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The orb webs of the garden spider, Araneus diadematus are much in evidence as the nights get cooler, especially in the morning when their dew- or rain-covered tracery is revealed all over the bushes.It's fascinating to watch them being created first

-made ones.This was no news to me. I've been trying to attract bumblebees to nest in my garden for years. My bumblebee nester has made a great home for spiders, but no bumblebees have ever shown interest. I even added some mouse litter from the local pet shop

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

in there.The garden spiders, Aranaeus diadematus, are starting to get very large and obvious, especially those round the compost bins. We compost everything we can, including kitchen waste, so clouds of fruit flies emerge every time I lift off the lid. Even

, death.Destroy infested plants. Check new plants carefully to make sure they are not infected.phormiumsall year roundMore common garden pestsMealybugsRed spider miteEuonymus scaleCapsid bugs

Plant bulbs, corms and tubers like achimenes, begonias, gloxinias in potsSow coleus and other houseplantsWatch out for pests, like whitefly and red spider mite, and treat at oncePut a mouse trap in your greenhouse if you find seeds and plants being

and on shoot tips for signs of whitefly or red spider mite. Treat immediately, or introduce biological pest controls

, and damp down the floor every morningBe on the lookout for pests, including whitefly and red spider mite, and treat at once with a suitable spray or biological controlPot up rooted cuttingsPinch out the tips of cucumber sideshoots two leaves beyond a female

and grow bags with tepid water, if possible. Try leaving a few full cans of water in the greenhouse to warm upSend off for biological pest controls for whitefly and red spider mitePropagate lilies from bulb scales, digging bulbs from the garden to remove a

Hang up yellow sticky traps to monitor and control whitefly and other flying pestsFeed begonias and other plants in potsTreat red spider mite with a biological controlTie ripening melons to sturdy supportsPot on rooted cuttings to keep plants growing