On Wed, 12 Mar 2003 21:15:03 +0000, Tony Morgan
wrote:

In message , Serendipity
writes

I asked at two of our local Garden Centres for something I
could use to attack leaf miner. They both gave me the same
answer. "There is nothing now avaialable."

Garden centres increasingly seem these days to be nothing more than
box-shifters (or more accurately plant-shifters).

Don't know if its still available, but Dimethoate used to the accepted
control. This is a systemic insecticide and is diluted and the soil
beneath the shrub/tree treated at a time when you expect no rain. Dig
between four to eight holes 6" deep holes around the tree below the
outer span of the foliage (the number of holes depending on the diameter
of the span - the bigger it is, the more holes you dig). And fill the
holes with the drench, allow the drench to soak in and refill with soil.
Don't overdo it.

Do it once a year when the shrub/tree is in leaf (early to mid May).

If your chosen garden centre looks blank when you ask for Dimethoate
(likely these days), search the shelves are read the tin/container of
the various systemic insecticides for the name Dimethoate - and dilute
according to the tin's directions (it may not mention leaf miner).

Don't overdo it. You could do more damage than the leaf miner does :-)
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Thank you Tony. I'll be paying yet another visit to our local Garden
Centres to morrow, but aren't holding out much hope. It has to be
said that the guys/gals I've spoken to about my problem do not
appear to realise the danger to their industry, posed by the lack
of a decent systemic... perhaps not?

I sympathised with a council operative who was spraying the
magnificent crop of weeds growing between kerb and road surface,
at his recent lack of success. He told me that the "stuff" he used
a few years back was excellent, but "they Europeans" insisted
that it was reduced in potency to a degree where it has become
useless. He commented that in his opinion, "it acts like manure!"
Considering the brains that have come up with these restrictions,
his observation is probably 'right on the nail.'
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