Just look out for the pests, do it daily if you can, at least they are easy to spot and kill them, hopefully before they mate. It's a never ending job, but lilies are so beautiful its worth the effort. Didn't have so many last year, You will be lucky to get rid of them altogether, but you can limit their numbers.
Bee witched.-- Never heard of neem oil, what is it and where do you get it, - garden centre? sounds like it works.
I make up a spray of neem oil and as soon as growth starts in April I drench the foliage. Any spare solution goes onto the soil below the plant as the earthworms are supposed to love it. I repeat spray every couple of weeks.
Neem is best used prevantatively. It is totally organic and although it stinks a bit is easy to mix up and apply.
I got mine off ebay .... wasn't expensive for a big bottle which will last ages. At room temperature it is solid, but goes liquid again with a couple of hours in the airing cupboard.
I spray my lilies (and fritillaries), a couple of gooseberry bushes, and my solomon's seal as it works for sawfly.
Works for me.
Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
I will certainly get some neem oil. Was just reading that the adults overwinter under dead foliage but that could be anywhere not necessarily on the lily plant so getting rid of the plant doesn't really help. They are attracted by the smell of the new lily foliage and other beetles in the spring. Bee witched you say the neem oil is a bit stinky maybe the smell helps to disguise the new lily smell. Well good luck to all in the coming battle and thanks again for the responses.
Garlic cloves crushed and added water strain through old muslin, tights or stockings then sprayed on as they first emerge then every few weeks seems to keep them and the slugs and snails away.
And no I don't wear tights or stockings
Well ok maybe on special occasions
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.
Hi The Gardeners Boy. It seems like a smelly repellent is the way to go then with Neem Oil and Garlic water. Maybe I could get some toothpicks and stake them through the heart as well though, just to be on the safe side. Mwahh haaa haaaa I am the Van Helsing of the gardening world.
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Just look out for the pests, do it daily if you can, at least they are easy to spot and kill them, hopefully before they mate. It's a never ending job, but lilies are so beautiful its worth the effort. Didn't have so many last year, You will be lucky to get rid of them altogether, but you can limit their numbers.
Bee witched.-- Never heard of neem oil, what is it and where do you get it, - garden centre? sounds like it works.
Hi,
Have a look at this link for some info.
http://www.discoverneem.com/neem-repellent.html
I make up a spray of neem oil and as soon as growth starts in April I drench the foliage. Any spare solution goes onto the soil below the plant as the earthworms are supposed to love it. I repeat spray every couple of weeks.
Neem is best used prevantatively. It is totally organic and although it stinks a bit is easy to mix up and apply.
I got mine off ebay .... wasn't expensive for a big bottle which will last ages. At room temperature it is solid, but goes liquid again with a couple of hours in the airing cupboard.
I spray my lilies (and fritillaries), a couple of gooseberry bushes, and my solomon's seal as it works for sawfly.
Works for me.
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
I will certainly get some neem oil. Was just reading that the adults overwinter under dead foliage but that could be anywhere not necessarily on the lily plant so getting rid of the plant doesn't really help. They are attracted by the smell of the new lily foliage and other beetles in the spring. Bee witched you say the neem oil is a bit stinky maybe the smell helps to disguise the new lily smell. Well good luck to all in the coming battle and thanks again for the responses.
Bee witched. Thanks for the info. I wiil look on eBay. sounds like useful stuff???.
When picking the devils off make sure you get both of them, I've never seen a solitary beetle there are always two.
Garlic cloves crushed and added water strain through old muslin, tights or stockings then sprayed on as they first emerge then every few weeks seems to keep them and the slugs and snails away.
And no I don't wear tights or stockings
Well ok maybe on special occasions
Hi The Gardeners Boy. It seems like a smelly repellent is the way to go then with Neem Oil and Garlic water. Maybe I could get some toothpicks and stake them through the heart as well though, just to be on the safe side. Mwahh haaa haaaa I am the Van Helsing of the gardening world.
Bee Witched - when you say you make a spray, what proportions do you use? How much oil to water?
Hi,
The mix is 10ml in 2L of warm water with a splash of washing up liquid.
Neem can be solid at room temperature and won't pour ... I put mine in the airing cupboard for a few hours before using so it pours easily.
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
Thank you - I've already ordered some!