Beating winter's problems

Ruth sets out to beat the season’s pests and diseases

- Ruth Hayes

HAVING spent summer keeping flowers and crops free of pests and disease, it’s now time to turn our attention to winter problems.

Pests shouldn’t be as much of a menace due to breeding cycles and the colder, wet weather. Watch out for slugs and snails though, especially if the temperatures refuse to dip to bugbusting lows. They, and aphids, will shelter in greenhouses or anywhere that has warmth and food laid on.

This is your last chance to protect fruit trees against winter moths that damage their flowers, fruit and leaves. Attach sticky bands around the trunks, or paint them with barrier glue.

Fungal problems caused by damp, still and relatively mild conditions are the main issues now. They include mildew, leaf spot, grey moulds and lawn moulds, and can strike anywhere damp and where air circulation is poor.