Shasta daisy

Aphids

What you will see

Colonies of tiny insects on shoots and buds, sticky honeydew, curled leaves.

How to protect

1. Prevention

   • Check plants regularly from spring.
   • Encourage ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings and parasitic wasps.
2. By hand as soon as it appearsRub off colonies by hand or wash them off with a jet of water.
3. Biological spring to summerRelease lacewing larvae, aphid midge larvae or ladybirds.
4. Gentle spray in a heavy infestation, repeatPotassium soap (fatty acids) or plant oil.
5. Chemical — only when nothing else helps only as a last resortA product authorised in your country against aphids.

Leaf miners

What you will see

Pale winding tunnels in leaves.

How to protect

1. Prevention

   • Remove affected leaves promptly.
2. By hand when tunnels appearRemove affected leaves; cut the plant back after flowering.

Spider mites

What you will see

Leaves are speckled and bronzing, with fine webbing on the underside.

How to protect

1. Prevention

   • Reduce dust and water stress; do not use broad-spectrum insecticides, which cause mite outbreaks.
2. By handA strong jet of water on the underside of leaves.
3. Gentle sprayInsecticidal soap or oil, thoroughly on the undersides; only after mites are confirmed.

Verticillium wilt

What you will see

Sudden wilting and yellowing of leaves from the bottom up, especially in hot weather.

How to protect

1. Prevention

   • Do not spread soil from affected plants on tools and footwear.
   • Do not plant susceptible species in the same place.
2. By hand as soon as it is foundDig up and destroy affected plants (not on the compost).

Leaf spots

What you will see

Brown to black spots on leaves; leaves turn yellow early.

How to protect

1. Prevention

   • Remove old leaves before they infect the new season.
   • Do not wet the leaves when watering; keep the plant unstressed.
2. By hand after the first spots; in autumnRemove affected leaves at once and destroy them; collect fallen leaves in autumn.

Powdery mildews

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves and stems; leaves curl and dry out.

How to protect

1. Prevention

   • Sunny, airy position; not in a still spot against a wall.
   • Do not overdo nitrogen (lush young leaves are more susceptible).
   • Water at the roots, not on the leaves.
2. By hand as soon as the first symptoms appearQuickly cut out affected shoots and burn them or take them away (not to the compost).
3. Gentle spray at the start of infectionSulphur or fatty acids (potassium soap) according to the label.
4. Chemical — only when nothing else helps only in a heavy attackA product authorised in your country against powdery mildew.

Leaf and bud eelworms

What you will see

Angular brown or black blotches between the veins of the leaves, distorted buds.

How to protect

1. Prevention

   • Healthy plants; remove affected leaves in autumn.
   • Do not wet plants by watering the leaves.
2. By hand once noticedRemove affected leaves and shoots; destroy heavily affected plants.