A healthy start to autumn
Warmth and damp need not lead to problems, says Ruth
THE turning colours and late warmth make the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness one of my favourite times of year. However, late sunshine, calm weather and increased rainfall make autumn a Shangri-la for pests and diseases.
Nip potential problems in the bud by making sure your garden is as hygienic as possible, sweeping the patio, removing weeds, deadheading, and removing dead and dying plant material.
The main problems in early autumn are the re-emergence of slugs and snails, continuing problems with aphids, and vine weevils in patio pots. These can all be dealt with using chemicals, organic sprays or nematodes – biological controls that parasitise specific pests and are safe to use around children, pets and garden wildlife.
Common diseases at this time of year are mildews and moulds that thrive in warm, still, damp conditions exacerbated by summer growth starting to go over, creating lots of soft, dying material.
There are fungicides available to treat most problems, but at this stage of the season your best bet is to remove and burn or bin all affected growth.
1 Fungal diseases such as hollyhock rust are common. Cut off and dispose of affected material and get rid of whole plants if badly affected.
2 Watch out for vine weevils. Adults eat notches in leaves, while larvae eat the roots. Treat with a chemical or nematode (see panel, right).
3 Warm, damp conditions where there is little air movement is a breeding ground for moulds and rots. Again, remove and bin affected material.
4 It’s a constant battle against slugs and snails. Use a nematode, or trap and collect them under hollow orange skins and dispose of them.