GARDEN GURU

Last year, something

Q stripped the leaves from my gooseberry bush overnight. How can I prevent it happening? Len Butterfield

AIt sounds as if your plant was attacked by the caterpillarlike larvae of gooseberry sawfly. To prevent defoliation again, check your plant daily from late March and immediately remove any larvae – make sure you look under leaves. If necessary, use organic pesticide.

My euonymus is covered in Q white and black-looking bugs that don’t appear to move.

I’ve sprayed with insecticide but they are still multiplying. How do I get rid of them?

Angie Rayappan

The pest is euonymus scale, A a sap-sucking insect that was first spotted in Britain back in the 1950s – the white, elongated ones are the males, while the black, pear-shaped scales are female. Infested plants will look unhealthy and leaves will drop prematurely. Prevent them going downhill further by spraying with organic pesticide (Neudorff’s BugFree Bug and Larvae Killer is ideal) in late spring, followed by a repeat application in early autumn.

I planted two cherry trees

Q about two years ago. They produced very little blossom last year and no fruit. Is this normal? John Griffiths

Cherry trees can take seven A years to bear fruit freely.

Give them a boost by scattering granular fertiliser over the soil now and in early spring and mulch with manure or garden compost.