Attack pests on vulnerable plants
Use nematodes to deal with those pesky, unwanted visitors
Autumn’s a great time to use biological pest control, as it’s when a new generation of pesky grubs is produced, ready to descend on our gardens and turn into adults next year. Nematodes, which are more and more widely available in garden centres these days as we try to use fewer chemicals when gardening, are microscopic organisms that feed on pests and disintegrate them from the inside out. Not a pleasant thought!
But their work is undetectable to the naked eye – as are they, coming in various forms in a paste or powder, each type labelled for you to attack a different pest that may be bothering you.
All you have to do is add some of the powdered pack of nematodes to a large watering can, as per the packet instructions, and water onto the affected area straight away. Water on again with fresh water to wash it all in, and then reapply a few more times over the next few days. A good tip is to also use nematodes in low sunlight, as they’re sensitive to it.
Sadly, for plants that are already too far gone, such as container plants that have been ravaged at the roots by vine weevil so there’s none left, you’ll have to throw them away. But for the healthy plants that are left, in about a week or two you should start to notice some nice, pest-free results.