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Solving Garden problems
Ants in the garden
The most effective way to get rid of ants is to remove their food supply. Ants like the sugary secretions that are a by product of aphids and scale insects . If you notice ants crawling up and down shrub stems then look for their food supply and deal to them. The ants will soon move on. Finely chopped sage sprinkled around your plants will also deter them.
Black aphids.
I wondered why my leeks seemed to be getting smaller and the leaves bending down.a closer inspection revealed the undersides of the leaves were thick with black ants. My poor leeks were literally having their life blood or sap sucked from them. I grabbed my handy premixed spray can of Confidor and gave the leaves a good spray.It was almost instant death to those little suckers.It is rare for me to use a chemical insecticide but sometimes you just need to have a quick fix handy. I’ll check again in a few days to catch any newly hatched aphids.
It is important to keep a regular look out for pests and diseases. If you take measures early on you can remedy the problem quickly and effectively.
Frost protection.
Spray frost tender plants with Vapourgard from now on. This magic compound puts a protective coating on the plants and protects plants from frost damage down to minus 3 degrees. If frosts are experienced night after night then other measures such as draping frost cloth over susceptible plants willl have to be carried out. Vapourgard is easy to use. It is a viscious substance that mixes readily with water at 15mls per litre of water. It goes on clear and gives the leaves a polished shiny look.Use a watering can or pressurized sprayer.The trick is to get a good coverage.If plants are still actively growing then repeat after every new flush of leaves.Otherwise one application every three months is adequate.
Slaters in the garden.
These are not a problem. They are the earths scavengers eating dead material and returning it to the soil as compost. Heavy populations of slaters mean you have a lot of dead and rotting material around. If you remove it then your slaters will go elsewhere for their food supply.
Using animal manures in the garden safely.
As a rule if it looks like animal manure then don’t use it. It will be too fresh. Instead compost the manure with other bulky material such as straw or sawdust and wait for it too decompose. Use your nose as well. It’s okay for it to smell a little but if your nose wrinkles up then the manure is too fresh to use on the garden.
Watering house plants through winter
More houseplants are killed by being over watered than from being under watered. During winter the air is cooler and plants lose less water through their leaves. If the house is heated then you will need to keep watering regulary. However the air will be a lot drier. This loss of humidity causes browning on the edges of the leaves on many species. To counter this keep a bowl of water near your indoor plants. The water will evaporate in the heated room and will moisten the air. Alternatively choose large saucers for under your plants. Fill them with pebbles and keep the saucers topped up with water. This will give each plant its individual climate. Plants with hairy leaves such as African violets will appreciate a weekly trip with you into the bathroom while you take a shower. The hairs soak up the moisture
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