Thursday 12 May 2016

Ladybirds

I have not sprayed the Scots pines this year as I am hoping for the natural predators to help me out.


So far the aphids are winning - but each pine is getting more and more ladybirds to manage the aphid population. They seem to eat until they are so full and then fall off and sleep.


The ant herders seem to also fight off the ladybirds - which is limiting their effectiveness.

Sunday 24 April 2016

The new season begins



All of the deciduous trees are out now and I hope that I don't get hit by a late frost again this year. The maples have given smaller leaves this year - which is very nice.

Some of the trees are looking really good and I expect a good season. 

Just this last week the beech's have dropped their old leaves so they will get going soon as well.



My pines have begun putting up this years candles over the last 2 weeks. The younger and smaller ones are running about 4 weeks ahead of the big established pines.

I have done some heavy cutting on them just before the big flush of growth and I hope that the timing is right.


As usual there are visitors on the pines again. I will give the ladybirds another few weeks before I spray.


Interestingly one of my Oaks is flowering heavily - I'm wondering if this is stress related like the Scots pines or if its just in the mood for acorns. 

I'm still using chemical fertiliser until the soil is warm enough for the organics to digest. Some of the fertiliser pellets on the pines are starting to show some of the characteristic white mycorrhizal fungi on them so the soil is waking up.