Plant Hospital

If you’ve ever grown fruit of any kind, especially during spring and summer, you will know that fruit fly can be a real nuisance. However, there is an easy solution to help control these pesky insects.   Fruit Fly damage  In our hot climate, fruit flies cause much fruit loss from stinging the fruit. It is the female that is …

The presence of Citrus leafminer can be identified by the silvery lines it leaves on leaves. These are the tunnels left by the larvae as they ‘mine’ their way through the insides of the leaf. When the larvae are fully grown, they curl the leaf edges shelter inside the curled section and emerge as adult moths. Leafminers can cause a …

Aphids commonly appear on flushes of new growth and quite often they will only remain on the plant for a short period of time. Generally, if there are predatory insects in the area such as ladybird larvae, the aphids will be kept under control. In severe cases, spray them with Searles Bug Beater, a natural pyrethrum spray. For an organic …

Plants dying long after the ‘Big Wet’ has finished? Some trees, shrubs or even pot plants can take up to 3 months to show signs of root rot (phytopthora). Signs of root rot are wilting, dieback at the tips of the branches, yellowing leaves, roots becoming mushy and eventually death. Treating early is key to the plant’s survival. Spray with …

What is the difference between re-wetting granules versus water crystals? Each product serves a very different function to improve water effectiveness in soils. Put simply, re-wetting granules aid water penetrating into the soil, water crystals act like water reservoirs in the soil for when the plants need the water. What do Re-wetting granules do in soil? Re-wetting granules are ideal …

So you have decided your plant needs a different home in your garden. A little bit of prep work will ensure your plant doesn’t suffer shock from the move.   What is transplant shock? Many plants suffer from transplant shock more often than you’d think. In fact, transplant shock in plants is an unknown topic for many gardeners. When uprooting …

But as many Australians know, we prepare for all varying weather events which may eventuate during out four seasons. Here are some tips to flood or drought proof your garden.   Start with improving the soil Garden plants will tolerate extreme fluctuations in weather better if the soil is healthy and full of rich composted nutrients with a free draining, …

Protect the harvest you have been nurturing from chewing insects.   • Cover-up – Create a physical barrier by covering leafy vegetables with a fine weave vegetable netting. Sometimes you need to protect only one plant or row of plants. A cloche is a temporary cover, sized and shaped to fit a particular plant. For single plants, make inexpensive cloches …

Arm yourself with these common anti-bacterial garden herbs and plants to ward off some common bacteria.   Garlic has been long recognised across the world for its preventive and curative powers. Research has found that garlic can be an effective treatment against many forms of bacteria. With many of us spending more time at home we can eat it freely …

Citrus trees are one of the most productive and easy to grow trees in the home garden but just us we love to reap its awards so do pests and diseases. Here is a list of the most common aliments of the citrus tree. Citrus leafminer (Phyllocnistis citrella) tunnels through the young leaves of citrus trees which creates silvery lines. …