Brief advice on stone fruit and growing them successfully.

If you have struggled to control mealy bugs, scale, psyllid and thrips since Yates Confidor was taken off the market, there is a new product on the market. Groventive Garden. A systemic insecticide that is low toxicity and safe for bees once dry.

Experience and science have shown that maintaining good hygiene in the garden significantly reduces incidence of disease. Cutting out and destroying diseased tissue as soon as it appears. Removing diseased leaves that have fallen as soon as possible. If fungal or bacterial diseased fruit, leaves or wood is left on the tree or the soil surface it will very quickly and easily re-infect healthy tissue. The disease spores will also overwinter and infect pruning cuts or even healthy new growth in spring.

Copper is a common fungicide used for preventing and curing many different fungal diseases. But not all copper fungicides are equal. Find out about the advantages and disadvantages of the different options.