Autumn Pest Watch
Autumn is a great time to take stock of the whole garden
, to make a mental note of any problems and to start your own preparations for the months ahead.Bug alert
Plants that have finished flowering should be tidied up for the winter. Cut back any dead stems, dead or diseased foliage and assess each plant for health. Look under leaves and within the crown of the plants for sheltering pests such as slugs and snails and use your preferred method of control.
In the borders many plants will be pushing their energy into making seeds. Make sure you leave a few flowers to set seed for the birds to feed on over the winter. Some seed heads such as echinacea, rudbeckia and sedums also provide architectural and skeletal interest over the winter, especially when crusted with frost.
Weed control
Keep the garden weeded, as many garden pests will be using these extraneous plants for protection against weather. Some garden pests have hatched now and their larvae are munching their way through roots and shoots, fattening themselves up for the next stage of their lifecycle to emerge as adults early next year. Its the best time to break the cycle and take action against these voracious feeders. In the lawn it is the leatherjacket larvae and chafer grubs that do the most damage. These can be tackled with a naturally occurring nematode control that is now widely available. Pests such as vine weevil may be lurking safely within the depths of compost in pots and containers and also around the garden. Early autumn is a great time to treat against them with the nematode based control.
Garden allies
Its not just the unfriendly bugs that will be looking for shelter for the seasons ahead. Our beneficial insects really need a helping hand. If youre confused about how you can remove shelter for pests but still provide it for beneficial insects, its simply about balance. A log pile will be a perfect place for many bugs and especially slugs to over winter, but it is also a perfect spot for beetles, toads, slow worms and other garden friends. So provided that you dont blast the garden with bug deadly chemicals, the natural balance will return and the wildlife will play a major part in keeping your garden pest free.
Damage limitation
By now you will be aware of typical problems in your garden and this information will empower you to deal with the relevant pests and diseases for next season. But theres a lot you can now do to limit and control future problems. Fungal problems such as mildew, rust and Blackspot, may have caused unsightly damage to plant foliage and shoots. Cut out affected shoots and burn them, this helps to break the cycle and reduces the number of spores that are released. Severely affected plants may succumb yearly, so it may be time to consider removing them and replacing them with varieties that show better resistance.
Clear up fallen leaves and decaying matter from around the garden but especially from plants that have suffered disease this season. Many fungal pests will over winter on fallen leaves and dead material to reappear next season, stronger and more destructive than ever before.
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