“Better weather means we all have to be pestvigilant now,” says Ruth
Ruth is ready to nip potential problems in the bud
THE garden is getting going now and so, sadly are the problems that go with it. Warmer weather means pests are coming out in force, and while diseases may still be thin on the ground, there are some to keep an eye out for.
The greenhouse is a flashpoint because of the combination of a sheltered environment and lots of tender young leaves. Snails may have overwintered inside and aphids will seek out the first new growth to feed on.
Both are easy to deal with; pick off and remove snails and squish small colonies of greenfly off plants before they become serious infestations.
Watch out for moulds and rots too, especially if your greenhouse hasn’t been well ventilated. Botrytis grey mould is a common problem, so ensure your greenhouse doors and windows are open on warm days and remove dead plant material. Leave space between plants in your greenhouse or mini greenhouse to let air move around them.
Slugs, snails and aphids will be equally active in the garden, so treat as soon as you see the signs. Ideally use organic sprays and pellets or, preferably, remove by hand, encourage predators into the garden (birds will flit around the garden eating aphids) or use beer-filled ‘slug pubs’ for slugs and snails.
Moles may also be a problem. Remove the soil from their hills and add it to your beds and scatter Defenders’ mole repellent granules on the flattened mounds. When the moles have moved on, re-seed the bare patches.