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Of the black, red and yellow ants that are commonly seen in the garden, only the red ones (from the Myrmica species) sting. Other than that, ants are more of a nuisance than a pest. They feed mostly on insects, including other ants, and honeydew, the sweet sticky substance that a...

, and place horticultural fleece over the seedlings, which will provide a physical barrier against the pest. Some carrot varieties - 'Resistafly', 'Sytan' and 'Fly Away' - are less prone to attack.carrots, celery, parsley, parsnipsspring Common problems when

The culprit is the flea beetle, which, like its namesake, jumps away when disturbed. The small, shiny, black, brown or blue beetles emerge in April and May, after winter hibernation, ready to start feeding. Eggs laid near host plants hatch in late-summer. The beetles feed for a f...

Mole hills - piles of fresh, excavated soil - don't fully convey the extent of one mole's underground tunnel system, which can cover a surprisingly large area. If a young plant isn't developing, it could be due to tunnelling beneath it. Seedlings can also suffer badly when their ...

Every garden has its fair share of slugs and the bad news is that they are around for most of the year. They're active mostly after dark, especially when it's damp. In hot dry weather they bury themselves to avoid dehydrating.Holes are chewed in soft, new growth, young stems are ...

Turn over a leaf and you'll see 2mm long white flies. With a life cycle of just three weeks, whitefly breed very fast. Both adults and offspring are sap feeders and a severe attack will weaken a plant. They excrete the sticky excess, called honeydew, onto lower leaves where it en...

. Space plants out to ensure good air circulation, and water early enough in the day to allow the leaves to dry out before nightfall. Also remove any garden debris that might harbour the fungus.lettucessummer to autumnMore common fungal problems

's more prone to infection. Spray with myclobutanil.marrows, courgettes, pumpkins, squashsummer, autumn, winterCommon fruit and veg problemsTomato blightGooseberry mildewGrey mould on soft fruitsSooty mould

Caused by the same fungus responsible for tomato blight, potato blight causes the leaves to develop dark patches, starting at the edges. In humid conditions a white fungus appears around the marks. The infection then travels down the plant to the tubers, which turn a reddish-brow...

and the soil around it with a fungicide suitable for the control of rust fungus.roses, fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, perennials, vegetables spring, summer, autumnOther problems affecting garden plantsHollyhock rustRose rustBlack spotIris leaf spot