Latest news with #Ecover
Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners urged to spray fruit trees with one household item to keep them pest-free
Gardens are beginning to 'come alive' at this time of year, with salad crops and many other fruits and vegetables coming into their own - but they can also be a magnet for pests As the gardening season hits its stride, green-fingered enthusiasts are starting to reap the rewards of their labour with an abundance of salad crops and veggies. Yet, there's nothing quite as disheartening as starting to harvest your carefully-tended fruit and veg, only to find that it's already been devoured by garden pests. Currently, Google queries for "garden pests" and "get rid of pests in garden" have skyrocketed by over 200% in recent weeks. However, dousing your edible plants in harsh chemicals is a no-go, so BBC Gardeners' World Magazine has come up with some top-notch natural remedies to banish those uninvited munchers. Drench the invaders You can banish aphids from fruit trees, for example, with washing-up liquid. Using an eco-friendly brand such as Ecover or Purdy & Figg diluted in water, just spray your at-risk plants liberally while pinching off any obvious offenders, or even pruning branches that have a large number of aphids on them. Alternatively, to keep aphids at bay, nematodes can be your best allies. There are specific nematode species that target various garden pests. For those pesky aphids, seek out types like Steinernema feltiae or Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, which prey on aphids and other pests lurking in the soil. These minuscule warriors invade the aphids, unleashing bacteria that swiftly dispatch them. Just make sure to follow the packet instructions to a tee, and check that your soil is damp and warm enough for the nematodes you've picked up. A canopy of protection. Netting does more than just stop caterpillars and other egg-laying pests from attacking your leafy veg; it also shields against wind damage and guards against any surprise hailstorms. Plus, it's a smart move to prevent insects from transmitting diseases between your plants. Any roving rabbits or squirrels eyeing up your veg patch for their nut stash will be thwarted by sturdy netting. Escar-GO! A liberal dusting of crushed eggshell can safeguard plants in beds from slimy invaders – slugs and snails detest the sensation of traversing the jagged fragments. Kaolin clay serves as another natural deterrent, especially effective at warding off pests from cucumbers. Just remember to reapply after any summer downpours, as it's prone to being washed away in heavy rain. Fun guys. Waine Delaney, from fungi experts SporeBuddies, suggests that mushrooms might not spring to mind when considering garden protection, but certain types contain compounds that naturally target slugs, snails, and other unwelcome guests - organically and safely, without resorting to chemicals. Many edible varieties, such as shiitake and oyster, are packed with bioactive compounds boasting anti-fungal, antimicrobial, and insect-repelling properties. They also harbour enzymes, phenolics, and bitter-tasting compounds that deter pests like slugs and snails; when sprayed onto plant surfaces and surrounding soil, the residue and unfamiliar scent confound them, signalling that the plant is unpalatable. Making your own. Strain the concoction through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer into a jug to eliminate any remaining large bits that could clog the spray. You can also ramp up the concoction's bug-busting power by throwing in additional ingredients like peppermint oil, rosemary, garlic extract (a winner for warding off slugs and snails), or neem oil (great for tackling caterpillars, greenfly, and aphids). Gently decant your blend into a spray bottle, topping up with water if needed. Give it a good shake before each use and spritz directly onto the leaves - don't neglect the underside - stems, and around the base of your plants. Reapply every few days, particularly after rainfall.
