QUESTION.
I have a very old and very large Cyclamen. As usual in the spring I placed the plant outside for the summer. I recently brought the very healthy looking plant back indoors, but now to my despair all the leaves and
flower buds are now hanging down over the sides of the pot. What is the reason for this, is it something that I have done?
ANSWER. The most likely culprit is the Vine Weevil. This is an evil little beetle whose larvae love to eat the roots of the vine hence the name. However they also just love cyclamen roots and your plant out in the
garden would have been heaven-sent.
There are sprays applied in summer to deter the beetle, but to cure the problem now you must remove the plant from its pot. Then wash all the soil from the roots and you will find a host of small white maggots.
Remove and kill all theses maggots, making sure that none remain hidden amongst the roots. After this re-pot your plant in fresh compost and look forward to an abundant display of flowers.
Vine Weevil are a pest throughout the garden but are at their worst in pots, containers, etc. The presence of the adult beetle is often indicated by crescent shaped bites taken out of the plant's leaves. A few garlic plants amongst your favourite plants will help deter vine weevil.
Q.
Hi, hopefully you can help me, about 2 weeks ago my mother was badly stung by a bee and ended up in hospital after nearly dying due to a severe reaction to the sting. This weekend we had to dig up most of the plants due to them being bee-loving plants and gave them to the neighbours to enjoy.
Can you suggest any plants that don't attract bees or wasps or any other helpful suggestions would be greatly appreciated? Glyn.
A.
First sorry to hear about your mother, I hope she is on the road to recovery.
All plants have flowers to attract insects for pollination. My suggestion is to plant a winter flowering garden, these plants have flowers after bees and wasps have ceased activity.
Winter Jasmine; Chinese witch-hazel; Camellia; Daphne mezereum; Clematis cirrosa; dwarf Rhododendron; Vibernum tinus; Corkscrew hazel.
There are many winter flowering bulbs, winter heather's, winter pansies, and various winter flowering herbaceous plants.
Most of the above have leaves through the summer.
Q. My geraniums always suffer from scale insects what are they and how do I cope?
A.
Scale insects are small parasites that attach themselves to the underside of the leaf and plumb themselves directly into the veins of the plant; they are a serious pest. Young insects are easy to dislodge but once established they grow an ugly light yellow protective scale which slowly destroys the leaf.
There are various biological controls and spraying works on the juveniles but the real answer is plant hygiene. If you keep your geraniums over winter always destroy infected plants before storage and if buying in plants in the spring always check for infestation. Avoid infected plants like the plague.
Q.
Do you have any advice on House Plant care?
A.
Yes don't over water, don't move the plant around the house, they like to adapt to a set location, don't buy plants in adverse weather conditions, they can soon catch a chill on the way home. If a plant looks ill always check under the leaves, you will often find a multitude of creepy crawlies hiding away under there. In warm dry modern houses, many plant pests thrive,
so an insecticide strip among your plants pays dividends. There are also sticky traps, which are very effective against pests, as an alternative to sprays etc.
Q.
Shamrock plant
Hi, I have one plant and it is in the only spot in my dark apartment that has sun and light. It gets white flowers periodically and new leaves but the older leaves get brown spots on the edges. I don't water it until it is dry but once when I left for a few days, put it in saucer with water. Did this affect it? Would appreciate knowing cause of the brown spots and if anything can be done to prevent further browning of the leaves and leaf edges. Thanks so much.
A.
Try spraying for red spider mites. Also feed with a small amount of Epsom salts (Magnesium sulphate) this is needed for the production of chlorophyll, the green pigment in the leaves.
Note. Red spider mites are only just visible to the naked eye.
Q. Why are my beet tops drying out on me. I water every other day in the evening and have never had this happen before. Thank you
A. The leaves could have been attacked by the mangold fly, the grubs develop within the leaf and you can see the bulge in the leaf where they are. Gently squeeze the leaf to kill them. The beet could also be attacked by the beet carrion beetle, the beetle and its grub attack the base of the leaf, treat with derris dust.
Q. CASTANEA sativa variegata
The above tree is newly planted in ordinary garden soil, with good light & drainage conditions. Last year it had a healthy array of buds, which opened very late in the season, and the leaves produced were very small and curly. Extra watering did not improve things, and there was very little growth.
This year again there are quite a few buds, which have yet to open. Is this a diseased tree, or are the growing conditions poor?
Rob
A. This sounds like aphids or thrips over wintering inside the buds, and then taking the moisture out of the buds as they come out of hibernation. Find a recommended aphid spray.
Valecroft.
