Search - Articles

Hang pheromone traps in fruit trees to control moth pests, such as codling moth larvae, which eat applesThin out congested fruit crops on peaches and nectarines, spacing fruits about 10cm apartWatch out for signs of powdery mildew or disease

, hedgehogs, beetles and other pest-eating wildlifeWatch out for red lily beetle on the tips and leaves of lilies. Squash any you find, or spray with a suitable pesticide

Water crops in growing bags and pots daily, adding a liquid feed once a weekIntroduce biological controls if you have discovered pests, such as whitefly and red spider mitePinch out developing sideshoots on tomato stemsTrain cucumbers and tomatoes

Pick herbs, lavender and everlasting flowers to hang and dryBe on the lookout for developing pest problems and take actionDig out problem lawn weeds or treat with weedkiller Re-seed bare patches in lawnsWash out pond filtersWater hydrangeas with a

and eucomis, under coverCheck all plants for signs of pests and treat immediatelySow sweet peas in potsAvoid moving Christmas cactus during autumn while they're forming flower buds, to prevent damageMove potted peaches and nectarines under cover

heaters regularlyCheck plants for signs of overwintering pestsPick faded flowers and dead leaves from plantsWater potted bulbs to ensure they never dry outScrub down staging and framework with disinfectantWash glazing inside and out to let in more light

Fix nesting boxes for birds to suitable trees around your gardenService petrol lawn mowers and power toolsKeep indoor azaleas well-watered with rainwaterMake fat cakes and hang them among roses to encourage bluetits to feed off overwintering pests

Birds bring gardens alive, and in so many ways they make gardening worthwhile. It's lovely having them as companions, delving into newly dug soil for worms and pests, but better still when they take up residence and make a nest.What better accolade

). For now, the important thing to remember is that frogs, toads, hedgehogs and birds can all help the gardener in the battle against slugs and snails, but if you don't have pests to feed these welcome predators they're not going to take up residence

few weeks, stopping two weeks prior to the show. In the final week we'll just remove the flower heads that are going over.As spring advances, so do the pests. We've had our first outbreak of aphids, and have responded by spraying the plants