Scottish Sun
14-06-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
I'm a gardening pro – my easy steps – including a £2.25 Dunelm trick – will banish garden pests like aphids this summer
WE may well be seeing lower slug and snail numbers this summer thanks to colder weather in winter and the recent dry spells. But mother nature never makes it easy for us. Instead - of course - there's a new pest in town. 2 RHS members have found aphids to be the biggest problem this year Credit: Getty 2 Adam Woolcott told Sun Gardening how to get rid of garden pests Credit: Supplied Aphid levels have rocketed this year - and the RHS reckons it's top of the list of gardening queries to their hotline. There's over 500 different species found in the UK - and can be red, yellow, black, green, brown or pink. They feed by sucking sap from plants - and can cause severe damage - including distorted growth, sooty mould and plant viruses - and sometimes plant death. Chelsea award winning gardener Adam Woolcott - and Webb ambassador - gave Sun Gardening some top tips on how to tackle the most common early summer pests. APHIDS Physically remove the aphids from the stems and leaves. Use natural insecticidal soaps. Blast off with water jets. Encourage predators such as ladybirds, lacewings, and hoverflies VINE WEEVIL Both the adult vine weevil beetles and their larvae cause damage. Adults — all female — chew distinctive 'U-shaped' notches in leaves, particularly on evergreen shrubs like rhododendrons, escallonias, and viburnums. Underground: larvae feed on plant roots and can kill container plants like Heucheras. Remove adults at night when they're most active Break the life cycle with biological controls such as nematodes (apply in spring and autumn when grubs are active) Chemical treatments are a last resort, but offer longer-term control LILY BEETLE The bright red beetles and their larvae are both covered in their excrement. They can strip a plant in days, affecting flowering and bulb health. Remove beetles by hand where practical Encourage wildlife into the garden. Birds and ground beetles will eat the larvae Grow a resistant variety. Tolerate some damage if you can — total eradication isn't always necessary. CATERPILLARS Especially troublesome in veg patches. Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars love brassicas, while box tree caterpillars are spreading rapidly across the UK, stripping foliage as they go. Remove the caterpillars by hand if you can and destroy any badly affected plants (if practical) to stop the infestation from spreading. Use biological sprays like nematodes. In some cases, hot water and a mild detergent can help. Ecover is on sale at Dunelm for £2.45. As a last resort, chemical controls can be effective Also in Veronica's Column this week... Top tips, Gardening news, and a competition to win a £250 lawnmower NEWS KING Charles made a surprise visit to Windsor Flower Show last Saturday. Celebrities including Alex Jones and Kirsty Gallacher were at the one-day show - which had wonderful village fair vibes, vegetable and cake competitions and fantastic floral displays. TOP TIP JUNE is actually a good time to take Hydrangea cuttings - and get your own plants for free. They'll have produced some soft green growth - which is what you want. Choose healthy, non flowering shoots that are 10-15cm long and cut just below the node (the leaf joint). Don't collect cuttings from plants with leaves that are turning brown. And try to collect in the morning if you can. Remove the lower leaves - leaving just one or two at the top. Then dip the end in rooting powder or gel - then pop it straight in a pot. You could splash out on seeding and cutting compost - but multi purpose will do - just add a bit of grit or perlite. Then keep them out of direct sunlight and keep moist. They should have rooted within about a month. NEWS A RARE 'sheep-eating' South American plant has flowered in an English primary school for the first time. The Puya Chilensis, with its iconic spike pattern, is normally found in the Andes in Chile. But after it was planted 10 years ago by school horticulturalist Louise Moreton, it has sent out a 10ft spike at Wicor Primary School in Portchester, Hants. It's called a Sheep Catcher as it would normally entangle wildlife, hold onto it - and then when the animal died - would take the nutrients. Ms Moreton said it was exciting but a worrying sign of global warming. WIN! Keep your lawn looking its best this summer by winning a Webb Classic Self Propelled Petrol Lawn Mower worth £249.99. To enter visit or write to Sun Webb competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. July 5, 2025. T&Cs apply. TOP TIP IF you want to get more flowers from your sedums (now called Hylotelephiums) and prevent them from collapsing - pinch them out around now. Pinch off around four sets of leaves down - which will make them bushier. JOB OF THE WEEK Weeds thrive this month - keep on top of them by hoeing. Tie in sweet peas, and give your plants a good feed - liquid seaweed feed is great - and Tomorite works with nearly everything. Give agapanthus a high-potash feed every couple of weeks. For more top tips and gardening news, follow me @biros_and_bloom
The Irish Sun
14-06-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
I'm a gardening pro – my easy steps – including a £2.25 Dunelm trick – will banish garden pests like aphids this summer