Q. Why is it that our lawn seems to take such a beating from our two dogs compared to our neighbours? The yellow spots seem to be almost impossible to keep up with this year. I had the gardener turn the soil over in the worst (1 ft diameter) spots, throwing some seed and top soil on to try and stimulate growth. However, it does not seem to be growing back very rapidly. Are there any other tricks of the trade to consistently combat this problem -and - when it does occur, what's the best way to heal the spots and regrow the grass?
Many thanks in advance for your response.
A.
Lawn troubles. I would say that your lawn is infested with SOD WEBWORMS or white grubs, both are moth caterpillars, the parent moths can be seen fluttering about when you mow the lawn. There are control products widely available, read the label on the pack for application. If your lawn is a utility area and not grown for beauty of the grass have you considered laying Astro Turf, plastic grass.
Q. My CANNAS are coming up well, but are being broken off at the base (just at
or below ground level). The leaves aren't crushed or eaten. Is there some
pest or something that would do this, or do I just have some critters
walking through? It's happened to at least 4 or 5 of my new plants while
they are 3-8 inches high. It has been rainy.
A.
CUTWORMS also known as ARMY WORMS are attacking your cannas. They are actually the caterpillars of a moth. There are control powders and sprays widely available. Read the label on the package.
Valecroft
Q. As my ornamental LILLIES come up a small bright orange bug plagues them. Last year they ate all the leaves. What can I do to get rid of these bugs?
Thanks for any help you can give
Chris
A.
These are Lilly beetles. There are systemic sprays available, there are biological controls, and all are expensive, too expensive for the small gardener. Lilly beetles are tough and shrug off normal contact sprays.
Best way is to pick them off and squash them or drown them in soapy water, as often as possible. The adult lays her eggs on the underside of the lily leaf, then when the eggs hatch out, the small grub makes its way down to the ground below, eating all the time, and digs in for the winter. Frogs eat many of these grubs at ground level, but sufficient get through for next year, so once you are infested you have a problem.
There are reports of the beetle arriving with bulbs bought at shows, etc.
Valecroft.
Q. I have a question regarding my grass.
Around the area where we keep our pool (small pool 15'x4' that we take down during the winter) there are holes in the ground that are about the size of a pencil. They look like plugs of grass and dirt have just been taken out of the ground. These holes were not there when we took the pool down last autumn, I have just recently noticed them. I was hoping that I could get some insight from you, and maybe get a solution to the problem.
I live in the mid section of Indiana, if that may have a bearing on things.
Any other info you may need I would be happy to supply.
Thank you in advance.
A.
The holes you refer to are most likely caused by birds digging out white grubs, the larvae of JAPANESE BEETLES, where the ground is soft. White grubs are a pest in lawns so best dug out.
Valecroft
Q.
A quick question.
Do cucumber plants ALSO need cutworm collars like the tomato plants do?
Bonnie
A.
A quick answer, definitely yes.
Valecroft.
Q.
My Philodendron is looking very ill, some leaves are going brown and new ones are dropping off. I have not overwatered it and it has been fine until recently. Whats gone wrong?
A.
You should carefully clip off the brown leaves, while doing so check for red spider mite, these tiny mites cause leaves to go brown on exotics. Sprays are available. Philodendrons should be treated like rubber plants, never moved, kept warm and damp and the leaves cleaned occasionally.
Some people use water, some use milk, or you can find a branded leaf cleaner at your garden outlet.
Q.
Thanks for your recent help regarding my cucumber plants.
I have another question.
I have a big MAPLE TREE in my side yard. I've lived in this house for 7 years, and the tree looks like it is in good condition.
However, this year, I'm noticing the green leaves are falling already. The leaves appear to be healthy, not at all dry or brown. It seems early for them to be falling, especially since they're still green. Is this common?
Thanks for you help. David.
A.
This could be caterpillars, if the leaves are damaged. If the leaves have a clean break, it could indicate that the water table has dropped and there is less water available to pass through the tree, therefore making some leaves redundant.
Q.
I have two CUCUMBER PLANTS that have been doing well until the last week. They have been climbing up the trellis I put up for them.
Then, in the last five days or so, they have been turning light colored from the deep green they were earlier.
Some leaves are laced
with holes and others are turning light brown and dying on the vine. At this rate there will be no cucumbers this year.
Do you think this is a disease or insect infestation? Is there any thing I can do to save the plants?
A.
This sounds like cucumber beetle, a major pest in Illinois. Some over winter in the state and attack the crop early, some go south and return early summer and attack as now. The eggs are laid at the base of the plant and the hatching grubs eat the roots, after pupating the adult beetle attacks the plant.
