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| Small Garden Pests |
Article 2 – Controlling Small Pests:
Aphids
These pests are the bain of many gardeners and spread death and disease if left uncontrolled. Often called Blackfly or Greenfly, they feed on the sap of plants often causing poor or defunct growth and disease. They are particularly prolific in greenhouses where the warm conditions contribute to their breeding. They can be removed with insecticides (such as pyrethrum) or controlled organically on a small scale by the purchase a release of increased numbers of ladybirds. Greenfly can also be organically deterred by using careful planting and spacing of Marigolds and Tagetes amongst the vegetable plot rows as they avoid these plants.
Caterpillars
These common pests eat tremendous amounts of vegetation when hatched and can destroy whole crops of leafy vegetables in a matter of days, inducing disease and plant death. Adult moths and butterflies (which do not damage the plants) lay eggs during the spring/summer and consequently are responsible for the hordes of caterpillars which descend upon the vegetable plot in mid summer-autumn on plants such as cabbages, brassicas and greens. Caterpillars are usually combated by using contact insecticides such as trichlorphon, derris and fenitrothion.
Froghoppers
There are many names for these common pests and they are all known collectively for their encasement in cuckoo spit (a frothy spit like substance) on the tips or young plants. They are particularly prevalent on the leaves of lavender, chrysanthemums and roses. They can be controlled by the use of a firm spray of gamma-HCH or nicotine including insecticides. You may also try the use of semi-diluted washing up liquid as an organic alternative.
Red Spider Mite
Red spider mite are most commonly found on the underside of plants in the greenhouse and are notoriously difficult to remove, due to their increasing tolerance and adaptation to household insecticides. It is vital therefore that you alternate between as many forms of chemicals as possible in order to combat these for fear of them building on their resilience. Malathion, dimethonate or the fungicide dinocap can all be used to control these destructive pests.
Slugs and Snails
The most destructive and common of all of the small pests. These only come out regularly at night and in damp weather. Insecticide pellets containing Metaldehyde (the blue pellets) are effective but may be extremely dangerous to household pets and birds. Organic methods would include the use of copper piping / strips (which contains a small electrical charge and thus electrocute the bug), bran flakes (which expand in the slugs’ stomachs) and beer (which will attract but not kill).
Suckers
These small pests are closely related to Aphids (Greenfly mainly), however, have wings to fly from plant to plant. They infest plants then feed on plant sap and infect and distort young growth. Apple suckers and pear suckers are the most prevalent and can be controlled by the use of a winter spray of tar oil or DNOC/petroleum. Dimethoate will also control the sucker population in the garden and greenhouse. |
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