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Greenhouse Thrips

Hewitt&sonHewitt&son Posts: 14
in Problem solving
Help please!
I have a large Laurel hedge and had an infestation of Greenhouse Thrips last year that almost reduced it to bare stems. I called a local gardening company and they sprayed it twice over a period of 3 months with an insecticide. I hated doing this as I was aware I would lose beneficial insects too. It seemed to work and all was good for a few months but today I noticed these bare patches so took a closer look. The Thrips have returned en masse and are quickly destroying it once again. I don't want to have it sprayed again but really have no idea what else I can do.
Please can anyone offer any help or advice?
Many thanks in advance. 

Posts

  • Hewitt&sonHewitt&son Posts: 14

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    That looks like a huge hedge there. I doubt Thrips will damage the leaves too much. Because it is a big area, the best way to deal with it is to scrape off the top layer of soil and lay a really thick new layer of bark chip mulch on top. No point spraying, it will not work in such a space. It's more about creating an environment they are less likely to thrive in. 

    Keep your hedge watered in very dry months and try to only prune it once a year to allow the shrub time to recover and put on new growth.
  • chrispower1987chrispower1987 Posts: 4
    I wonder if building a greenhouse with insect netting to grow flowers would prevent a thrips infestation? I have seen people growing organic vegetables in this way and I wonder if it would also work for my roses.


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