tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post7039485617173457047..comments2023-09-29T10:04:33.858+01:00Comments on Roger Brook - the no dig gardener: Recovery after box caterpillarRoger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-80250958342263169702018-04-26T02:15:43.500+01:002018-04-26T02:15:43.500+01:00Best of luck Cathy.
Hope you clicked the link to m...Best of luck Cathy.<br />Hope you clicked the link to my main original article - its at the top of the post and is marked 'here'<br />In Peter's case you will have noted it was just a penetrating spray of an insecticide that I used - although I have every confidence in Bacillus thuringensis. Let me know how you get onRoger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-73819508640026772152018-04-25T21:54:49.699+01:002018-04-25T21:54:49.699+01:00This is fascinating. I live in north-east France a...This is fascinating. I live in north-east France and garden in a place where the previous owner planted many (long!) box hedges to create structure in the garden. Most of the box is planted in full sun. Today I finally realised that I had this dreadful caterpillar. I have already ordered Bacillus thuringiensis (today) and am going out to clip the box tomorrow. I will be monitoring results. I Cathy Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03849922467924159839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-26194133611163605402017-08-11T17:04:19.235+01:002017-08-11T17:04:19.235+01:00But disproved my theory that clipping hedges might...But disproved my theory that clipping hedges might attract wasp predators! SarahStuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799371703899376033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-1549687612334748962017-08-11T15:22:39.563+01:002017-08-11T15:22:39.563+01:00David J below confirms your theory about muching t...David J below confirms your theory about muching the woodRoger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-74417688064221086622017-08-11T15:19:04.178+01:002017-08-11T15:19:04.178+01:00I clicked your name link and found your fascinatin...I clicked your name link and found your fascinating blog about churches. I see you have been to York six times. Have you done our beautiful church in Bolton Percy and its millennium window. (try millennium window in my search box)Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-74274234068137945502017-08-11T15:13:11.232+01:002017-08-11T15:13:11.232+01:00I hope you are soon enough
Thanks for confirming S...I hope you are soon enough<br />Thanks for confirming Sarah Stu's theory David.<br />I wonder if you are in the UK?Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-34107399277434911762017-08-11T12:30:52.385+01:002017-08-11T12:30:52.385+01:00Our two very neatly clipped small box hedges have ...Our two very neatly clipped small box hedges have been completely destroyed in 48 hours by the box caterpillar. In five minutes I manually pulled off 60 caterpillars - the hedge is 2ft X 1ft X 1ft.<br /><br />I have read that the caterpillars also chew the green stems and damage the bark, which is what determines whether the plant recovers or not. So early action is clearly important.David Jhttp://aroundbritishchurches.blogspot.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-51256794576802187152017-08-01T20:21:22.191+01:002017-08-01T20:21:22.191+01:00Good plan, I just need some very small radio track...Good plan, I just need some very small radio tracker collars! The sawfly story is hilarious, I wonder if they found their way back by smell? That's given me a new and slightly bonkers thought on box caterpillar, and I haven't even had a drink yet tonight! I wonder if well clipped hedges are less prone? I've noticed that hedge clipping often attracts wasps. Presumably the smell of sap SarahStuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799371703899376033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-28737605054612332242017-08-01T10:50:39.342+01:002017-08-01T10:50:39.342+01:00I forgot to pick up on the point about the caterpi...I forgot to pick up on the point about the caterpillars embarking out to find new food. I wonder if they really do - you ought to try a few experiments. I have seen nothing in the literature.<br />I have told the story that in the churchyard I once flung solomon's seal sawfly caterpillars over my shoulder- rather than squashing them - and a few hours later found them returning crawling up theRoger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-946171014963977992017-08-01T10:43:12.488+01:002017-08-01T10:43:12.488+01:00You must have missed my post on epilobiums! (You c...You must have missed my post on epilobiums! (You can find it through the search box)<br />Epilobiums normally come out very cleanly indeed. Unfortunately if one has made a hash and only half pulled them out they then do make a more complex root system and become more persistent.<br />They don't actually flower most of the year but do so from late July through to September and are a real Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-84655629065276505132017-08-01T09:52:26.331+01:002017-08-01T09:52:26.331+01:00You can call them ramblings, I don't mind! Unf...You can call them ramblings, I don't mind! Unfortunately my fascination with the garden ecosystem and identifying the native flora and fauna does rather get in the way of doing any gardening. <br />I had to look up epilobiums! ah, those little willowherby things that go to seed really quickly. