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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
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Posts
Sounds like sawfly. I'm sure the experts will give you some good advice.
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:
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!
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!
What did you find?
In the sticks near Peterborough