Your questions answered :-This weeks answers :-
Q. I am pestered by wormcats even now prior to the damp months. Please have you any suggestions. I tested with pH meter over large area of lawn and readings were from 6 down.
A. Sulphur is the right treatment to repel worms but you need a pH of 5-6 to stop worm activity. From your pictures there are only a few wormcasts, so you need to apply Sulphur Lawn to drive the pH down a little further a drive the remaining worms away - CLICK HERE to find out more
Q. My friend lives in Kendal and the rabbits keep eating all her garden plants. Is there anything she can do to stop them or certain type of plants that they do not like.This is proving to be very expensive.
A. There are no rabbitproof plants, but there is natural treatment called Grazers which you spray on and it stops grazing animals (including rabbits) from ruining the plants - CLICK HERE to find out more
Q. Could you please advise me if Sulphur Rose would control mildew on tuber begonias. I believe its mildew due to white spotting and when you pick a leaf or bud off you can see dust/fungus spores in the air.
A. It does sound like mildew. Spraying with Sulphur Rose would control it - CLICK HERE to find out more
Q. You are now doing a natural replacement for Sulphur Candles but are they safe to use in a polytunnel?
A. Our Biofume Greenhouse Garlic candles are safe to use in polytunnel. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Most popular previously asked questions
Q. I have hundreds of wasps attacking the plums on my trees and I have heard of the Waspinator - is this the answer to my prayers.
A. The Waspinator will repel wasps around garden tables, barbacues, in loft spaces etc but it will NOT stop wasps attacling your trees. The only answer is to trap the wasps and you must capture 100% of the wasps you trap otherwise they will return with re-inforcements. We recommend the Waspbane Wasp Trap - CLICK HERE to find out more
Q. I spoke to you on the phone regarding the badger damage to our lawns and I followed your advice and did a bit of digging and you were right! I found the little chafer bugs a few inches down - still quite a lot of them. I think you said I could treat the lawn in August?
A. Early August is the ideal time to treat Chafer Grubs - CLICK HERE to find out more
Q. I have ordered some phytoseiulus for my poly tunnel. Do you think this treatment would work on the spider mites in my hen hut?
A. I have heard of people controlling mites in hen houses with phyto but I do not have any experience - sorry, but it is safe to try and let me know how you get on.
Q. I am plagued by earwigs this year and eating everything in sight. Any remedies for getting rid of them will be gratefully received.
A. Diatomaceous Earth (DE) will control earwigs - CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I’ve just ordered this and would welcome your advice. Surrounding our pond is lawn, and I am always nervous about feeding my lawn, in case it damages the fish. I would welcome any advice on any feed for the lawn without causing any damage to the pond.
A. Our natural lawn feed will have no adverse on aquatic life, but as good practise we always recommend leaving a 1m exclusion zone around the pond to be on the safe side - CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. Our first use of Nemaslug had excellent results - no slugs on strawberries or cabbages. Am thinking of using your 'planned programme', but have now thoroughly trawed up the strawberries. For Nemaslug to be effective, do I have to remove/move aside the straw when applying?
A. The straw is course enough that it will not filter out the nemaslug so you can water through it. Water first, apply the nematodes and then wash the nematodes through the straw with fresh water - CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. My friend is having a naming ceremony for her 3 young children and I would like to purchase a butterfly kit for them to share. Can you advise on the best one and what it includes?
A. We do 2 different kits which contain everything you need to breed your own buutterflies. The Butterfly Garden comes with a voucher for 5 caterpillars and the Butterfly Pavilion which is slightly larger and comes with a voucher for 10 caterpillars - CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I saw a slug product a couple of years ago that was safe for hedgehogs etc, but it could not be used on food plants. Is your product safe to use on food plants?
A. Nemaslug is totally safe for children, pets and wildlife and is totally safe to use on food crops - CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. Last year I noticed on the large tree at the bottom of the garden it was covered in what I thought was greenfly. My grandfather visited last night and had a look and said he thought it was whitefly. The underneath of the leaves is covered with a sticky substance and lots of little whiteflys.
