Plant Pests

Aphids

Aphids are the most common of all pests and almost every plant from the smallest shrub to the tallest oak tree can potentially become infested. 

Ants

Ants in the garden are more of a nuisance than a real problem. They rarely damage plants. 

Cabbage root fly

Cabbage Root Flies affect the brassica family of cabbages, sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli. 

Capsid bugs

Capsid bugs are nasty little green things about 6mm long with six long legs. They love tips of young shoots and have wide tastes. 

Carrot root fly

Carrot root fly larvae bury into the roots of carrots, parsnips and celery. 

Caterpillars

Yes they will eat through fruit leaves, stems and even roots but one day the very hungry, creepy crawly before you may become a beautiful butterfly. 

Chafer grubs

Chafer grubs have white bodies, brown heads and three pairs of legs (close to the head end), when disturbed they curl up into the shape of a 'C'. 

Codling Moth

Codling Moth pale pink larvae that attack the fruit of apples and pears by burying into them. 

Flea beetle

Certain species of the adult flea beetle are fond of cabbages, brussels sprouts, swede and other brassicas; some like potatoes. 

Leaf cutter bee

A native bee that cuts pieces of plant leaves to line its nest. Don't begrudge these useful animals a waterproof nest. 

Leaf hopper

Leaf hoppers are yellowish in colour. The immature nymphs are creamy white and crawl. Both nymphs and adults feed on the sap of plants. 

Leaf miner

Leaf miners leave pale twisting tunnels under the surface of affected leaves. Decoratively unsightly, but normally does no major harm to plants. 

Leatherjackets

Leatherjackets are lengthy (up to 50mm), legless, seemingly headless, grey brown wiggling tubes. They grow up to become Crane Flies. 

Mealybug

Mealybugs can be present in the house, the conservatory, the sun lounge or the greenhouse, few plants will escape its attention. 

Red spider mite

Leaves first develop a pale mottling but as the infestation progresses so the leaves become increasingly yellowish white. 

Scale insects

Scale insects are sap feeding bugs that gradually weaken plants. So called because a colony on the leaf or stem of plants resemble fish scales. 

Scarlet lily beetle

Adult scarlet lily beetles and their next generation grubs eat holes in the leaves of lily plants often leading to leaf drop. 

Slugs and snails

Slugs and snails, there's no need to tell you what they look like. The silvery trails will tell you where they came from and where they went after lunching. 

Thrips

Thrips (also called Thunder Flies) are yet another sap feeding insect but one with a difference: this one will happily feed on the surface of a leaf. 

Vine weevils

Vine weevils are particularly rampant in containers but at least they are somewhat restricted to the plants in the container. 

Whitefly

Whitefly set up home and live out their lives on the underside of leaves. As adults they are about 2mm long with white wings. 

Plant Diseases

Bacterial canker

Bacterial canker is a fungus particularly common on cherries and plums. The disease weakens the plant and can cause extensive die back. 

Black spot

Black spot is a common problem on roses. Prevention is better than the cure so it's important to know the symptoms and methods to control it. 

Blight

Blight causes discolouration of the leaves, turning them brown from the edges inwards. The fungus will also affect potato tubers and tomatoes. 

Blossom end rot

Blossom end rot is a common problem of tomatoes, peppers and aubergines grown in a greenhouse caused by erratic watering or dryness at the root. 

Botrytis

Botrytis is a plant disease often found on indoor cyclamen and outdoor flowers such as dahlia and chrysanthemum kept in very humid conditions. 

Bud blast

Bud blast is a fungus disease spread by rhododendron leaf hopper which lay their eggs on the flower buds of these plants. 

Cuckoo spit

Cuckoo spit is a mass of frothy bubbles on stems of plants, in particular chrysanthemum, geum and solidago. 

Downy mildew

Downy mildew thrives in moist damp conditions and loves young plants. The upper leaf surfaces develop yellowy discoloured patches. 

Earwigs

Earwigs eat the developing buds of chrysanthemums and dahlias. These bugs cause damage to plants as they eat the young leaves and flowers. 

Frost damage

Temperatures below zero will always affect tender plants, and sometimes hardy ones when grown in containers. 

