Gardens are naturally attractive to wildlife. As gardeners, we should try to provide good habitats for the wildlife in our community. Ponds, log piles, and Bird feeders are all great ways to do this but we also have to bear in mind the less desirable wildlife that will also be attracted. A small amount of pests should be tolerated. We stock a wide range of products to treat your garden when pests start to get out of hand.
Common garden pests and how to manage them
Slugs & Snails
Slugs and Snails are probably the no.1 enemy of the home gardener. They are perfectly suited to the damp and mild climate of the U.K and certainly make their presence known in the spring months. The soft new growth of plants and seedlings is irresistible to the slimy army that invades our garden and demolishes plants in the blink of an eye. The Secret Garden Centre has a wide selection of products to help win the war on slugs and snails such as copper tape, Slug Gone wool pellets, organic barriers, and organic slug killer pellets. You can also use beer traps, homemade garlic wash, and manually remove slugs and snails under the cover of darkness.
Aphids
Aphids, Blackflies, and Greenflies are common pests in the garden. These small creatures suck the sap of new shoots in spring and summer. They can cause distorted leaves and buds. Look for ladybirds around the garden and place them near. The ladybirds will eat the Aphids, blackflies, and greenflies. Alternatively, you can wipe them or spray them off with the jet setting on your hose. No pesticides are required.
Beetles
There are many different beetles in our gardens. Most are well-behaved and an asset. Lily beetles, Rosemary beetles, and Viburnum beetle can be a pain. The lily beetle and its grubs attack lilies and fritillaries. They strip plants of their foliage and flower buds. Do not let the beauty of the rosemary beetle fool you. They can quickly get out of hand and strip rosemary, lavender, edible sage, and ornamental sage of their foliage. Most beetles can be picked off the plant and crushed underfoot. Pesticides should only be used on extreme infestations.
Vine Weevil
Vine weevil are a common pest that are particularly attracted to plants grown in patio pots and containers. The adult weevils eat the leaves of plants, but the most damage is done by the larvae in the soil. The maggot-like larvae rapidly eat the roots of plants and cause sudden collapse and death to pot plants. When one pot has been diagnosed with vine weevil, it is recommended to treat all of the pots nearby. Vine weevil can spread quickly. Keeping patio pots well-watered throughout the year can reduce the risk of vine weevils. Adult weevils should be crushed underfoot as soon as you find them. If you suspect that you have vine weevils, you should take your plant out of the pot and look for the c-shaped grubs. If you find them, you can wash them off the roots and dispose of them. For extreme infestations, you can treat your pots with a pesticide drench.
Other Pests and Critters
We stock a large range of pest management products to help you deal with box tree caterpillar moths, plum tree maggots, apple tree maggots, Ants, mealybugs, sawflies, scale insects, houseplant pests, wasps, squirrels, foxes, cats, and much more.
If you find a pest in your garden and are unaware of how to deal with it, take some photos to show us. Please do not bring suspected pests into The Secret Garden Centre. For more info on pest management and garden health check out the RHS.
For fertilisers, weedkillers, and fungicides click here