A. Do the whitefly on the underside of the leaves fly off when you shake the leaf or do they just drop off and float about. I suspect they don't fly and that means that the "whitefly" are the shed skins of aphids. If the tree is infested with aphids, you will have shed skins and huge amounts of honeydew (which the aphids excrete) dripping onto the lower leaves. If this is the case, the answer is to introduce lacewing larvae - CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I think earwigs are eating my lettuce and basil - am I right in thinking holes in the leaves is typical of earwigs? Is there anything you can suggest?
A. Earwigs do like to nibble soft, young leaves and can leave large ragged holes. Older leaves may be stripped back to a skeleton of veins. They can be controlled using Diatomaceous Earth - CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I have a Virginia creeper growing on a trellis but alot of ants have colonized it. What is going on?
A. The ants are probably milking aphids so try checking the creeper for aphids i.e. check the growing tips. If you find aphids then treat them by releasing ladybirds / lacewings and that should stop the ants.
Q. I've ordered the full course of encarsia and had a delivery today. Should I use ALL the cards in the pack and expect further postal deliveries over the next weeks, or do I keep cards back myself for a further 'delivery' in 2 weeks time?
A. You will get 4 separate deliveries (at 7 day intervals) and you use ALL the cards each time. You will find 5 cards in each delivery and these should be hung in the lower leaves of the plants at regular intervals.
Q. Are your ladybirds British and not the Harlequin variety? I should like to be certain before I recommend you!
A. We only supply native British 2 spot ladybirds.
Q. We have the butterfly breeding net for previous years, do the caterpillars come complete with food or can we buy the food separately?
A. The caterpillar refills come with all the food they need.
Q. We have a problem with ants in our front garden - it's most noticeable in the block paving, as they leave little piles of sand, but they are also in the borders and the lawns.I see that Nemasys no ants can be used on lawns and borders, but it doesn't mention block paving.
A. Ant nematodes need to be watered into the soil where the ant nests are. If they are nesting in the cracks in the block paving then I would recommend using Diatomaceous Earth (a natural ant powder) which is ideal for using on hard surfaces as it can be "squirted" into the cracks etc.
Q. I am just wondering whether you supply caterpillar refills for different species, or if the painted lady butterflies are the only ones available? We have successfully raised 5 painted lady butterflies and would prefer to try something new.
A. Painted Lady Butterflies are the only ones that are available at the moment. We are trying to source different species but it is very difficult to find reliable species that will work in the kits. We will keep trying, but painted lady's are the only ones currently available. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. With reference to Diatomaceous Earth (DE) can you please confirm that it is safe to use around food crops and where children may be playing.
A. DE is safe to use around a veg and where children will be playing. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. Could you tell me whether Clarity Pro is safe to use in a pond used by ducks and from which chickens drink?
A. Clarity Pro is a natural product, so it is safe for ducks and chickens.
Q. I have a problem with rats around the bird table and other bird feeders in the garden. The above organic repellent is just what I am looking for but before I order can you confirm that it will not harm the birds or the fish in the nearby pond and of course the frogs and toads who share the garden and pond.
A. The rat repellent is ideal for controlling rats around bird tables - it will not harm birds, fish, frogs or toads. It is totally safe for children, pets and wildlife. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. Can you expand on the food eaten by the worms in a wormery i.e. what cannot go in and do you have to have enough waste put aside to fill the tray at least one third to get started then add worms or or do you fill a whole layer and then add worms.
A. The worms will eat most cooked and uncooked food leftovers including veg peelings, rice, pasta, bread, pizza etc but avoid citrus, onions and banana skins. You can also add kitchen roll, vacuum cleaner dust, toilet roll inners, dog hair etc. You need enough waste to one third fill the first tray to start. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. We appear to have the roots of some of our plants being eaten but what seem to be chafer grubs. Do you have a nematode preparation that will deal with them?
A. We do nematodes for Chafer Grubs, but Chafer Grubs are normally a lawn pest. If these grubs are in the roots of plants then they are more likely to be vine weevils. To see pictures of vine weevils and how to treat CLICK HERE. If it is chafer grubs, then CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. A neighbour has just recommended your Nemaslug packs to me and I am very interested in buying one. Please may I ask you one short question before I do so? When you say that your produce will not harm wildlife, does that include earthworms.
