Singapore Horti-Flora

Pests, Diseases and Weeds

Insects friends
Many of the familiar insects and small animals seen in the garden are not harmful to the plants; on the contrary, they are the natural predators of some of the plants pests and it is to safeguard these and also the bees that I advice taking great care in the use of pesticides. Ladybirds, spiders, many beetles, centipedes, etc., should all be welcomed.
As a general rule, any insect that moves fast can be regarded as a friend.

Good gardening methods will do much to keep plants trouble free.
1. Keep the garden as weed free as possible and pick up fallen fruit, leaves, etc.
2. Burn diseased plants as quickly as possible.
3. Watch out for the first signs of pest and disease attack and take promt action.
4. Water plants properly. Feed when necessary - plants that are growing well are less likely to be attacked.
5. Replace plants which show the same disease symptoms year after year.
This is particularly apparent on roses.
6. Give plants the right growing conditions.

When it comes to dealing with pests and diseases, prevention is better than cure. Keep an eye on all plants in the garden - an early diagnosis and swift treatment make most pests and diseases easier to control. Fungus diseases such as mildew and blackspot; a spray when the first sign of trouble is noticed will do much to prevent the diseases affecting the foliage so badly that they never recover.

Captan
Captan is used as a protectant fungicide and can be mixed with most insecticide. It is safe to use for the control of blights, leaf-spots, black spot, sooty mould, scrabs, spear rot, leaf curls, powdery and downy mildew and on foliar (wide range) disease-infected vegetables, fruit trees, and delicate ornamentals garden plants.

Snail Killer
Our pellets are the most effective way of ridding garden snail and slugs. They attack the snails, kill them and biodegrage, leaving no ecologically harmful residues.

Scatter pellets usually after rain, around the base of the plants to be protected (where snails and slugs tend to hide or congregate) in flowering and vegetable gardens.

Anti-ant Duster
Anti-Ant is a dusting powder based on Permethrin (a syntheitic pyrethroid), for the control of crawing insect such as ants, cockroaches, bedbugs, fleas, beetles, silver fishes, crickets, etc., in kitchens, lawns, gardens and round the houses. It is practically non toxic to humans and warm-blooded animals.

Carbaryl
Carbaryl is a broad spectrum & biological insecticide, which acts as a stomach poison. It is particularly for leaf-chewing insects such as caterpillars, codling moths, loopers, leaf-hoppers, budworms, cutworm and earthworms on ornamentals, vegetables, fruit trees and turf in home garden. It is of relatively low toxicity to humans.
Dogs and cats : it is also suitable for the control of fleas, lice and ticks.

Grasskiller
Grasskiller is effective for controlling lalang (Imperata cyclindrica) and grass weeds, like Panic Grass (Panicum sp), Bamboo Grass (Ischaemum muticum), Carpet Grass (Axonopus compressus), common Crab Grass (Digitaria adscendens), Barnyard Grass (Echinochloa sp), Bermuda Couch (Cynodon dactylon), Goose Grass (Eleusine indica) Brachiaria and Sedges. Do not harm established trees and shrubs if used as directed.

Good gardening methods will keep plants trouble-free.
1. Keep your garden as weed-free as possible. Pick up fallen fruits or leaves, etc.

2. Burn diseased plants quickly.

3. Watch out for the first signs of pest and disease attack and take prompt action.

4. Water plants properly and feed when necessary.

5. Replace plants which show the same disease symptoms year after year. This is particularly apparent on roses.

6. Give plants the right growing conditions. Keep an eye on all plants in the garden. An early diagnosis and swift treatment make most pests and diseases easier to control.

Weeding and the use of weedkillers
Weeds in the garden can be dealt with by hoeing or hand weeding or, in some instances, by the use of chemicals which are known as weedkillers or herbicides. A number of rules should accompany their application.

1. Always weed vegetables and fruit crops with a hoe or hand tool.

2. Plants growing closely together should always be hand weeded.

3. Apply weedkillers by means of using a rose or spinkle bar attached to the watering can. Wash all equipment well after use. Use on a still day.

> NOTE
Prevention is better than cure. Plants that are growing well are less likely to be attacked by diseases.

> TIPS
For fungus diseases such as mildew and blackspot, a spray when the first sign of trouble is noticed will do much to prevent the diseases affecting the foliage so badly that they never recover.