Pest Solutions

Many gardeners want to control garden pests, but in a way that’s not going to harm the environment or beneficial insects. Here are some environmentally friendly pest control tips to minimise impact on beneficials in the garden and product recommendations that are safe to use in the garden. There are now many organic options for pest control, which include biological...

Lace bug is a serious pest in gardens, attacking the leaves of azaleas and rhododendrons. The damage it causes is seen as bronzing or silvering on the top of the leaves (see image above), but the pest itself is active underneath the leaf. If you look on the underside of a damaged leaf, the tiny pest along with frass (insect...

Thrips are a common plant insect pest. They often occur in large numbers, causing damage to buds, flowers, fruit and foliage. There are many different types of thrips, some of which are specific to certain types of plants, while others attack a wide range of ornamental and edible plants. There are also some thrips that are beneficial insects, but these...

There are some garden visitors that love fresh, home grown vegetables as much as you do. These are the common pests and diseases of the veggie garden. They may attack the leaves, fruit or even roots of plants and many target specific vegies. If you know what to expect, it makes control easier. Here are some commonly encountered pests of...

According to our records, “how to deter possums from my garden” is a really popular internet search. You’ve probably landed here because you’re having possum issues and have turned to Google for help. Possum populations have exploded in the past decade or so, as these furry marsupials find themselves well-suited to suburban life. With their agility and adaptability, they are...

There are lots of pests that are after your citrus trees, especially in the warmer months of the year. Here’s what to look for and what to do if you find one or more of these common pests. In addition to pest problems, citrus can also suffer from nutrient deficiencies that appear as yellowing leaves, so there are some tips...

When pests or diseases attack garden plants, the first step to fixing the sick plant is to identify the cause. Start by working out whether the problem is caused by an insect pest or a plant disease. Next, narrow it down further by either identifying the specific pest or disease, or working out how the pest is damaging your plant...

Identifying a garden weed, and understanding its growth and life cycle, can help you work out a control strategy. Here are some of the weeds most commonly encountered in Sydney or other temperate and coastal gardens, with tips on how to recognise and control them using chemicals or physical methods, or both. Remember, when using herbicides, always follow the recommended...

There are many tiny critters and plant diseases that want to feed on your plants over summer. Here’s our checklist for summer nasties, along with quick and easy ways to stop them in their tracks. The quickest way to deal with many pests and diseases is to remove the pest or damaged plant part by hand when it's first seen...

Whether its mozzies, flies or ants, did you know you can stop pests in their tracks with a range of pest-repellent plants? The secret to these plants’ pest-repellent magic is in the oils they produce, which must be released in order for the plant to be effective against pests. There are a few ways to release these plants’ pest-deterring oils. For...