A. All our nematode treatments are specific to their pest i.e. Nemaslug will ONLY affect slugs and will NOT harm earthworms or any other wildlife. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I am interested in your product Nemasys Grow Your Own, but am not clear if you can spray growing and mature vegetable plants straight onto the leaves as well as the soil. Summer Broccolli for instance, if sprayed onto the leaves and heads are they edible.
A. Nemasys Grow Your Own is applied to the soil to control soil based pests i.e. carrot root fly and over the growing plants to control foliage pests i.e. caterpillars. All of our nematodes including Grow Your Own are natural products and are totally safe, so it can be applied to leaves and heads which will then be eaten - there is no harvest clearance needed so you don't even have to wash it if you want. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I have 2 taxus bacatta trees and there are white type maggots around the roots under the soil. It looks like its on its last legs - is there any hope or is it too far gone once they take hold?
A. It all depends on how much of the root system the vine weevil grubs have eaten - In really bad cases plants can topple over! As this has only happened recently I suspect they will be OK, but you need to treat with Nemasys now and again in September to kill the vine weevil grubs and then feed the plants well throughout the summer to compensate the plant for any root system lost. Fingers crossed they will then recover. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I recently had an email about Grazers. Can this product be used on edbile plants. A rabbit has taken to visiting my vegetable patch and is enjoying the fruits of my labours! Can you help plase?
A. It is safe to use on edible crops - they do recommend stopping treatment a week before harvest. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I have chickens and a vegetable patch which is been eaten away by slugs. Have you any ideas as to what I can use to put down that would protect the plants which wouldn't harm the chicks if they got out.
A. Nemaslug is the best solution for slugs in the veg garden as it works both on the surface and underground and is totally safe for children, pets and wildlife (including chickens). CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I was wondering if NutraIron (natural moss control in lawns) is safe for pets?
A. NutrIron is safe for pets. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I have a large number of slugs in my compost – will Nemaslug work in a compost bin with a lid?
A. Nemaslug will work in a compost bin - just give it a good water first so the nematodes can soak in. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. All of a sudden I have a big problem with worm casts on my lawns. Do you have a chemical to control (kill) earth worms?
A. Control worms and stop wormcasts by lowering the pH of your lawn - worms do not like acidic conditions so the more acidic your lawn the less problem worms and their casts will be. Apply Sulphur Lawn to lower the pH of your lawn and drive the worms away (WITHOUT killing them!). CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I have ordered Nemaslug from you in the past but I have moved to Southern Ireland - can you still send it to me?
A. We have new page dedicated to products available to Southern Ireland - CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. Hoping to start the life cycle of the butterfly with my class after Easter and wondering how long it would take to get the kit delivered including the caterpillars.
A. Our kits come with a voucher for the 1st lot of caterpillars, so you can order the kits at anytime (they take about 3-5 days to be delivered) and then once you have recieved the kit and you are ready for the caterpillars you can send off the voucher (or register online) and the caterpillars normally take about a week to arrive. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I'd like to buy the Nemaslug programme (it's a brilliant idea) but I'm going to be away on some of the likely delivery weeks. Is it possible to give you dates to avoid so the nematodes don't die waiting for me to return?
A. There is no problem with altering any of the dates - just order from the website, select TBA from the delivery instructions and then email us the order number (which will be on the confirmation email) and the delivery dates you require. Or please feel free to call us on 01493 750061 and we will can take the order (and the delivery instructions) the old fashioned way - pen and paper at the ready. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I have whitefly in the garden on my strawberry plants outdoors. All your products regarding whitefly deal with them in the greenhouse. What can I do now to prevent an infestation like last year?
A. Our natural spray, SB Invigorator is the best way to deal with Whitefly outside - CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. Rats are making burrows in my chicken run, is it safe to use repellant powder in the run where the chickens might consume it? Or should I try to insert it well into the runs? Many thanks for your great products.
A. The rat repellent powder will be the best thing to use as it is totally safe for chickens. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I need Ant-clearance for my lawn - can you help??
