"Sharon Hughes" wrote in message ...
Hello All

I've been a fan of this group for quite a while now but have been off line for around 7 months or so (I'm sorry if these questions have been asked before, but I'm desperate!) busy with a 'new' courtyard garden - and I have to say it's been a real learning curve - one that I haven't done very well on!

I would so appreciate anyone that might have advice on how to naturally deal with infestations of caterpillars and vine weevil. I've been out and bought some over the counter stuff for vine weevil, but I have to say it's pretty pricey, not as pricey as replacing plants of course, but I just wondered if anyone might know of a home made recipe or a natural biological remedy? (Plus: I used loads and the damage is still being done!) The caterpillars are the latest infestation and have done huge damage (can't relax either now in the garden, always watching out for the beasties). In my last garden slugs were a huge problem so this lot have really taken me by surprise.

I would like to think that there is a natural combination that can be found to not encourage these blighters - I don't have frogs or birds here in this garden (got my own 'pest' living in aka the cat, plus it's a built up area with little in the way of green stuff) so am a bit stuck on the knowledge front otherwise.

As most of the infrastructure stuff was only finished a couple of months ago I decided to fill up this year with lots of annuals in pots, I think this might have had a lot to do with it? I've noticed that any perennials I have in pots have mostly been left alone, sort of.

I was so pleased to start seeing a bit of 'wildlife' coming into what was previously a concrete wasteland but am feeling a little despondent at the mo, any advice would be very gratefully received.

Yours, with the tattiest geraniums in the world, the holiest cannas ever seen..... and so on and so on

Armillotox solution every 10 days will deal with the little vine weevil blighters