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Border problems

By spotting pest and disease problems early and taking the appropriate action, you can keep your garden plants healthy and save a lot of time and money later on.

Caterpillars Watch out for signs of attack and pick off any pests seen or try and dislodge them with a jet of water from a garden hosepipe.

Powdery mildew Keep an eye on Michaelmas daisies and other susceptible plants for the tell-tale white powdery coating on foliage and stems. If you catch it early enough you can pick off affected leaves and keep the plant well watered. Otherwise, spray with a suitable fungicide.

Slugs Check small plants such as newly planted bedding and emerging shoots from herbaceous plants to make sure they are not being attacked by slugs. Protect individual small plants with up-turned plastic beer mugs or cut-down empty plastic drinks bottles - placing one over each plant like personal cloches. If you have a lot of plants to protect, scatter a few slug pellets around vulnerable specimens, such as hostas, before the new leaves emerge.

Aphids Check the undersides of leaves and growing points of new shoots for clusters of these sap-sucking insects. Rub off small colonies between finger and thumb or apply a ready-to-use insecticide spray.

Tools required

slug pellets, ready-to-use insecticide or fungicide

Skill rating

easy

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