A. We supply a nematode treatment for clearing ants out of lawns. Nemasys® No Ants controls ants of all colours (including red ones). It comes as a harmless powder and is totally safe for children, pets and wildlife and the lawn can be used directly after use. As Nemasys® No Ants is a cure rather than a preventative measure, apply the nematodes when the ants are present and the soil is 10C i.e. between April & Sept. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. Is it possible to mix Nemaslug slug treatment and Nemasys vine weevle treatment and apply in one application, as I have a problem with both?
A. They can be applied on the same day i.e. one after the other, but should be applied separately as they are diluted differently and should be applied differently i.e. Nemaslug over the surface of the soil and Nemasys around the roots of the plants.
Q. Where should I apply Nemaslug? Beds? Lawns? Woodland garden? I have over half-an-acre of garden in all, and can't apply it everywhere, but I do have a big problem with slugs.
A. You need to treat the soil (not lawn, patio etc) where the plants you want to protect are growing. You can even just protect patches of border where vulnerable plants are growing i.e. protect a patch of hostas by watering all around them creating an exclusion zone. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. Do you have any suggestions how I could safely clean paving slabs which have got green algae. I have dogs and a cat, not to mention all the birds, a pine martin, a fox... and goodness knows what else visiting, so want it to not be harmful.
A. Spray your paving slabs with Clearway - our non chemical treatment for algae and mould that really works. Clearway removes algal growth and mould and once clean will protect surfaces from further growth for at least 6 months. Clearway is safe for pets and wildlife. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. Does Grazers harm the rabbit in any way? I have pet rabbits which I'd like them to be able to free range. I thought the 'Grazers' sounded ideal for attempting to keep some flowers in tact in my garden and uneaten. If it is totally non-toxic I can think of a lot of rabbit forum users who might be interested in it and will happily pass this on!
A. Grazers is totally safe for all pets (including rabbits) and wildlife. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I have lots of tiny flies flying around our living room which then collect at the windows. They also fly around my face while I am trying to watch the TV - any ideas what they are and how to get rid of them.
A. You need to check any pot plants you have in the house and you should find that the small flies called sciarid flies (otherwise known as compost flies) are living in the compost of your pot plants. We have new nematode treatment which will control them. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. Are your fumigators useful against spider mites ? How toxic are they with regards to humans / children whilst being vented after use etc?
A. Our Garlic candles are effective against any over-wintering pest including Red Spider Mite. They are non-toxic, but do smell really strong so they will not harm you - just let them off, leave them over-night and then open the vents. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. Do you sell the granules that you put directly in contact with the roots of plants to encourage rooting? I cannot remember the name!
A. The product you are looking for are Mycorrhizal Fungi and we do sell them. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I am very interested in your rat repellant. What is it and does it WORK?
A. It really does work - it works by simulating that the area is now home to a predator and is therefore no longer safe so that the rats move away WITHOUT harming them. These repellents are harmless to children, plants and animals. Unfortunately exactly what is in it is a trade secret. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. Will Sulphur Rose treat mildew on roses and honeysuckle?
A. Sulphur Rose will treat mildew on both - use at a rate of 10g per 4.5 litres of water for other plants. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. What quantity of worms do I need to re-start a wormery?
A. Between 250g and 500g of worms is ideal. We have worms on offer at the moment CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. My roses seem to be affected by blackspot as well as greenfly. Is there any problem with spraying with a fungicide in conjunction with the ladybirds or do you have any suggestions as to how to get rid of this disease.
A. You must not use a chemical fungicide as this will harm ladybirds and lacewings. We have a natural sulphur based fungicide which will not harm ladybirds and lacewings called Sulphur Rose. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. I am interested in your slug traps. Can you give me some idea about how far apart these should be placed to attract slugs. I garden in raised beds of 5m x1.5 m; how many would you recommend to protect this space?
A. Each trap will keep an area of 1 sqm clear of slugs so either position 3 in the raised bed or move 1 or 2 around to cover the whole area over a few days.
Q. Your LED lights look interesting. Can you please let me know up to what range, does the sensor detect motion and what is the effective range of the light emitted?
A. Thanks for the message and I have checked with the manufacturer and the sensor detect range is 12m (for movement across the sensor) and the range for the light is 20-30m. I hope this helps. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. Is there a way of turning your LED lights off?
