pests and diseases

Are any of these pests or diseases bugging you?

Citrus Gall Wasp

What to look for:

Lumpy, swollen growths on young leaf stems and fruit stalks of citrus trees.

How to control:

Remove all galls from citrus trees by pruning off by the end of August and fertilise trees to encourage new growth in spring.

Whiteflies

What to look for:

Tiny white moths fly out from plants when they are disturbed. New shoots can be stunted or wilted.

How to control:

Spray both the upper and lower leaf surfaces thoroughly with Pest Oil.

Cabbage Whitebutterfly

What to look for:

The bright green caterpillars of this butterfly tunnel into the heart of vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and beetroot and spoil them for eating.

How to control:

As soon as the caterpillars are noticed pick off or spray with Dipel or Mavrik every 7-10 days.

Snails and Slugs

What to look for:

Irregular-shaped holes appear in leaves. Silvery trails on plants and paths.

How to control:

Pick them off by hand at night when they are most active. Apply slug and snail bait but be careful using this around children and animals.

Citrus Collar Rot

What to look for:

Bark around the base of citrus trees dies back and falls off. In some cases gum will ooze from the affected area.

How to control:

Cut back the affected bark and spray the healthy section with an anti rot or Mancozeb. Ensure there is good drainage for the tree.

Mole Cricket

What to look for:

Burrows in your garden beds from dark brown crickets. Dying patches in lawns and uprooted seedlings.

How to control:

Catch them at night and destroy. Lawn treatments for home gardeners as a last resort such as Lawn Grub Killer or Baythroid.

Thrips

What to look for:

Leaves shrink and curl. With large infestations flowers and leaves will not open normally. Small black fecal dots on leaves.

How to control:

Spray upper and lower leaf surface with malathion or for edible crops use an insecticidal soap.

 

Related articles:

Plant Protection
Pest control
Keep indoor plants healthy
Pest watch - Aphids snails slugs & more