bugs & beasties

Early this year I noticed blackfly feasting on my lovely Cardoons... I thought about spraying with an organic spray (after the bees have gone to bed of course!) and then noticed that among the blackfly there were some ladybird larvae and realised the spray would kill them too. So I decided on a 'rebranding' exercise: I'd see if I could look at this as a 'ladybird breeding programme' rather than a 'blackfly problem', and leave them alone to see what would happen. The Cardoons are in an area that's been organically gardened for at least 3 years and has really diverse planting that attracts loads of different insects so I crossed my fingers & hoped that pests and predators would find a balance. Over the next few weeks I watched and sure enough the numbers of ladybirds, eggs and larvae gradually increased, and the blackfly decreased until the Cardoons were completely clean. Amazing! You think they'll never be able to get the better of them but little by little they take over. The long term benefit was that now I had a really thriving population of ladybirds ready to tackle any other aphid attack elsewhere in the garden - if I'd zapped the blackfly at first sight, this wouldn't have happened.It's made me have a hard think about so-called organic sprays - OK, they may not be harmful for the environment, but overuse prevents the natural biodiversity in a garden from developing as it should, and then pest problems can really get out of hand! Bugs are the building blocks of complex and healthy networks of wildlife: knock these out and the layers on top which depend on them, will struggle. OK, I'm not suggesting we all let blackfly slaughter your broad beans (tried that, didn't work!) but on vigorous plants, it may be worth having a little more faith in nature's ability to sort things out by herself. And it's all fascinating to watch :o)
Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

Comments

  • PRO
    I have a 'live and let live' policy too. Leave lots of seed heads and stems over the winter so that the population remains strong for next year or buy a few bug boxes if you don't have any already. Hover flies are also brilliant - they have larvae that eat aphids too.
This reply was deleted.

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

Neil Ruddick replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"According to AI, certain groups (eg., those unable to use digital tools due to age, disability, or location) may apply for exemption from MTD.  It gives GOV.UK as the source of that information.
It certainly suits me to stick to paper.  I am…"
14 hours ago
Peel Projects updated their profile
yesterday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Aimee Davey joins ICL at a key point as the business moves into a busy period of campaign and product activity across its Turf and Landscape portfolio, taking on the role of Marketing Communications Manager for the UK and Ireland.Aimee brings strong…
yesterday
Ian Harvey replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
""I like Nigel he's lived in the real world."
Yep- private school eduction, then his Dad (a city trader) gets Nigel a city trader job. His only ever job, before becoming an MEP.
Yep- that's the real world isn't it!
I wasn't suggesting that Reform…"
yesterday
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"I'm with you on this. Just had a look at the betting odds for the next general election as it's not often the bookies get it wrong from the odds offered they predict a landslide victory for reform😃.
So we will have to be patient and put with what we…"
yesterday
Honey Badger replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"I'm hopping for asylum in America "
Tuesday
Honey Badger replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Anyone with half a brain knows that's common knowledge.
'You will own nothing and be happy'
Last general election i red the manifestos of tories, Labour and reform. The only one that was realistic and contained common sense was reforms.
Tories and…"
Tuesday
Honey Badger replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Labour will do anything to win votes.
Including burning our country to the ground just to prove a point."
Tuesday
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Just setting off in my dinghy from Calais"
Tuesday
Ian Harvey replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"You do realise that it was the Conservative Party who introduced MTD in 2019 and then expanded it in law to include income tax self assessment in 2022. Nothing that Labour could do to stop it, even if they wanted to.
As for Nigel, if you are…"
Tuesday
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Yes, I'm pissed off too, fed up of supporting the druggies, alcos and bone idle who have 6 kids with no intention of supporting themselves,Rachel in accounts has just made that more of a lifestyle choice. Hope Nigel will sort this broken country…"
Tuesday
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Thats ok for you youngsters, who are capable of using this shit. What about the rest of us appriaching 70? When I was at school calculators were a novelty!  There are a lot in this trade who will just pack it in or go off grid, its more interference…"
Tuesday
Honey Badger replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"It's important as the 48% of working people to provide for the impoverished depending on the welfare state. 
If fat jayden with adhd doesn't get his macdonalds via delivero everyday he gets anxiety attacks.
His parents that have never worked still…"
Tuesday
Ian Harvey replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Most of the business software packages such as QB, Zero etc are fully MTD ready. Some of these, such as Zoho Books, Wave, QuickFile are free for small businesses, and Freeagent is free if you have certain bank accounts.
The MTD idea is to stop small…"
Tuesday
Peter sellers posted a discussion
Thought there might be some unaware of this. So briefly and I am not an accountant . As from 6th April 26 anyone who has income from self employment, rent from property etc or a combination that equates to a turnover of 50k or more (not profit) will…
Tuesday
Neil Darby replied to Neil Darby's discussion Dirty subject.
"it thats what you are happy doing up to you. 8 turds last week & another 3 this. The client is been notified that I quit. .Edit, excuses excuses.please come back."
Monday
More…

Making tax digital

Thought there might be some unaware of this. So briefly and I am not an accountant . As from 6th April 26 anyone who has income from self employment, rent from property etc or a combination that equates to a turnover of 50k or more (not profit) will…

Read more…
12 Replies · Reply by Neil Ruddick 14 hours ago
Views: 225