A. There is a control unit so you can turn them on and off manually and then once on, there is a dusk dawn sensor so they turn on at night and then off in the morning.
Q. Is clearway safe to treat our decking with if it borders a fish pond?
A. Clearway is safe to use near a pond. Try and keep run off to a minimum but if it does run off it will not harm fish, plants etc.
Q. I’m thinking about using Bokashi bins but I am a single-person household - Is there a minimum needed by the bin to keep it functioning? I also assume that this question applies to wormeries?
A. There is no minimum amount that you have to add to the bokashi system - when the bin is full (and it does no matter how long that takes), you start on the 2nd bin and rotate using them. Large wormeries do need a regular supply of waste but our Junior Wormery is designed for single people and would be suitable. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Q. We have a minute north-west facing garden in central London...but we do get a few bees - noticeably less than last year though. If we buy a bee box, is there one you recommend particularly for highly urbanised polluted sun-free gardens and if so, where should we put it. No where in the garden gets much sun in winter and no where gets full sun all day in summer!
A. Are there any plants in this garden? There is only any point in offering lodgings if you have plants to attract bees in the first place. Try planting Borage, Californian poppy, Cornflower, Cosmos, Forget-me-not, Poached egg plant, Lavender and Herbs. Once the bees are visiting the plants, you can then position a house (solitary bee houses will be the most suitable). Position it in the sunniest spot you have which gets as much sun in the morning as possible - it should ideally be south facing at least 1m above the ground.
Q. I have, what I thought to be white fly, in some of my containers. I thought it was white fly but looking at your site, I'm not sure. When I stroke the plants tiny little animals move around and all the leavesare becoming yellow/white. What can you recommend? Many thanks in advance for any advance and making a great website. I shall be ordering as soon as possible.
A. The white stuff are the skins of the aphids which they shed as they grow. SB Invigorator is the natural answer to aphids outdoors (a natural spray ideal for use on herbs).
Q. This might seem a very silly question but the kitchen waste that you put in Bokashi bins, is it raw or cooked leftovers?
A. You can put both raw and cooked food i.e. pasta, potato and fish etc as well as veg peelings in a bokashi bin. Bokashi Bins are the only composter which will compost meat and fish leftovers so it is ideal for taking leftover meal scraps as well as traditional kitchen waste.
Q. My son loved the caterpillars, he got for his birthday even though he has done them at home and school several times before! I'm thining of ordering a class kit for my Nursery - would we get one in time to hatch before the end of term (july 17th)? Does a class refill pack contain everything else we need, enough pots and food?
A. It takes 3-5 weeks to raise the caterpillars so you have plenty of time. The classroom refill contains 33 caterpillars, 33 vials and lids, all the food needed and full instructions so if you have the nets then it is all you need.
Q. I recently bought a Bokashi bin from you which I'm pleased with. When you leave it for 2 weeks do you need to keep in indoors? Do you think the 2 week fermentation time will be enough to remove the smell of cooked food so that we don't attract vermin when I add it to the compost bin?
A. You can pop it outdoors or in a shed, garage etc to ferment.Two week is the fermenting time and then it is fine to put in a compost bin as it does not attract vermin - if you smell it after this time it will have a sweet and sour smell.
Q. I have an apple tree which is infested with woolly aphids. Each year it seems to be getting worse despite our best efforts. The tree adjacent has started to show signs too. We have been advised to have it cut down which is something we certainly dont want to do. Can you advise?
A. We would control woolly aphids by introducing lacewing larvae into the trees and then positioning a lacewing chamber near the tree in September to encourage the lacewings to breed and overwinter in your garden to keep pest numbers down permanently. Spray the trees in the winter with a winter wash as soon as the leaves are off the tree to kill any overwintering eggs and adults.
Q. I have just released some of your lovely lacewing larvae hoping they will munch their way through my garden-full of aphids. There are ALOT of aphids and I was wondering if I could use SB invigorator on particularly bad spots. Your info claims that SBI does not harm beneficial insects.
A. You can use SB Invigorator on aphid hotspots. Chemical controls tend to be systemic i.e. taken up by the plant and would poison ANYTHING including ladybirds and lacewings which eat the aphids which have been feeding on the poisoned plant. SB Invigorator ONLY kills insects it comes into contact with and does not leave behind any harmful residues, so if you only spray it onto the bad spots it will not harm the lacewings.