They also carry mosaic virus, which often kills the plant. You can spray against the beetle, but it sounds a bit late. They are a small striped shiny beetle; you can try picking the pests off the plants by hand.
Q.
Love your site. Hope you can help. We have three nut trees in our yard. They were planted over 30 years ago and are now producing nuts. However, we have attracted an infestation of squirrels.
They have taken over the trees and are constantly up on the branches dropping nuts, branches and eating as much as they can. They are now running across our roof on a daily basis. Help, what can we do to either stop the trees from bearing fruit or somehow stop the squirrels from eating them. We have never had even one nut from these beautiful walnut trees. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Helen.
A.
You have a problem here.
GREY SQUIRRELS are classed as vermin, and can be destroyed by trapping or shooting, but what would your neighbours say?
There are sprays, both organic and chemical to deter the little pests, but you would have to climb into the trees to apply. Your local authority could be called in to trap and destroy the animals, if they become too big a pest. Again, animal rights will be after you. Just make sure they don't take up residence in your roof space and start nesting. Sorry that I can't help you more.
Q.
I have the original "brown thumb" I was given several plants at my husbands passing a year ago. I have a fern, stands straight up and new leaves coming in are spiralled and connected. I have this plant in the bathroom for the moisture from the shower. It is growing new shoots but has leaves that are dying. Please help me keep this poor thing alive in spite of me.
Margaret
A.
The most likely reason for your plants ill health is red spider mite. These mites are not easy to control and are a major pest in glasshouses. Derris Dust is a long time recommended control and is organic. There are chemical sprays available and there are predatory mites available by mail order, both a bit costly for one plant. Spraying water on to the fern helps red spider mite doesn't like too much water.
Valecroft
Q.
I'm growing a small garden and my pepper plants have holes in the leaves. I'm wondering are they getting too much direct sunlight, I live in Long Beach or is it a bug that I should get bug spray for. Thanks, Jennifer.
A.
Definitely some bug or caterpillar, too much sunshine would scorch the leaves.
Q.
Do blind daffs ever flower again or should they be got rid of?
A.
There are three main reasons for blind DAFFODILS, lack of water after flowering when next years bud is being produced, cutting the leaves off too early after flowering, or the grub of the narcissus fly eating the new bud. If it is narcissus fly attack, the bulb will be slimy and these should be thrown away.
Q.
Hi,
I would like to know of ways to eliminate the problem of RABBITS and
squirrels eating my flowers.
Thank You, ARA
A.
There are various products on the market, which claim to deter rabbits; some of them are organic preparations. These do work in certain circumstances, but it all depends on whether the plant in question contains minerals, which the rabbit thinks it needs. Wire net fencing around your plant beds will help. A nice little terrier dog and a couple of good cats are the best deterrent.
Q.
I have a lavender plant that was transplanted from a friend's garden last fall. I trimmed back the old growth a couple days ago, and this morning I saw that some animal must have dug it up and eaten it, because I don't see any evidence of my plant anymore.
Is it possible that the roots are still in the ground, and it will be fine? What animal would have eaten my plant, and how do I protect it in the future?
Thanks,
Julie
A.
You have rabbits or squirrels. Cutting back the bush would release the scent of the plant on to the wind, so alerting your little friends. If the base of the plant is still there at ground level, it may shoot again, but lavender plants will not shoot directly from the roots.
Q.
Hi,
Could you help me with 2 questions?
I bought a Japanese red maple tree, 1 gal size, it's starting to produce
leaves, but as soon as they come out, they are wilting. What can I do
to save it?
A.
Two points.
The buds of your maple are possibly being attacked by aphis, which have over wintered in the bud itself, spray with an aphid spray. 2. If you have just bought this maple it may have been over wintered in a protected environment, your wilting leaves could be the result of cold wind damage.
Q.
Do you have any suggestions for protecting my bulbs from squirrels? The squirrels are digging up my spring bulbs. HELP!!!!!
A.
This is a major problem, made worse by people feeding the squirrels in their gardens.
There are various products on the market to deter squirrels, some organic, which do work, but they soon wash off in rain. Ask at your local garden outlet. The best deterrent is a nice little terrier dog and a couple of cats. One way is to peg down close mesh wire netting over the area where the bulbs are situated. Sorry I can't help you further.
Q.
Hi,
I am hoping that you can help me with a problem. I have planted tuberous DAHLIAS from the bare root into pots in my basement for the jump on the growing season. They are lit daily with grow lights fror approximately 8 hrs a day. This has worked wonderfully. The plants have sprouted and are growing feverishly.
