HELP! Calling all gardening experts

icecreamdogpark

Be careful we had this in our area New Malden, Surrey and the council roped of a bush they have taken and recked (the caterpillers) a bush about 4 ft high by 25 feet along next to the A3

Dollardog

It is definitely a Cotoneaster as other posters have said.
Cut out all the dead wood, don't dig it up, it will be fine. It will sprout again.

rizla01

Huh. Call that in infestation?

You Are Lucky.

Took these pcs about four days ago in ESSEX.



















Now THATS what I call an infestation.

I'd love to know what they are (Were - I got the council round to spray 'em)

sorry if you are squeemish.:)

Yorkie1

That is just gross, urgh. Wasn't quite expecting the close-ups of the creepy-crawlies!

poppie123

OMG :eek::eek::eek:

I really do not know what to say, makes my small cobwebby things look pathetic in comparrison.

The caterpillars on my bush are tiny, so small in fact that i am struggling to see them and they definately do not look yellow more of a brown colour.

Where about in Essex are you? i am in Essex too

rizla01

Hockley, Nr Rayleigh.

poppie123

I'm in Great Wakering near Shoeburyness.

Are you just leaving your tree and letting nature take it's course? Are the caterpillars killing it?
They are definately killing my bush at an alarming rate

It's pretty disgusting isn't it, i can't stop itching at the thought.:rotfl:

aplaceinthesun

Rizla - OMG that infestation is sooooooooooooo horrific, I come out in a nervous rash when I see a caterpillar....! Poppie - this link my be of interest to you: http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/living/679.html

poppie123

I think i am just going to get the whole bush cut right back to near stump level and start again.:(

It really is going to be impossible to try and cut out all the dead wood and the bits of bush that have cobwebby areas on it.

rizla01

All of the leaves are stripped but I am hopful that it'll recover so I intend
raking the web off and letting the sunlight in. As I said, I had them sprayed
to kill the infestation and to stop them from hatching into who knows what.

I used to live in Shoebury - Horrible place, but Wakering has some nice walks,
esp towards Potton Island and beyond.

Have you ever ventured onto the island. Though it's miltary, if you ring the pub
and make a booking, youi are allowed on there and it's a couple of mile drive
through some wonderful scenery to the pub. Well worth it.

Take a camera.