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Old 17-05-2011, 10:38 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Dave Hill Dave Hill is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Feb 2007
Location: South Wales
Posts: 2,409
Default Ladybirds again.. to buy or not to buy

On May 17, 7:21*pm, Janet wrote:
In article 422b0eec-8d66-45b5-96ad-
,
says...







On May 17, 12:43*pm, Sacha wrote:
On 2011-05-17 12:24:06 +0100, Dave Hill said:


On May 17, 12:11*am, Janet wrote:
In article , says...


Just noticed plenty of aphid activity on a few plants, was thinking of
(or
rather being nagged into) ordering some ladybird adults & larvae and a
house
and food.


Would I be better off spraying the infestation with aphid-killer and
chucking 40 quid over the fence instead? I still have a hard time belie
ving
that if I buy ladybirds, they're not going to bugger off into the atmos
phere
without even a thank-you as soon as my back's turned. I reckon I might
as
well buy a 40 quid jam jar full of air and release it into my garden, a
nd
have the same chances of finding some of it still there the next day.


Anyone with opinions/experiences?


* You can get birds to clear the aphids a lot cheaper, just hang a pean
ut
feeder close to the aphid infestation to show the birds where lunch is. A
t
this time of year they prefer live food to feed their young.


* *Janet


There is no way I would try to get birds to clear aphids from a
glasshouse.


Really? They're in and out of ours all and every day. *We hang bird
feeders in there to encourage them and there's always a box of crumbs
by the till for them to feed from. *Customers love to watch them, too. *
I think there have been two occasions of birds flying into the glass
that I remember and that could happen any time, anywhere.
--
Sachawww.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon- Hide quoted text -


- Show quoted text -


Not amongst a couple of thousand cuttings and young plants.


* The OP mentions his aphids on "a few plants". Not a couple of thousand.

* Janet.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


No Janet,
I was saying that I would not want birds in and amongst MY cuttings,
thought it was clear, but looks as if I was wrong.