QUESTION
This may seem a very obvious question but where do Red Spider Mites come from?
In our garden we notice every spring that we have hundreds of tiny red/pink spiders
running around. Are these the source of the mites or are these something else?
I get problems with mites in the greenhouse (who doesn’t?) and only use
killers while the plant is in the early stages of growth. After that they seem
to be ok.
If I may also ask another question, does soil ever get to a stage where it is
completely useless and beyond recovery? I live in a house that is about 100 years
old and the previous owner had a love affair with Leylandii and conifers. These
have all been removed but nothing seems to want to grow in spite of all the compost
etc I have added to the soil. Am I wasting my time or is it possible to make
this soil good? If my hydrangea is any guide (bluish pink flowers) the soil is
on the acid side. I have been advised to add lots of well rotted manure to the
soil or should I be thinking of changing the soil altogether?
ANSWER
Thank you for your enquiry regarding the Red spider mites in your Garden.
These tiny red/pink spiders are the Red Spider Mite and can cause problems during
hot, dry summers. The general symptoms of Red spider mites are pale bronze – coloured
leaves and spiders on the underside of the leaves. Spray with a systemic & contact
insecticide just after flowering, if the weather is warm & settled.
Red spider mites can appear from anywhere e.g. other plants, the ground and gardening
waste. There are several ways of preventing this from occurring:-
3. Remove any dead plants, rubbish and weeds which may attract pests.
4. Choose your plants wisely, reject soft bulbs, lanky bedding plants, old seeds,
unhealthy shrubs and disease ridden perennials.
Improving your soil
When the ground is cultivated and garden plants grow in it, this upsets the balance
of the soil and essential elements (nitrogen, phosphorus & potassium) diminish
more rapidly than can be replaced naturally. These essential elements need to
be replaced. There are a number of ways to accomplish this. Firstly take a Ph
test of your soil to determine your soils Ph and work out the type of soil in
your garden.
Improve your soil by digging
This breaks up the soil there and releases more nutrient into the soil. Add Humus
(Manure, Compost or Peat) into the soil below the surface. Do this in autumn
and early winter, but never dig when the land is frozen or waterlogged
Improve your soil by adding Lime
If your soil is on the acid side it may be short of Lime. Lime brings beneficial
bacteria and earth worms to you soil. Lime is a plant food, discourages pests,
neutralises sourness and breaks up heavy soil.
Other ways to improve your soil are by:-
• Adding fertilizers
•
Applying base & top dressings
• Adding humus
I recommend The Garden Expert by Dr D G Hessayon as it has a good source of information
for improving soil. We sell this for £5.99