protect your health
Select cultivars with resistance or tolerance to pests and diseases
Seed packets and plant labels generally highlight such characteristics. For example, new rose cultivars may offer some resistance to black spot for a period. Some potatoes such as ‘Charlotte’ fend off slugs. In areas with soil infections such as club root, seek resistant brassicas. See our lists of plants that are less susceptible to verticillium wilt, honey fungus and phytophthora root rot to help you avoid plant loss.
Controlling Method
Ensure plants you purchase are healthy and thriving
Don’t be tempted by less healthy ones on the discount shelf. They will be more vulnerable to pests and diseases, even if they don’t have them already. If plants are grown well by the producer and cared for by the garden centre, they will get off to a better start in your garden.
Check and monitor new arrivals
Tip out pots to check for root pests such as vine weevil grubs. Before planting out in the garden, consider isolating new arrivals and monitoring their health. This is especially important for plants imported from abroad.
Grow your plants well
Choose the best spot in your garden Follow the ‘right plant, right place’ mantra and consider the needs of individual plants. Mediterranean plants are more suited to the warmth of home, so site in a sunny spot; woodland dwellers grow better in the cool of dappled shade.
Test your soil
As pH may affect the nutrient uptake by plants, consider a soil test before permanent planting. Undertake every four years for annual or vegetable plots.
- Make sure you really have bed bugs, fleas, ticks or other insects.
- Don't panic!
- Think through your treatment options -- Don't immediately reach for the spray can.
- Reduce the number of hiding places -- Clean up the clutter.
Make sure you really have bed bugs, fleas, ticks or other insects.
You can send your insect to the pictures to us and we will identify the insect for you
Don't panic!
It can be difficult to eliminate insects , but it’s not impossible. Don’t throw out all of your things because most of them can be treated and saved. Throwing stuff out is expensive, may spread the bed bugs to other people’s homes and could cause more stress.
Think through your treatment options - Don't immediately reach for the spray can.
Be comprehensive in your approach. If pesticides are needed, always follow label directions or hire a professional.
Reduce the number of hiding places - Clean up the clutter.
A cluttered home provides more places for bed bugs to hide and makes locating and treating them harder. If bed bugs are in your mattress, using special bed bug covers (encasements) on your mattress and box springs makes it harder for bed bugs to get to you while you sleep. . Be sure to buy a product that has been tested!