Gardening

[umslopogaas]

#14, I'm familiar with them of course, they were a particular interest for the entomologists in the RHS, but I think the posted link to the RHS publication (#11) says everything you need to know about rosemary beetles, and far more than I know ... my speciality was diseases, not pests.

Concerning control, if you only have one small plant then hand picking them off is probably the easiest way of controlling them, but be sure to get all the larvae as well as the adults. You need to be constantly on the watch, because even if you get rid of all the current infestation, new adults will fly in sooner or later. If you want to use insecticides then remove a few sprigs for current use before you spray, advice was to wait at least three weeks after spraying before resuming harvesting.

[vinteuil]

.

... thanks for that, umlopogaas.

As it was only a small bush (purchased cheap a year or so back) we're taking the radical option of chucking it all away (safely so as not to infest others... ) and will start again with another one next week...

[Serial_Apologist]

... it's sad really - the beetles themselves are pretty little things - shiny, green with thin maroon stripes. But they are not good if you're trying to grow rosemary...


Umslopogaas will I'm sure have tales to tell of little beasties that, at one level, are amazingly pretty as creatures - but horrendous for humans and the crops on which we depend...




.

The lily beetle being one: a pretty little crimson insect about a quart5er of an inch in length. They literally eat away at the plant, flowers, upper leaf parts, and all. I'm keeping a beady eye open, this year.

[Serial_Apologist]

One worthwhile tip about gardening is to look around your neighbours' gardens, noting the varieties of plants that clearly grow well in your type of soil. People won't in general mind if you bombard them with questions - what is this plant? - and so-and-so, successful gardening being a prime example of an amour propre.

Which reminds me of one of the funny stories in John Cage's Silence. A man is very proud of his garden, having spent years of effort improving it by throwing out commoner varieties. Then one day his eye is drawn to another garden, just down his road. Jealously he asks neighbours to whom this garden belongs. It turns out it belongs to the local refuse collector!

[gradus]

A lovely rose selection and I feel sure that they will establish in time as long as they are watered and fed. Over-watering is possible but roses are pretty tough and as long as you're not running the hose for 10 mins on each rose daily, it shouldn't be a problem. The idea is to create good growing conditions so a sort of middle-way is the aim, neither too wet nor too dry.
The RHS advice is sound:https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=191

[David-G]

Thank you - I think most of them were dry when they arrived - and yours are instructions I can follow.

I did not water the hole as much as I should have done. They have been mulched and fed and are getting daily watering.

Would there be any potential problem with over-watering even in this weather?

As Gradus said, it's much better to give really good soakings less frequently, than to give a daily watering which is insufficient. I don't think you can over-water. The plant will just think some serious rain has happened.

Make sure you don't just water near the stem, but water the ground round about where the roots are growing.

If you only planted them in mid-May, they are probably still finding their feet. Give them time.

Make sure they have a really good mulch, which will keep them damp even if the surface gets very dry.

[Lat-Literal]

One worthwhile tip about gardening is to look around your neighbours' gardens, noting the varieties of plants that clearly grow well in your type of soil. People won't in general mind if you bombard them with questions - what is this plant? - and so-and-so, successful gardening being a prime example of an amour propre.

Which reminds me of one of the funny stories in John Cage's Silence. A man is very proud of his garden, having spent years of effort improving it by throwing out commoner varieties. Then one day his eye is drawn to another garden, just down his road. Jealously he asks neighbours to whom this garden belongs. It turns out it belongs to the local refuse collector!

A lovely rose selection and I feel sure that they will establish in time as long as they are watered and fed. Over-watering is possible but roses are pretty tough and as long as you're not running the hose for 10 mins on each rose daily, it shouldn't be a problem. The idea is to create good growing conditions so a sort of middle-way is the aim, neither too wet nor too dry.
The RHS advice is sound:https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=191

As Gradus said, it's much better to give really good soakings less frequently, than to give a daily watering which is insufficient. I don't think you can over-water. The plant will just think some serious rain has happened.

Make sure you don't just water near the stem, but water the ground round about where the roots are growing.

If you only planted them in mid-May, they are probably still finding their feet. Give them time.

Make sure they have a really good mulch, which will keep them damp even if the surface gets very dry.

Excellent - thank you.

[oddoneout]

The lily beetle being one: a pretty little crimson insect about a quart5er of an inch in length. They literally eat away at the plant, flowers, upper leaf parts, and all. I'm keeping a beady eye open, this year.

Their progeny are revolting - nasty blobby grubs that cover themselves in their excrement which makes picking them off a glove job. I look out for the eggs as being less yukky to squish, but admittedly I only have a few lilies to look after. The beetles are striking and should be easy to handpick but for their habit of dropping off when disturbed.

[Lat-Literal]

Their progeny are revolting - nasty blobby grubs that cover themselves in their excrement which makes picking them off a glove job. I look out for the eggs as being less yukky to squish, but admittedly I only have a few lilies to look after. The beetles are striking and should be easy to handpick but for their habit of dropping off when disturbed.

I had lily beetle on two of mine and have removed the plants "by bag" but the others are so far ok.

As for the roses, more petals dropping on some and more buds growing on the previously inactive.

No rhyme or reason - especially as they are getting the same treatment but maybe that's the point.

Has anyone any thoughts about dealing with dandelion leaves on the lawn other than digging holes?

[gradus]

Re dandelions, boiling water carefully applied does the trick, useful too for getting rid of weeds on paths and 'patios'. Salt solution can also work.

[BBMmk2]

A friend of mine has recently taken on a allotment. Very good idea, I thought but now has taken on another one, although slightly smaller!

[jean]

A second allotment? Who did he bribe?

I still have a waiting list of over 50!

[umslopogaas]

Another way to get rid of dandelions is to cut them off with an old table knife. Aim deep so that you get a piece of tap root attached to the plant, if you just cut at ground level it will regrow. You dont actually dig a hole, the plant just lifts out of the soil.

[jean]

Won't it grow again even from the smallest scrap of root left in the soil?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Won't it grow again even from the smallest scrap of root left in the soil?

That's certainly my experience.