Fruit splitting

Fruit splitting is a problem of the tomato plant taking up too much water quickly and splitting the outer skin after inadequate watering. 

Grey mould

Grey mould is an extremely common fungus and grows on many plants. Its greyish fuzzy fungal growth develops over infected areas. 

Honey fungus

Honey fungus affects the roots, trunks and stems of plants. A creamy white sheet of fungus grows between bark and the plant tissue beneath it. 

Iron deficiency

Iron can be locked up in soil so roots of raspberries, azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and other ericaceous plants cannot absorb any reserves. 

Leaf spot

Leaf spots can be of various colours; grey, brown or black. The spots are in fact dead leaf tissue caused by fungus which spreads the disease. 

Magnesium deficiency

Pale yellow areas develop especially on foliage of fruit and vegetables. Tomatoes and rhododendrons are especially prone to show symptoms. 

Nitrogen deficiency

Nitrogen is a major nutrient that determines plant growth and green leaves. It is easily lost through winter rains so balanced feeding is needed. 

Oedema

Oedema occurs when plants take up more water than required for transpiration of the leaves. Often occurs in plants grown under glass. 

Peach leaf curl

Peach leaf curl is a crippling fungal disease of peaches, nectarines, almonds and apricots that distorts leaves and causes premature leaf fall. 

Plant die back

Shoots may die back for any number of reasons including water-logging at roots, frost damage, disease problems or general lack of plant nutrients. 

Potash deficiency

Potash deficiency is only a problem on tired soils that are deprived of organic matter or remain unfed for some time. 

Powdery mildew

Powdery mildew, just as the name suggests, is a white powdery fungus which grows mostly on the upper surface of leaves. 

Rose suckers

Rose suckers are thin sappy light green stems coming from the root stock. Usually has different leaf patterning and colour from the named variety. 

Rust

Rust spores need a moist environment in which to prosper. The fungus develops mostly on leaves but also on stems. 

Sick leaf

Leaf not growing normally? To track the causes and alleviate the symptoms you will need to be more specific. 

Smuts

Smuts can be identified by small dark spots on stems. Larger dark swellings again on stems often accompanied by leaf distortion. 

Tomato leaf mould

Tomato leaf mould symptoms include extensive discolouration with leaves or fruits turning brown and bleached white spots on plant petals. 

Virus

Virus is normally seen as spotting of the leaf, growth distortion or yellowing or mosaic patterning of leaves. 

Pests in the Home

Ants in the home

Ants have a varied diet. The search for food by the worker ant often takes them indoors. They eat sugar, fats and grains. 

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are a nocturnal household pest that will eat almost anything, even the grease on walls and the wallpaper. 

Earwigs in the home

Although Earwigs do not damage household furnishings their presence is annoying and they may feed on stored food items. 

Fleas

Fleas are often bought into the house by your cats or dogs. 

Rats and mice

Rat and mouse activity is usually first noticed in the autumn when they are looking for a warm shelter where there is food available. 

Silverfish

Silverfish appreciate damp, humid conditions and so are often found in kitchens, larders, bathrooms and behind loose wallpaper. 

Wasps

Social wasps, the species that live together in nests, are certainly an irritant. 

Woodlice

Large numbers of woodlice may appear in your house gaining entry though cracks, doors and windows. They prefer damp conditions. 

General Pest & Disease Control

Ant species, nests and lifecycle

There are about 11,000 species of ants in the world, but because they prefer warm environments only 50 species are in the UK. 

Pesticides usage, storage and disposal

Pesticide and fungicide sensible precautions during usage, storage and disposal. 

Children, pets, wildlife

In the case of most products the label will contain a warning to 'Keep Product Away From Children and Pets' or some words to this effect. 

Flower problems

Visually identify pest and disease problems on flowering plants. 

Fruit/veg problems

Visually identify pest and disease problems on fruits and vegetables. 

Leaf problems

Visually identify pest and disease problems on plant leaves. 

Pest & disease planner

Use our easy-to-use guide that shows at a glance what products are most effective for various pests an diseases. 

Stem problems

Visually identify pest and disease problems on plant stems.