April is a good time to check your boundary hedges and border plants for any signs of pest activity and then take serious action.

Watch out for Vine Weevil!

Tell tale signs of adult Vine Weevils are found at this time of year and throughout the Summer, when u-shaped in the leaves of the plants seem to appear miraculously overnight as adult beetles forage at night, finding a dark place to hide during the day.  The more devastative effect of the Vine Weevil grub however occurs during the Autumn and Winter months.  Grubs feast on the plants roots, having a less noticeable effect on the garden until it becomes obvious that any affected plants don’t seem to be thriving as they should.  It is these grubs that can decimate the garden as numbers can build up quite dramatically if left unchecked.  We have 2 suggestions for safeguarding your plants against Vine Weevils.

• Chemical control with the systemic insecticide Bug Clear Ultra used as a drench by pouring the liquid into your compost around the plant will provide up to 4 months protection against grubs. Always follow the manufacturer’s dilution rates as per the instructions.  Apply in mid-late summer (on ornamentals only – not edibles) for best results.
• Biological control with parasitic nematodes has become more accessible to the hobby gardener with the introduction of a revolutionary product from Neudorff.

Nematodes travel in water and work on pests by injecting their host with bacteria, poisoning the pest which the nematode eats before multiplying and then moving on to the next host. The beauty of Neudorff’s product is that it treats both adult and larval vine weevils and, even though a living product, it does not need to be stored in the fridge, making nematodes a product which can be bought off the garden centre shelf.  And if that wasn’t convincing enough, the “tea bag” style, biodegradable pouch makes the product simple to apply too.

Chafer Grubs and Leather Jackets in Lawns

Chafer grubs and the pupae of Crane Flies have an equally destructive influence on our gardens.     Crane flies are not in themselves harmful to plants but it is the successful hatching out of pupae from eggs laid by the flies in favourably wet autumns that munch away on the roots of grass, causing yellow patches in our lawns.  Similarly, Chafer grubs can cause significant damage feeding on grass roots and, as there are currently no chemical controls for either of these, options for control are vastly limited.

Biological control of both of these common pests is available in the form of Neudorff’s pathogenic nematodes.

As you might be concerned about their use on such a heavily trafficked area as a lawn, don’t be.  Nematodes are perfectly safe to use on lawns where children and pets have access.

The major part of the job relies on you preparing the ground before applying nematodes due to their reliance on moisture for their movement through the soil.  Neudorff’s Nemasprayer ensures that the nematodes can be applied evenly through the treatment area.