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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

the problem long-term but deals with the aphids in the short-term.Spray the tree with thiacloprid the moment you spot any aphids. Small numbers are far more easily tackled than large, rapidly multiplying infestations.apples, crab apples, cotoneaster, hawthorn

.Minor attacks can be tackled by promptly removing all affected leaves. Also, destroy any that fall on the ground, as these can still carry the eggs or adults.Significant attacks are best tackled by spraying the plant with thiacloprid, a systemic insecticide

of yellow-green or red.If the symptoms were evident last summer, in winter get rid of the eggs by spraying plants with an enzyme wash, which will quickly dissolve them.In spring, spray plants with the systemic insecticide thiacloprid or pyrethrum to kill

and squish them. You could also spray with organic pesticides based on pyrethrum in spring and summer.Again, there's no real need to control the beetle, but you can kill them by spraying with a bug spray that contains thiacloprid.mint, pennyroyal

. In severe cases, growth becomes distorted, leaves curl up, the plant weakens and can die.Natural predators, such as birds, earwigs, ladybirds, lacewings, hoverflies, ground beetles, spiders and parasitic wasps are a gardener's best allies. Some

The horse chestnut scale insect was first found in the UK in the late 1960s, having come over from southern Europe. It is now widespread and common in the south of the UK and Ireland, and is spreading northwards. Mature, adult horse chestnut scale insects are up to 5mm long and c...

be used on houseplants and in greenhouses to attack the western flower thrips. Organic pesticide sprays are available, which are based on plant oils or pyrethrum.Ornamental plants can be sprayed with insecticides containing methiocarb or thiacloprid

one edge. Brush the clean edge of the card over the top of your plants - when the beetles hop into the air they'll stick to the grease. Repeat as necessary.Use pyrethrum chemical controls, or spray seedling brassicas with a thiacloprid insecticide

infestations, scrape off the scales by hand and dispose of them. For heavy infestations, prune out those branches that are badly affected. Spray with a plant oil wash in winter.euonymusmid-July, early September, winterMore common garden pestsWhiteflyLeaf miner