Sprayer calibration: Remember to take the time to calibrate all equipment used - making sure that the right product is applied at the right rate will reduce pest, disease and weed resistance over the coming year and hopefully provide better control, too. Check whether your droplet size is appropriate...
Pine aphid: Dry weather can encourage early aphid populations on leylandii, Chamaecyparis, Cupressus, juniper and Picea spp. Feeding now can cause needle drop later in the summer period. Check vulnerable plants and spray with Aphox (IPM-friendly), Decis or Hallmark WZT (EoA 2008-2944) at this time...
Mice: Damage can be seen on protected crops during the winter months - mice are messy eaters, leaving slithers of uneaten stem at the base of the damaged area. I find that they tend not to feed on plants that have been treated with Ronstar 2G granules. Damping-off: This disease can be an issue...
Herbicide applications: There are new labelling requirements for herbicide applications to non-porous hard surfaces to ensure that targeted spraying takes place. Labels should be updated at their next reprint or by May 2012 at the latest. Temporary label stickers can be used up to November 2012....
Pesticide exposure: Horticulture continues to be a safe place to work. In 2010-11, we did have a few incidents of pesticide exposure - 34 were herbicides, 25 fungicides and eight insecticides. Of 38 ill-health complaints, 78 per cent came from the agriculture sector and only two were in horticulture...
Heathers Ericas and callunas can suffer from Rhizoctonia now, particularly protected crops and young overwintering plugs. Those where no control programme is in place are often most at risk. Control with Rovral WG or Switch. Rabbits Using gas tablets such as Talunex during the winter months when...
Vent gear: Grease up your vent gear. Vent motors, racks and bearings can get damaged during the busy summer months through lack of maintenance. Make sure that your staff use safe working methods when carrying out any work on these high pieces of equipment. Health Safety Executive leaflet AIS12 provides...
Field soil sampling Take soil samples now to check end-of-season nutrient levels. The results are only as good as the sample taken, so walk each field in a "W" pattern. Start away from gateways, avoid old lime or manure heaps and patches of perennial weeds. Sampling now can help towards accurate...
Vine weevil: Nemasys L provides good larval control at this time of year. Apply to protected crops and plants exposed to egg-laying that have not yet had compost-incorporated Met52 or granular insecticide. In large tree containers, Nematodes can be more effective than insecticide drenches. Weed...
Weather Snow in the east of the USA may mean that we have a similar cold snap ourselves shortly. Get white fleece or Cosytex ready to protect any late autumn growth.
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