H&LWinter2017WEBMag

T here’s always something trying to spoil your plants. If it isn’t insect pests, it’s diseases like black spot. But late winter is a good time to get rid of plant problems and set up the garden with the best possible start for spring. Roses, for example, can be given a clean-up Lime Sulphur spray immediately after pruning. But if your rose has already started to shoot, it’s probably too late to use Lime Sulphur (which could burn the young leaves). Instead you should begin applying a good fungicide/insecticide/miticide such as Rose Spray. Regular monitoring is the best way to prevent pests from spoiling your plants. Walk through the garden as often as you can and try to remove problems in their early stages. Insect pests can be easily picked off or squashed by hand while their numbers are still controllable. Most pest insects fall into two groups – either sap suckers or leaf eaters. Sap suckers are usually small – often minute – but they can be present in huge numbers. Aphids are good examples. Aphids (pictured) suck sugary sap directly out of the youngest leaves. This weakens the plant and also causes twisting and curling of the new growth. In their early stages it’s easy to remove sap suckers like aphids but, once numbers build up, you’ll probably need to spray with an insecticide. We stock a wide selection of controls to choose from. They include plant- extract pyrethrum or systemic Confidor. Confidor is most effective when used as a preventative to protect new season’s foliage on pest-susceptible plants like azaleas. Scales are harder to control than aphids because these sap-sucking pests hide beneath protective coatings. Sometimes their sticky waste encourages growth of an ugly blackfungus called sooty mould. To get rid of the mould, you need to remove the scale. You can do this in many cases with a systemic spray (Confidor) or an oil (like White Oil). Or a Scale Gun combines a pyrethrum insecticide with white oil, which greatly increases its effectiveness. An old toothbrush, too, can be used to give scales the ‘brush-off’. Damage caused by leaf eat rs is much easier to identify because these pests literally chew holes in the leaves. Caterpillars are the most common – use naturally-derived Success or Dipel – but also be on the lookout for other chewers like snails and slugs. Winter Gardening Tips - Pests & Diseases

Spinach, carrots,cabbages,peas,broad beans,onions, broccoli all can be grown from seeds or seedlings now. Prepare the soil with organic matter Feed the young plants with harvest help reduce stress. Create a Winter Vegetable Patch

ARTWORK APPROVAL Snap Gosford • Shop 7 Park Plaza, 131 Henry Parry Drive Gosford NSW 2250 Telephone (02) 4324 1133 • Facsimile (02) 4323 2796 • Email gosford@snap.com.au • www.gosford.snap.com.au

CENTRE THE Upholstery We’ve got you covered Market leaders since 1981 in all upholstery and repairs - Domestic & Commercial. • Custom made furniture

Now Open

ARTWORK APPROVAL Snap Gosford • Shop 7 Park Plaza, 131 Henry Parry Drive Gosford NSW 2250 Telephone (02) 4324 1133 • Facsimile (02) 4323 2796 • Email gosford@snap.com.au • www.gosford.snap.com.au

Coffee Tea Cafe NOW OPEN! OPEN Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm Saturday 9.30am to 3pm | Sunday 10am to 3pm Lot 2/30 Empire Bay Drive, Kincumber Ph: 43682220 Coffee Tea Cafe NOW OPEN!

• Free quotes 7 days • Pick up & delivery

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM MONDAY TO FRIDAY or by appointment

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

Bay 2/5, Tumbi Creek Rd, Berkeley Vale Mobile:0404 202 223

& Lifestyle Magazine | Winter 2017

26 Home