Slugs and snails
As any gardener will know, slugs and snails can chomp through leaves and flowers at an alarming rate, often after rain or at night when it’s cooler.
“They are our number one inquiry in the entomology section of the RHS, but not all slugs and snails like to eat fresh plant material.There are more than 30 species in the UK and many of those feed on dead material,” he explains.
“But if you’ve got hostas in a nice damp patch in the garden, they will damage them.They also damage potatoes.”
Solution:“Accept there may be some damage and have some tolerance of a few leaf holes. If they are being very badly damaged in parts of the garden, consider planting plants which are less likely to be eaten by slugs and snails.
Photo: slug on a rhubarb leaf
“There are barriers out there to deter them, but we have found they are generally not as good as they could be,” he says.
You could also create a haven for wildlife, such as a pond, to attract their natural enemies such as frogs and birds. Handpicking them off in the evening, or after rainfall, is among the best solutions.
Box tree moth
The black-headed, greenish-yellow caterpillars of these moths can completely defoliate your box, working within white webbing which is visible on the plant.They are most active between April and October.The adult moth has often white wings with a brown border, although the wings can be completely brown. Plants will show patches of dieback.
“It’s particularly difficult to deal with, it’s relatively new to the country, it’s spreading and it can strip box plants, with two generations a year,” Salisbury warns.
Solution: Check plants frequently in spring onwards before the damage is done, picking off any caterpillars you see. Alternatively, choose alternative hedging and topiary plants such as yew.
Photo: box tree caterpillar
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