bugs beasties aargghhh!!!!!

[matowakan]

Am I the only one who thinks that this year is particularly bad for all creepy crawly things??!!!
Discovered today that my sprouts have mealy aphid - and organic solutions to this problem?
Also today discovered a red ants nest in the polytunnel.
But worse than that for me I saw a grass snake in the pond and on the lawn- the fact that it was only about 6 -8 inches is beside the point!! And a slowworm at the end of the garden.And I hate almost to the point of being phobic all things snakelike!!!
So at the moment I cannot go near either area in case I see them again!!!
Which leads me on to the compost heap - I can't go near that either in case something snakelike pops his head up at me!!!!
Am I the only wuss who grows her own???
And dont get me started on rats (tails you see like snakes!) .....Luckily in the 3 years we have been here I have only seen one dead one... But I do look.!

[chickenchargrill]

Jalepeno/cayenne/tabasco sauce, garlic, dishwater, and peppermint - mealy aphids don't like any of those things.

Snakes are also said to hate garlic, so maybe that's the one to go for a duel purpose spray. Or you can go for a clove and cinnamon oil spray.

[matowakan]

Thankyou for that tip,will make a spray up in the morning.

[MKG]

I don't think (but I may be wrong) that the grass snake will take too much notice of any smell, unless it's a froggy kind of smell. The slow worm (which is a lizard, by the way, not a snake) likewise. I understand phobias (and sympathise) but neither of those animals will come anywhere near you unless you force the issue. Which brings me to the compost heap - if I was a gambler, I'd lay odds that there ARE grass snakes in there - they love the things and, as you've already seen one, it's a fair bet there are more. In fact, they're probably laying eggs in there which (despite your fears) is A GOOD THING. In fact, as your grass snake is so small, it may well be a product of your heap.

So walk around your garden making a noise with your feet - any snake will be long gone before you get anywhere near it. But I'd advise against prodding your compost. If you can bring yourself to leave them alone, you would single-handedly be doing a greater service to British Wildlife than most people do in their entire lives. I leave spiders alone to do their thing - and they bring me out in a cold sweat.

Food for thought.

Mike

[clanpowell]

We've been overrun by slugs and snails this year, despite liberal application of roasted egg shells and coffee grinds. Beans and peas have been particularly badly effected.

[MKG]

I've said this so many times before

Get yourself some frogs and thrushes. This year, we've seen the grand total of two snails which the thrushes missed, and not a single slug.

Apart from which, it's one of the world's delights watching newly-fledged thrushes running away from you and falling flat on their beaks because of the lack of long tail feathers.

Mike

[boboff]

How do you get Thrush?

(Betty Swollocks wrote a book I know, but I miss placed it!)

[matowakan]

Thanks MKG for reply,I know that slithery things do good in the garden and boy do my rigger boots stamps noisily in some areas now!!!
We have resident toads in the pond and have done for a couple of years although one is often to be found in a shed,but I have got used to it staring at me from various vantage points.
We also have newts in the pond which i now find quite appealing so i am hoping to one day enjoy the presence of snakes and slow worms too... here's hoping!

[matowakan]

You made me smile Boboff but you forgot to mention Betty Swollocks sister...Mary Hinge!!!
And my reply to the thrush question would be ...antibiotics!!

[gregorach]

Discovered today that my sprouts have mealy aphid - and organic solutions to this problem?

Soapy water - I use Ecover washing up liquid. Mix some with water in an old bottle and squirt it liberally on the affected areas.

[grahamhobbs]

Even better maybe is to add the ecover to some Rhubard leaf 'tea' (leaves soaked in water for a couple of weeks), as this is good against white fly