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that show signs of entrance holes. This stops the larvae from escaping into the soil and pupating. Rake the soil around affected trees in winter, so the exposed sawflies are killed by frost.applesearly to late-summerMore common apple and pear trees problems

Hungry, voracious caterpillars can be found in a wide variety of colours and sizes. Some feed on fruits, roots and stems, but the likes of the cabbage white butterfly, hawk moth and winter moth feed on leaves. Although they may at first seem

Earwigs, which can be up to 14mm long, hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. The females lay eggs in late-winter, usually in the soil, which hatch in spring. Although earwigs can damage plants, they also eat small pests and their eggs

,greenhouse and house plantssummer, autumn, winterMore common garden pestsAphidsPhormium mealybugThripsWhitefly

, nibbling U-shaped notches out of the edges.Pick off the beetles by hand and destroy.broad beans, peassummer, autumn, winterMore advice on growing peas and beansKeeping capsid bugs away from beans.Watch Monty's video demonstration on sowing pea seeds

-the-counter solution.pearssummer, autumn, winterMore advice on growing pear treesRemoving codling moth from pear treesTreating apple and pear scabPreventing pear leaf blister mite

foliage. With large numbers of leaves, they are best left or the rose will suffer. In winter, carefully fork over the soil around the base of the rose to expose the larvae to hungry birds, but don't damage the roots.In the case of large infestations, try

, such as canker, can set in.Congregations of fluffy, white, waxy aphids cause localised swellings on branches. If the swellings split open in winter, infections can set in.Blast off the fluffy, sticky aphid mass with a high-speed jet of water. This won't cure

.Remove infected leaves from plants as soon as the fungus is seen. In winter, when the hollyhock dies down, clear away any infected leaves as they will harbour the fungal infection. Weeds such as common mallow, which are related to hollyhocks, also harbour rust so

a mulch of well-rotted compost, and regularly feed and water. Keep deadheading.rhododendrons, azaleasspring, summer, autumn, winterCommon fungal problems affecting plantsRose blackspotIris leaf spotPrimula leaf spotBlack spot