DON’T LET BUGS SPOIL YOUR GOLF AND SUNBATHING! By Clodagh and Dick Handscombe*
Although Spain is a wonderful place to garden, play golf and sunbathe there are some pests that can be annoying at times – even very disappointing.
As explained in each of our books* most can be avoided or dealt with speedily by ecological means.
One of the most common causes of both insect and fungal problems are firstly over watering plants especially when drought resistant and thirsty plants are co-planted and secondly the stimulation of weak new growth by the overuse of nitrogen rich fertilizers.
Most fruit tree problems can be prevented or stopped by a regular spraying with a mixture of Neem and Propolis – both being available from stockists of the Trabe or Seipasa brands. If midges and mosquitoes bother you an easy remedy is to rub lantana leaves on exposed skin before going off to play golf.
However during the last ten years two pests have got out of control since they were imported to Spain on infected plants.
The palm weevil is evil!Recent reports suggest that the palm weevil plaque is getting worse not better as no cure is in sight so where ever you see palms now you may not in another ten or twenty years.
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The culprit!As far as we can determine the palm weevil ( picudo rojo Rhynchophorus ferrogineus)– originally arrived in Spain about six years ago in a shipment of infected date palms ( Phoenix canariensis) from North Africa . They had been imported as this was less expensive than using Spanish grown palms to plant up the gardens of massive new developments and golf courses.
Within a few years palms in all most provinces of Spain were affected and the only solution has been to fell and burn affected palms. However the process has not kept up with the speed with which palms have become infested and it was recently suggested that within twenty years pine lined avenues in cities, golf fairways and the oasis of large hotels could be a thing of the past within twenty years.
Although most damage is currently concentrated on Phoenix palms other varieties are already being attacked. So a couple of expensive palms may not be the wisest investment for your garden but there is always the palm like cordylines as a substitute.
They can give an attractive tropical feel although they do not grow as tall and majestic as date palms. You will find a picture on page 159 of ‘Your garden in Spain – From planning to planting and maintenance’.
The geranium moth is also lethal!Somewhere around the mid 1990’s the geranium moth Mosca africana arrived unwanted in a shipment of imported plants. Within a couple of summer the major clumps of zonal geraniums and the banks covered with cascades of ivy leafed geraniums started to be a thing of the past.
The heavy frosts of February 2005 did help for a while but the problem is again widespread. Spraying with neem oil, garlic juice and geranium oil in water does help but if you once miss a weekly spray from march to November new moths will visit your garden from neighbouring unsprayed unoccupied summer homes.
Luckily the Graveolens scented geraniums from which geranium oil is distilled are not generally attacked so it is wise to plant one or two of these in your geranium beds or place a potted one amongst pots of other varieties. Also watch out for the small brown butterfly like moth floating above geraniums in the garden centres.
If you see them it may be wise to buy elsewhere and at home keep a butterfly net handy and then squash them. Practical advice on how to tackle the most common pests likely to visit your flower garden from time to time are included in ‘Your Garden in Spain’.
If you have any questions arising out of their latest article or their comments on the forum please send them to
yourgardeninspain@hotmail.com ©Clodagh and Dick Handscombe October 2008
*You will find the above mentioned book and Clodagh and Dick’s other books ‘Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain’ and ‘ Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain’ in bookshops . They can also be obtained by mail order from 952-48-58-38 and by clicking ‘Our Gardening Books’ on <
www.gardeninginspain.com.© Clodagh and Dick Handscombe feb 2009
