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Plants being stripped

Hi,

I'm a fairly new gardener and have a huge problem with something that eats all my plants...shredding the leaves and leaving "sticks", I thought it was contained to my gooseberry bush, but it now seems to have extended to the ferns, climbing plants, roses..

I want to start growing veggies with my kids but am worried that it could be in the soil???

What is it likely to be and how can I treat it?

Thanks

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,481

    Sounds like sawfly. I'm sure the experts will give you some good advice.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I think it's unlikely to be the same thing eating all those plants. I'd have a look round and see what you can find on the leaves. If you can't find anything it's probably over for this year. The munching stage doesn't last very long in an insect's life



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • As nut says, it will be different things, the most likely being:

    • Gooseberry: gooseberry sawfly
    • Roses: rose sawfly
    • Climbing plants: snails
    • everything else: slugs and woodpigeons

    Veggies are also usually attacked by the last two plus they have their own army of specialist invaders such as cabbage white butterfly caterpillars.  Don't worry though - regular inspection is the key and when you see something you don't recognise take a photo and post it here as we have our own 'home guard' of troops to advise you! image

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • if there are any hidey holes nearby there could be earwigs as well (says the voice of experience). set traps of hollow canes or the like. might be worth checking out companion planting. i accidently kept away aphids by underplanting with marigolds that someone gave me and i shoved them in any old where just to put them in!!! the garden is full of happy accidents!

  • Thanks for the advise, I've been out and about having a look!

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    What did you find?



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Had same problems here too .have been seeing LOADS of caterpillars pesky things heard neem oil can be used pretty new to veg growing so not tried that yet will do bit research first.am fan of nematodes up to now !.
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