A careful examination of the plant, its situation, and the type of damage will usually lead you to the cause.

Leaves:- *Holes...perforations....notches (shape)

*Marking...distortion...browning, wrinkling, mottling, wilting.

*Colour Changes....yellowing...silvering...veining.

*Vigour & texture...Slow growing or unusually small

Stems:- *Damaged..eaten or rotted?...at or above ground level?

Roots:- *Eaten?...distorted?...rotted?

Other considerations:-

*Weather conditions,site of plant, proximity to other plants, walls etc.

*Soil conditions, very heavy or light, ph value, fertility etc.

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Sources of Information:

Gardening Reference books including H.M.S.O. Booklets.

Gardening Magazines

Garden Centres, Nurseries & Specialist Growers.

Gardening 'Which'

R.H.S. Wisley & R.H.S Books & Booklets.

Product Information & Manufacturers.

Organic Garden Organisations (Henry Doubleday Foundation)

GENERAL APPROACH TO TREATMENT

Cultural:-

1) Choose resistant varieties if possible.

2) Choose plants appropriate to your space,soil and conditions.

3) Ensure healthy growing conditions as far as possible, Planting....siting....spacing....soil fertility etc.

4) Practice good garden hygiene.

5) Don't plant on known problem sites, e.g. Raspberries. Roses etc.

6) Protect from adverse weather conditions until established.

7) Be observant and take action at an early stage.

Taking action:-

8) Be observant and take action at an early stage.

9) Wherever possible take simple measures:-

a) Pick or rub off pests

b) Check compost & pick out pests when potting

c) Use hose & soap sprays to wash off pests

d) Remove & dispose of badly affected plants.

e) Use safe physical methods where possible..e.g....traps...bands...cards...Vacuum Whitefly

f) Use deterrents:-Coco shell...sharp gravel...pepper...Holly leaves etc.

g) Encourage natural predators:-Ladybirds...Hoverflies...birds.

Aim at a healthy garden flora and fauna.

Use of garden chemicals:-

10) Always use a SPECIFIC if there is one available

11) Always use the SAFEST in the first instance.

(Ingredients that are quickly broken down in the soil)

12) Always use STRICTLY in accordance with the instructions on the product label.Not to do so is not only unwise it is also illegal!

13) Try to keep yourself up to date and avoid accumulating half-used ,poorly labelled containers.

14) Observe ALL SENSIBLE SAFETY procedures in storing, using & disposing of unwanted chemicals.

Notes on Organic Methods of Organic Pest & Disease Control (S.Lord 2000)

1. Good Horticultural Practice.

2. Soil & Fertility....Keep the soil in good condition... Texture & Fertility

Texture = Porosity & Fibrousness = Drainage & Water-holding capacity.

Alk./Acid balance....Additives..e.g. Humus, manures, lime.

Aeration - Drainage - mechanical - Additives...e.g. Sharp sand...Grit etc.

Water Holding - Additives...e.g. Humus...Manures

Weeding - hand, mechanical, mulching

Fertility - organic fertilisers e.g. bonemeal, Seaweed extract etc.

3. Control of pests & diseases:-

* Provide optimum conditions for plants & avoid optimum conditions for pests etc.

e.g. Avoid stagnant conditions above & below ground....Soft weak growth.

* Encourage & do not harm predators...Birds...Ground Beetles...Centipedes...Frogs & Toads... Hedgehogs...Hoverflies, Lacewings & Ladybirds. Provide food, water & plants to attract.

4.Pests:-

Caterpillars...Rub off eggs...pick off caterpillars...net

Leatherjackets & Cutworms...Expose by ground surface cultivation in beds.

or attract birds & ground beetles.

Wireworms...Kill when found, Trap with potato, carrot or cabbage stalk in ground.

Ants...Icing sugar + Borax (Protect from rain) ants will take & eat.

Earwigs....Traps, e.g. straw in pots or greasy stick or stem.

Woodlice, millipedes, snails...find hiding places, expose & destroy.

Slugs...Hunt at night! Deter with Soot/Lime/Grit, Beer Traps, Slug Guards, Parasites.

Flea Beetles...Greasy board trick!

Aphids...Rub off, Hose off, Insecticidal soaps, safe pesticides. Plant Tagetes?

Whitefly...Yellow grease traps, clear brassica debris, Parasites in greenhouse.

Mealy Bug (Woolly Aphid) & Scale Insects...Spirit away!

Red Spider Mite.. Avoid dry conditions esp. at roots. Wash off. Soap Sprays, Parasites.

5.Diseases:-

Cut off & burn any infected material. Avoid growing conditions that encourage, & fungicides

derived from sulphur & copper can be used.

Botrytis(Grey Mould) Avoid moist, dank conditions.

Downy Mildew " " " "

Powdery Mildew Surface mould. Thrives in very dry conditions, esp. at the roots.

Sooty Mould This is a superficial secondary fungus. Find the pest & treat.

Rusts Avoid cold, moist conditions.

Bacterial infections Identify, burn infected material & address cultural causes.

6. Permitted Pesticides & Fungicides:-

Insecticidal Soaps & Sprays Contact Kill only....Effective for very short time.

Derris Not persistent, but not selective either so only use as last resort.

Pyrethrum & Rotenone " " Harmless to animals.

Nicotine Non persistent but poisonous.

Copper Fungicide Protect plants for several weeks, but not new growth.

Sulphur " Can be tried, not poisonous but may not be effective.

Quassia Effective against caterpillars, Sawfly & Leafminers, harmless to bees & Ladybirds

Information on all matters organic:- H.D.R.A. Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, CV8 3LG