Resolva Bug Killer killing off my plants!
hi, i purchased Resolva Bug Killer to try and remove a quite small insect infestation in my garden. i have a range of plants that were planted 15=20 years ago, with most being 6ft plus in height.
i unwittingly sprayed the bug killer all over my flower beds around 4ndays ago (which i now painfully know was very amateurish!) since then i've noticed a slow and negative change in most of the plants. im still hoping it isnt the spray but it was only last weekend the fully bloomed flowers were bright in colour but now some of them have or are dying off.
since then iv tried to water my plants consistently to dilute any chemicals and pour liquid plant food to try and help them regain their strength. i'm desperate to receive any advice which might help overcome the possibility that i just murdered my plants!
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Was it the ready diluted bottle spray or the dilute in a watering can powder? If it's the latter and you made it to strong, you may well have killed the plants with too strong a dose.
there are so many things wrong with what you did that it's hard to know where to begin.
maybe a garden disaster will teach you not to use deadly chemicals on a "small" infestation. you've probably slaughtered not just the plants but all the beneficial insects and a lot of the soil inhabitants.
way to go champ.
Your shrubs will probably survive long term, but will look awful for a while, and be prepared to give them a prune to get rid of wizened/dead extremities. Hoik out any genuinely dead ones next year if they do not come back.
You can probably forget about any annuals or seedlings coming back.
Avoid using pesticides in the open if you can. If you absolutely must, follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter. Timing, dilution, protective clothing, method of application. And never spray on or near anything in flower - think of the bees.
For a lot of nasties, a blast with the hose helps clear them, and is obviously much safer for your plants and wildlife (and your family for that matter).
emesmO- we all make mistakes. WillDB's advice is good. Hopefully you can make some progress and any shrub or plant can always be replaced - it's an opportunity to have a little change. It's all a learning curve!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'm trying very hard to feel sympathetic and I can see that with the vast collection of insecticides on the GC shelves, all suggesting that you can't do without them, you might feel you need some.
You don't need them. They destroy the balance of life in your garden and reduce the likelihood of seeing all those bees, butterflies and ladybirds that we so love.
I hope your plants recover
In the sticks near Peterborough
just a thought, but did you spray them in sunshine? I did that in my first attempt and thought I had killed them, a friend then told me i had basically fried them in the sun, I cut off the dead bits and it all came back ok. hope it might be that as it isn't too drastic, best of luck
I think we are led to believe that any unwanted insects are a curse but it is usually possible to chug along nicely with the odd mini infestation and leave the eradication to beneficial insects or to squish things with our fingers whilst strolling around the "estate". Adverts promote the perfect house and garden but maybe it is really the sterile house and garden that they are trying to sell us.
esesmO, I do hope your plants are okay.
so i went out there this morning, and saw a bee flying around some of the plants after i poured some more diluted plant food on my flowers - would this mean the chemicals are starting to wear off? - i know im probably grasping at straws here! but just referring to what nutcutlet said about seeing bees?
also, some of the flowers have new buds on them, particularly the roses. just wondered, because i sprayed sporadically on the foliage instead of on the soil or the main stem would this go some way in mitigating the disaster!? or is it because most of the plants are so big its a slow process?
thanks all for taking the time to reply - except davids, you seem like a very dreary person.
hi jimmy, it was this bottle spray
https://www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Resolva-Bug-Killer/209116011?kpid=209116011&gclid=CM_hkKGrjMYCFWvJtAod6wIAiw
thanks for the advice WillDB and Fairygirl - i've learnt my lesson, i wont ever use bug sprays again!
You've seen the light emesmO, the bees will come back.
In the sticks near Peterborough
hi cathy, it was around 7pm-ish when i sprayed it, and as its been quite hot this week (i live in south london) im reeealllyy hoping you might be right! i cut the dead looking ones off this morning, but im checking on them regularly to see any change, theres a particular white, low level flower that i think has felt the brunt of it however.
thanks for responding pansyface and ceres