My problem is now that the plants are a bit larger, the older leaves are starting to curl under almost like they are not getting enough water, or the light is to bright.
Any idea as to what is causing this or how I can save my plants?
A.
Aphids or thrips or greenfly on the underside of the leaves are probably attacking your dahlias, these pests over-winter in the dead stems of your dahlias. If they are there under the leaf, spray with a suitable spray, but use a very dilute mixture; due to your plants being fragile. You can also spray with a very dilute mixture of washing up liquid, spraying under the leaf.
To pinch out, just take out the very centre of the shoot, but leave this job until after spraying.
Q.
We live in Grand Rapids, MI and are having a terrible MOLE PROBLEM. Our fertilizing company will spray for grubs in June. Is there anything I can do now to get rid of the moles? We have about 1/2 acre and our neighbors are experiencing the same problem. I am concerned about a lot of poison because I have a small dog.
Thank you,
Becki
A.
At the present time 1/5/03 there is a worldwide shortage of the poison used for mole control. Farmers are unable to control moles on their land and the moles are expanding into private gardens and parks and causing serious problems.
There are various types of traps available at garden and agricultural outlets, some more humane than others, so it's up to you to choose what action to take.
Q.
How can I best keep rabbits away from my hostas?
A.
There are various products on the market to repel rabbits, some organic, but they soon wash away in the rain. The trouble is, if the rabbit feels it needs to eat hostas there is little you can do. Chicken wire around the plant is the best deterrent.
Q.
Last year in late spring, I had harebell plants planted by someone. Since this is the first year that they would be due to come up, I have nothing to judge by. However, out of app. 30 plants, only a few areas show any (very little) sign of coming back. My fear is that they got torn up in error. My question is - Is it possibly too early for them to be showing above ground? We live in Massachusetts. I'm wondering if I need to replace them. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated. Thanks
A.
I would say that your problem is small snails, which live in the surface soil. These snails are whitish grey in colour and come to the surface to graze in the night; they also have some black companions of the same size. There are many snail killer products at your garden outlet, some organic. Read the label.
Q.
I grow my Moonflower vines from seed and transplant them to clean tubs on my terrace. The foliage gets these thin papery spots. What can I do about it?
A.
This is almost certainly a small moth caterpillar which eats the under surface of the leaf, just leaving the upper membrane. They are the same color as the leaf so difficult to spot. Spray with a systemic caterpillar killer. Systemic sprays are absorbed by the plant and kill the caterpillar when it eats the plant.
Q.
I had three DWARF BURNING BUSHES that budded and leafed out beautifully in the spring, and then within only a period of about 3 weeks, the leaves turned brown and the bushes dried up and died. They were on the north side of the house, getting partial sun, which is what is recommended in our desert climate in Utah. The soil was not dried out or waterlogged. What may have caused this to happen? Pam
A.
This could be rabbits or mice eating away the bark at ground level. If this is not the case your trouble is probably spider mite, these microscopic mites suck all the sap out of the bush and death results. These mites can be sprayed against with a proprietary insecterside or washed off with a weak mixture of detergent washing up liquid. Next time to find these mites place a white sheet under the bush and shake the branches, the mites if present will be found on the sheet.
Q.
I am planting vegetables in my garden for the first time, friends tell me I must watch out for cabbage root fly, what do I do?
A.
Dust the stems with an anti cabbage root fly preparation soon after planting. Cabbage root fly lay their eggs in the stem, then the hatching maggots eat their way down to the roots and by eating the roots destroy the plant.
There are several brands of cabbage root fly killers on the market for gardeners, widely available at garden centres and other such retail outlets.
Q.
How do you dispose of Red Spider Mites?
A.
Red spider mite.
Red spider mite love very dry conditions, keeping high moisture content around the plant will help deter the pest. You can wash off the mites with insecticidal soap or a weak mixture of household detergent. There are commercial sprays available for red spider mite but they are not too effective, due to the insect having built up a resistance over the last few years.
If your problem is in the greenhouse or conservatory, there is a predatory mite that can be introduced, this soon clears up the red spider population and is totally safe to children and pets.
Phytoseiulus permilis; is the name and it can be obtained from specialist suppliers. See your gardening magazines or the Internet.
Question.
I have some pumpkins, which seem to be dying where the main stems contact with ground... The remainder of the vine looks okay for now, any ideas? Kathy
Answer.
This could be a mosaic virus (very dry conditions) or powdery mildew (Humid conditions) both can be sprayed against with a systemic spray, ask at your local garden outlet. This could also be pumpkin fly, which lays its eggs in the stem at ground level and the maggots eat the centre of the stem.
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