Pests are just that – pests!
Every gardener is the victim of them at some time, but at SGA we advocate prevention where possible. Healthy vigorous plants are much more resistant to disease, so, if the pests have descended, as well as trying to get rid of them, it’s worth thinking about what you can do prevent the next lot of nuisances. Make sure that your soil is healthy, there is good air movement around plants and there is a good range of predator insects e.g. lady birds, praying mantis, visiting or dwelling in your garden. Companion planting and having a diversity of flowers and scents can attract them and also attract birds which regard many pests as food.
Here is information about particular pests:
Citrus Leafminer
Describe yourself: I’m the tiny larvae of a beautiful silver moth, and am very rarely seen. That said, you can sure see my silvery trail of…
Preventing Spread of the Queensland Fruit Fly
QFF depositing eggs in a tomato. Photo: J. Newman, M. Schultz Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) are tropical Queensland rain forest insects, that need the…
Snails & Slugs
Hi, my name is: Garden Snail Describe yourself: Like most of the snails in your garden I'm a foreigner to this land. I am a bit of a nomad,…
Pest Repellent Plants
Every garden is sometimes afflicted with pests - grasshoppers, cabbage white butterfly caterpillars, scale and aphids being very common. Is it…
Good Flies
Not all flies are bad! We are used to being concerned when we see a blowfly, thinking it carries disease, or being annoyed by those pesky common…
Pear and Cherry Slug
While most babies are cute, cuddly and adorable, this is definitely not the case for the offspring of the Black Sawfly Caliroa cerasi. The larvae,…
Roses, Salvias and Sustainability
In Glen Waverley, Melbourne, a committed gardener has created what many might view as a fairly traditional garden – white picket fence and roses –…
Pesticides in Fruit and Vegetables
We are all aware that fruit and veggies produced commercially, unless they are certified organic, have been exposed to pesticides at some stage in…