Control aphids and pear slugs

New growth in spring is a time for pesky pests to be out and about in your garden. Here’s what to do if you find aphids and cherry and pear slugs.

Watch out for aphids

Fresh spring growth provides the perfect feeding material for sap-sucking aphids. Aphids distort and weaken new growth and can spread damaging viral diseases. Lady beetles are the perfect predators and will devour them in days so let them be if they are present. But if they are yet to arrive, blast outbreaks with a sharp jet of water from the hose or apply a soap or oil spray. Phil Dudman

Control cherry and pear slugs

These tiny, shiny, black, slug-like insects are around 1cm long, and appear in spring on cherry, pear and quince leaves and can skeletonise them in a couple of days. Sprinkle with wood ash to desiccate them, treat the leaves with bio-insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis or spray insects with pyrethrum or soap sprays with care, as they can harm beneficial insects if present. Karen Sutherland