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of excavated soil on lawns and around the garden - and underground tunnels, found when digging the soil or making a new planting hole. Mole traps are very effective. Insert one in a tunnel, cover it with turf and an upturned bucket to exclude light, and check

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

(causing no damage) to be taken up by the sap-sucking whiteflies.tomatoes, cucumbers, fuchsias, other greenhouse plantsspring, summer, autumnMore common garden pestsAphidsLeaf miner flyEuonymus scaleMealybugs

. 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

kill a plant. Since there are separate fungal species that affect different plants, an attack on your curcubits won't lead to a garden epidemic. Powdery mildew and powdery mildew on roses are similar problems, with similar solutions.The first sign

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

are your best allies. Ladybirds can be bought as a biological control, and you can also buy ladybird houses to encourage these helpful creatures to take up residence in your garden. They need time to tackle the problem, so don't expect them to hoover up

Around the gardenLift dahlia tubers or protect those left in the ground Sow sweet peas now Collect seeds and berries from shrubs and flowering plantsFlowersLift and store carrots Pot up herbs to bring under cover for winter useSow green manure crops over bare areas

guide to creating a traditional hanging basketGrow strawberries in a hanging basketCreating a herb hanging basket display