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Does insect-friendly fungicide exist?

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  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    nutcutlet said:
    New leaves for the plants next year but no new life for any critters killed. We really need to stop killing things for the sake of appearance and embrace the biodiversity of life in the garden.
    Critters killed by removing leaves with mildew? 
    Also, am I right in thinking bees are not harmed by scabiosa with loads of mildew?
    no killing that I see there



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Removing leaves with mildew has little effect other than on the appearance of the plant.

    And in relation to the wider issue of using fungicides  here's some information re the damage done to insects by fungicides 

    https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Fungicide_Regular_Factsheet_Final_Web.pdf

    https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2017/11/bee-decline-fungicides-emerge-improbable-villain 

    and then there is the increasing amount of evidence re fungicide resistance being found in medical situations  ... there are some fungicidal conditions in humans and other mammals that are now becoming incredibly serious due to the lack of effective treatments due to this growing resistance ...


    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1030843/fungicide-worries/p1 

    and 

    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1030843/fungicide-worries/p1 

    We humans really have to think twice before assuming that killing things, even moulds and fungi, is the answer to our problems.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Ah good to know RE little effect. I thought I was reducing the opportunities for it spread. There's a black scabiosa right next to it that is not affected at all, hoping to keep it that way. I grew it from seed and the others are supermarket rescue from last year and earlier this year.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    A copper-based fungicide might be OK to insects.  Are they still permitted?
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • @dangermousie ... powdery mildews are 'species specific' ... i.e. the one that affects my squashes and courgettes is not the same one that's affecting my Swiss chard ... and the one on the honeysuckle is yet another type ... 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    It will be very interesting to see what planting combinations people come up with for the new and ever changing climate. Currently, I really don't like the thought of a cactus garden, but I will have to adapt!
    In 1976 the "experts" advised giving up on rhododendrons and azalea, inter alia.  I'm glad I didn't listen.

    My Rhodies etc came through the 2022 drought after carefull watering during the new growth stage.  Some looked a bit sad at their worst.  They are budding up well for next year.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    re Grey water.  It might not be good for insects and soil dwellers because of it's high detergent content. 
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited September 2022
    Doesn't that depend on what detergents we use and how we use them? ... 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    How about ordinary plain soap in bath/shower water? That's the only water I'm using on the plants growing in the ground during the hosepipe ban (at the roots, not sprayed over the foliage). I've not yet got to the point of trying to save washing machine or washing-up water for the garden.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • update! If I had chopped the scabiosa down, this guy wouldn't have come to stay! He's not there now, eaten or grown up?
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