Flea beetle

Now that the pressure from flea beetle has passed we have sown more rocket and oriental mixed leaves. Flea beetle causes holes in the leaves, heavy attacks can kill seedlings and will check the growth of older plants.
Sowing in late summer will avoid the beetle also it is always best to sow when the weather and soil conditions will allow rapid growth and germination.

Conifer Aphids

We have had a customer in today with a conifer hedge where great sections of it had died and on touching it the leaves have dropped off. There are other areas where the growth is perfectly ok.
The problem is due to Conifer aphids and the one that manly cause the problem is Cinara species. Fortunately there is help at hand and a couple of good doses of Scotts 'Bug Clear' will get rid of the pest, but you must spray at first signs otherwise it can be difficult to control.