So how do you all deal with the bugs and diseases on your plants at this time of the year in particular?? Someone once mentioned to me that because my plants are in a rather secluded space with little real ventiliation (they want to have seen the tornados I've had recently in my little yard LOL!) plus the overcrowding (yep, guilty of that ok) that this would leave my plants more susceptible to disease, but it is really depressing me now. This is the 3rd year that I've had the same problem - everything looks absolutely brilliant until about mid July or so and I'm thinking maybe this year will be different and then it all goes pear-shaped, with almost every plant coming down with something.
I've got my perpetual sweet pea problem where the leaves are being laced by bugs, and damp conditions causing white leaf mould, and my lilies look like something "twizzled" them with leaves all curled and twisted (although they still flowered well) but now my shrubs are starting to get hit in different ways. I've got 3 "mini melon" trees (Solanum Muricatum Pepino) which took off wonderfully all in separate pots - 2 are growing reasonably well leaf wise and not too much wrong with them, but ironically the only one that's flowered is the one worst hit with something - the leaves are rapidly going yellow with brown spots and bit by bit I can see it deteriorating, so as I'd really like my melons I'd like to do something to save it before it goes too far. I've "isolated" this one away from the others for now until I see what to do with it.
Equally an azalea which was doing great, has just in the past week hit a similar problem with dark brown spots affecting some lower leaves - not too many but enough to concern me. About the only thing that's not yet reared its ugly head and I hope doesn't either, is greenfly - I'd normally have an infestation of them by now too but so far so good - not a sign.
ALL these plants have been sprayed every 2-3 weeks with a proprietary bug killer and are fed regularly with phosphogen (?) They're all potted in good compost and farmyard manure/compost (4:1 ratio roughly). I'm really at a loss as to what more I can do to keep them healthy so any suggestions would be appreciated. Not got photos yet, but can do if you'd rather see exactly what I mean.