Q. I want to buy some ladybird larvae for my roses. When they are delivered I will be at work - will they be ok until I get home at about 6pm ?
A. They are fine on the doormat until you get home - we send them with a packed lunch for the journey so they are fine in transit.
Q. I have a cherry and plum tree that is infested with aphids! I was wondering, will the ladybirds fly off quickly once I place them on my infected plants?
A. If you have infected plants then it is best to release larvae directly into the plant / tree. If you are going to use adults, release them in an evening and then they will lay eggs next to the aphids before they move on searching out more aphids. This next generation will then be left behind to control the aphids.
Q. I have a small grass area approx 6x6 meters and have a lawn that I have taken from nothing to my perfect lawn... until the ants came. I would say that I get ant hills (red ants) every weeks around 5-6 of them, I have a few questions :- Will Ant Stop affect the grass in anyway, discolouring, killing? Can I treat the whole lawn not just the hills, will that work? Do you need to do the 3 week program for the amount I have? I would really appreciate your advice.
A. Ant Stop will not affect the grass in any way. A standard pack of Ant Stop will treat 12 sqm of lawn or a large pack will treat 36 sqm if you want to treat the whole area. The Ant Stop Programme is for persistent ant infestations - To keep ants at bay, simply re-apply ant nematodes at 4 weekly intervals. Our programme of 3 deliveries of fresh ant nematodes at 4 week intervals means that you don't need to remember to re-order and saves you money too!
Q. Hi Jonathan, could you tell me if the nemaslug will also rid me of my snail problem?
A. We supply Nemaslug as a Slug control, BUT alot of gardeners who use it regularly say it reduces snail numbers aswell but it does take a while. If you want a sure fire way of controlling snails you must use the physical trap methods or you can repel snails from pots using snail tape.
Q. We have a bad case of leatherjackets and our lawn is now completely bald! We are ordering Nemasys for application in April and September but can you tell us when we can redo our lawn - preferably with new turf?
A. Are you going to lay the new turf ontop of the old or remove it? If you are going to lay new turf on top then I would treat with nematodes first and then lay the turf but if you are going remove the old turf first then I would do this first, lay the new turf and then treat with the nematodes.
Q. I have been using the nemaslug on my veg patch with great success. This year I am using black weed control fabric to cut down my weeding time. Can you tell me if the nemaslug will penetrate the fabric ( it allows water through)?
A. It is possible to wash the nematodes through the fabric but it is better to remove it, apply the Nemaslug and then replace it. It you want to have a go at washing it though, then apply the nemaslug over the fabric & then water the same area with fresh water to wash the nematodes through the fabric into the soil.
Q. I am interested in the worm works. Kitchen waste – is that all food stuffs (no meat I am vegan!), or is it the sort of thing I put in my composter – i.e: veg peelings etc?
A. The wormery will take all the kitchen waste not just veg peelings i.e. coffee grinds, kitchen roll, egg shells, egg cartons, veg peelings, tea bags, left over cooked food i.e. rice, pasta bread etc. The worms will then convert this into compost and liquid feed.
Q. Does the bokashi bin have to be in the kitchen or will it work quite happily in the garage or an unheated greenhouse? We have a very small kitchen and a bin would get in the way.
A.The Bokashi Bins would be happy in a garage or greenhouse - it is designed to be in the kitchen for ease of use but anywhere else is fine.
Q. My sister's olive tree has been indoors - I have removed 4 or 5 things from it which are tiny (2/3mm diameter) round, brown barnacle type creatures which, when scraped off, are full of a red kind of dust. Can you tell me what these are, will they infect my other plants and how to treat.
A. The pest is Scale. It is an immobile pest so it should not infect anything else which is not touching and it is normally imported on plants which are brought in.
Q. Is there anything that you can recommend to keep rats and mice out of the house. I don’t want to kill them. Any ideas.
A. The pestclear 2000 which plugs into your electrical sockets and uses electromagnetic interference & ultrasonic sound to drive the pests away including mice and rats without killing them. | 
