The Gardening Year

Watch out for

Slugs and snails: Use physical barriers like copper tape or hand-pick at night; avoid chemical slug pellets where possible.

Vine weevil: Apply nematodes to the soil in autumn and spring, or use biological controls for larvae.

Aphids: Squash by hand or blast off with water; encourage natural predators like ladybirds.

Primula rust: Remove and destroy infected leaves immediately to prevent spread; improve air circulation.

Glasshouse red spider mite: Increase humidity around the plant and spray leaves with water to dislodge mites.