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Rust diseases
There are hundreds of types of fungi that cause ‘rust’ on plants but each type has a limited number of host plants so that your whole garden is not likely to be overrun by rust. Rust can occur in...
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Camellia leaf gall
If new leaves on Camellia plants become thick and very pale green or pink, and the underside of the leaf starts becoming white – the plant is suffering from ‘Camellia leaf gall’. This is a fungal...
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Powdery mildew on zucchini
A reader has asked about powdery mildew on zucchini plants and fungus-eating ladybirds: Hi. Wonder if you can sort this. 1. Most fungi need moisture and organic material. This seems to be supported by...
View ArticleRoot knot nematodes
Nematodes that damage roots in the vege patch, are minute worm-like creatures, also known as eelworms. The female nematodes penetrate plant roots causing lumps to form on the roots, which affect the...
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Gardening chat
I will be giving a talk about organic gardening at 10 am at the Wingham Farmers Market on Saturday April 6th. If you are in the area, come along and find out how easy it is for you to make your entire...
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Cabbage butterfly update
Cabbage white butterflies have had a lovely time with my broccoli this year. There are several conditions that make brassicas very attractive to these pests and the brown cabbage moth. See Cabbage...
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Lime Sulphur
Agricultural lime or elemental sulphur are recommended to modify soil pH to a range that suits healthy growth of particular plants. A reader recently asked me if “Lime Sulphur” was suitable to use...
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Red-shouldered beetles
The warm, dry weather has enouraged this small native beetle (Monolepta australis) to move into gardens. As their common name suggests, these yellow beetles have a bright red stripe across their...
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Yellow leaves – potted citrus
A reader wanted to know what what is causing yellowing of new leaves in her potted, dwarf lemon tree. From the photos she e-mailed, it does look like this tree has an iron deficiency, as yellowing is...
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Flies around fruit bowl
Column 8 in today’s Sydney Morning Herald stated that Sydneysiders’ kitchens have been infested by fruit flies, stating that, “They emerge from fruit and hang around all summer”. The flies referred to...
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Gall wasp reminder
For gardeners on the east coast – don’t forget that it is a legal requirement in some areas to remove galls from citrus trees by the end of August. Gall wasps lay eggs in main stems or fruit stalks....
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Leaf-eating ladybird
This ugly little creature is the larva of the leaf-eating ladybird. Stressed plants in prolonged hot, dry conditions attract these pests. The larvae become almost black as they reach pupa stage. Both...
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Citrus gall wasp
Galls or stem swellings on citrus trees need to be removed by pruning by the end of August, as very tiny black wasps emerge from the galls in September and October ready to lay a new batch of eggs in...
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