly, other small insects and mites is available commercially.
Systemic chemical sprays also suitable are Confidor, Pyrethrum. Note the Confidor is known to be harmful to bees and should not be used on or around plants that are in flower.
Note: Many chemicals sold can be harmful to other insects as well as some animals and in some cases, humans.
Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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White Louse Scale (Pests)
Description:
Small white scales that look like desiccated coconut and are scattered over the bark of citrus plants sucking sap. This is a species of hard scale, the scales spread along branches and trunk causing severe damage if not kepted in check.
Affects:
Citrus
Solution:
Spray with Lime sulphur during winter.
Note: Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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White Wax Scale (Pests)
Description: These scales are of the soft variety in that they produce 'honeydew' which encourages ants and sooty mold. The scales are white and once sessile and tend to be found on twig where they suck the sap protected by the white scale.
Affects: A wide range of plants including Citrus, Gardenia and Syzigium (illypilly)
Solution: Remove infested branches and rub off any small areas of scale. If removing by hand, wear gloves as the scale leave an orange stain. It is best to remove the scale in early spring before the eggs hatch and the crawlers leave the protection of the white scale.
Spray with White Oil whilst the nymphs are still mobile in late spring.
Once the scale have are stationery and protected by the cover a mix of oil and pyrethrums have shown to work.
Note: Many chemicals sold can be harmful to other insects as well as some animals and in some cases, humans.
Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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Winter Grass (Weeds)
Description:
Wintergrass causes many problems to lawns. The grass grows during winter, produces lots of seed heads and can take over the lawn during winter. In summer it dies off leaving large bare patches to encourage more weeds to establish and places for the wintergrass to grow next season.
Affects:
Solution:
Remove by hand. Keep lawn healthy and dense by watering, feeding and mowing.
There is a product by Yates the will kill Winter Grass but it can only be used on lawns of couch or buffalo. This should be used in Autumn and Winter while the wintergrass is still developing.
Note: Many chemicals sold can be harmful to insects as well as some animals and in some cases, humans.
Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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Author: Bob Saunders.