As a gardener there are a few garden ‘pests’ that can wreak havoc on our plants such as caterpillars. But before you reach for that insecticide take a few moments to really think about what you are doing.
Garden pests
Summer GYO advice
Martyn Cox shares his advice for peak summer Grow Your Own success to keep your plot productive.
How can I be a better summer gardener?
Late summer can be the best time in our gardens. This year we’ve seen a lot of rain, so growth has been accelerated hugely and as a result there’s still so much to do, but don’t forget to take time out to enjoy your garden too.
Can I grow flowers with my veg?
Debi Holland offers five reasons why flowers are good to grow in among your veg.
Pest patrol
Walking your garden for five to 10 minutes on a regular basis means you can stop pests like aphids and slugs getting out of control and becoming a problem.
How can I garden more naturally?
Jean Vernon suggests a few ways to garden more gently, lessening your impact on the planet and its precious resources
How to Get Rid of Slugs in The Garden
The slug is one of the nation’s most-hated garden pests. Jean Vernon guides you through various methods of safe, wildlife friendly controls.
What is garden biological control?
If you use nematodes to control slugs or vine weevils, or let the birds eat your garden bugs, then you’ve already discovered biological control says Jean Vernon.
What is companion planting?
Some plants offer additional benefits when grown in close proximity with others. Jean Vernon explores
How to harvest, ripen and increase your garden bounty
How to harvest, ripen and increase your garden bounty, Martyn Cox helps you make the most of your garden edibles with some timely GYO advice.
Keeping your fruit & veg healthy and productive
Martyn Cox helps you harvest some fruit and vegetable treasure and offers advice to keep your plants productive
Getting started with fruit and veg
Martyn Cox offers some timely advice on growing fruit and vegetables in your summer garden.
How can I grow crops out of season?
Vicki Cooke, kitchen garden keeper at the Royal Hampton Court Palace, reveals some historical tricks of the trade to force plants into growth out of season
Leatherjackets
Leatherjackets cause havoc in lawns, eating the roots of grass. Pippa Greenwood has some good tips for ridding your lawn of these pests.
Bumper year for slugs?
RHS chief horticulture advisor Guy Barter says 2018 could be a bumper year for slugs and snails due to the wet winter and spring.
HRH Prince Charles’ grave warning
HRH Prince Charles warns of devastating plant disease
Watch out for the evil vine weevil
Gardener’s World presenter Monty Don says garden centres are the cause of one of the fastest growing problems in the garden – the vine weevil.
Rosemary beetle
Look out for the rosemary beetle – a psychedelic shiny, stripy purple and green metallic beetle – on rosemary, lavender, sage and thyme plants.
Organic Garden Health Kit
Protect your garden from some of the worst garden pests with Richard Jackson’s Organic Garden Health Kit
Chafer grubs
If your lawn is being dug up by badgers or attracting birds, you may have chafer grubs feeding on the roots. Find out how to get rid of these lawn pests.
Whitefly in the greenhouse
If you’re met by a cloud of tiny white flying insects when you go into your greenhouse, it’s probaby glasshouse whitefly. Act now to get rid of these pests.
Ants in the garden
There are over 50 different ant species in the UK, most of them pretty well go unnoticed but there a few which can cause a fair bit of grief to gardeners.
Vine weevil
Vine weevil alert: look out for the vine weevil this spring. Get to grips with the most hated garden pest with Pippa Greenwood’s advice.
Harlequin ladybird
Look out for the Harlequin ladybird in your garden this year, these garden pests are slowly moving northwards.
Agapanthus gall midge
Agapanthus gall midge can cause deformity and discoloration of agapanthus buds. Find out how gardeners can help the RHS in its research into this pest.
Cabbage white butterfly
There is one type of caterpillar that most gardeners dread; the cabbage white. Its favourite host plant for laying eggs are cabbages.
Aphids
Watch out for aphids on your plants this spring. This common garden pest can cause a big problem for gardeners, sucking sap from plants.
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