WE may well be seeing lower slug and snail numbers this summer thanks to colder weather in winter and the recent dry spells. But mother nature never makes it easy for us. Instead - of course - there's a new pest in town. Advertisement 2 RHS members have found aphids to be the biggest problem this year Credit: Getty 2 Adam Woolcott told Sun Gardening how to get rid of garden pests Credit: Supplied There's over 500 different species found in the UK - and can be red, yellow, black, green, brown or pink. They feed by sucking sap from Chelsea award winning gardener Advertisement Read More Gardening APHIDS Physically remove the Use natural insecticidal soaps. Blast off with water jets. Encourage predators such as ladybirds, lacewings, and hoverflies VINE WEEVIL Both the adult Adults — all female — chew distinctive 'U-shaped' notches in leaves, particularly on evergreen shrubs like rhododendrons, escallonias, and viburnums. Underground: larvae feed on plant roots and can kill container plants like Heucheras. Remove adults at night when they're most active Break the life cycle with biological controls such as nematodes (apply in spring and autumn when grubs are active) Chemical treatments are a last resort, but offer longer-term control LILY BEETLE The bright red beetles and their larvae are both covered in their excrement. They can strip a plant in days, affecting flowering and bulb health. Remove beetles by hand where practical Encourage wildlife into the garden. Birds and ground beetles will eat the larvae Grow a resistant variety. Tolerate some damage if you can — total eradication isn't always necessary. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous CATERPILLARS Especially troublesome in veg patches. Cabbage white butterfly Remove the caterpillars by hand if you can and destroy any badly affected plants (if practical) to stop the infestation from spreading. Use biological sprays like nematodes. In some cases, hot water and a mild detergent can help. Ecover is on sale at As a last resort, chemical controls can be effective Also in Veronica's Column this week... Top tips, Gardening news, and a competition to win a £250 lawnmower NEWS KING Charles made a surprise visit to TOP TIP JUNE is actually a good time to take Remove the lower leaves - leaving just one or two at the top. Then dip the end in rooting powder or gel - then pop it straight in a pot. You could splash out on seeding and cutting compost - but multi purpose will do - just add a bit of grit or perlite. Then keep them out of direct sunlight and keep moist. They should have rooted within about a month. NEWS A RARE 'sheep-eating' South American plant has flowered in an English primary school for the first time. The Puya Chilensis, with its iconic spike pattern, is normally found in the Andes in Chile. But after it was planted 10 years ago by school horticulturalist Louise Moreton, it has sent out a 10ft spike at Wicor Primary School in Portchester, Hants. It's called a Sheep Catcher as it would normally entangle wildlife, hold onto it - and then when the animal died - would take the nutrients. Ms Moreton said it was exciting but a worrying sign of global warming. WIN! Keep your lawn looking its best this summer by winning a TOP TIP IF you want to get more flowers from your sedums (now called Hylotelephiums) and prevent them from collapsing - pinch them out around now. Pinch off around four sets of leaves down - which will make them bushier. JOB OF THE WEEK Weeds thrive this month - keep on top of them by hoeing. Tie in sweet peas, and give your plants a good feed - liquid seaweed feed is great - and Tomorite works with nearly everything. Give agapanthus a high-potash feed every couple of weeks. For more top tips and gardening news, follow me
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
UK households keeping semi-skimmed milk in fridge door issued warning
Beko has cautioned that the way you organise your fridge could be shortening the shelf life of your food and drinks — especially if you store milk this way. UK families who tuck their semi-skimmed milk into the fridge door are being urged to rethink their habits. Appliance giant Beko is alerting consumers that such storage methods could be shortening the shelf life of their groceries, potentially hitting pockets hard. Beko's research has disclosed that households in the UK chuck away around £250 worth of grub per head annually. For a household of four, this loss soars to £1,000 - and incorrectly storing perishables could be to blame for their premature spoilage, reports Birmingham Live. Scores of British families are renowned for putting their milk into the fridge door, with seemingly perfectly-fitting shelves installed for such large bottles. But according to a Beko boss, this isn't right - and there's a more optimising place to keep your milk, to ensure it doesn't go off too quickly. Salah Sun, the Head of Product Management at Beko, said: "The way we organise our fridges can make or break our efforts to reduce food waste. Most people don't realise that poor fridge organisation isn't just about aesthetics – it directly impacts food longevity and your household budget." My life has changed since cutting out one food several days ago So, where should milk be kept? Sun conveyed the importance of understanding your fridge's climate: "Temperature fluctuates within your fridge, so storing items in the right zones is crucial. The bottom shelf, being the coldest, is perfect for raw meats, while the middle shelves maintain ideal conditions for dairy and prepared foods." He further added: "The door, often used for milk, is actually the warmest area due to frequent opening." With this in mind, Beko suggests: "We recommend keeping more stable items like condiments and drinks in the door compartments, moving milk to the middle shelf where temperatures remain more constant." By arranging your fridge smartly, not only do you cut down on waste, but you might also find yourself cooking more meals at home and opting for healthier options, as per Beko's advice. The brand highlighted the importance of good storage by pointing out: "Plus, maintaining optimal storage conditions means your fresh produce lasts longer, reducing both waste and shopping frequency." Ecover shed light on the sobering statistics behind plastic recycling with their statement: "In 2016, less than half of all plastic bottles were collected for recycling and only 7 per cent of those were turned into new bottles." Ecover didn't mince words about the dire consequences of plastic pollution, saying: "The resulting impact on waterways and marine life is, to put it bluntly, horrifying – with an estimated 12.7 million tonnes ending up in oceans each year."
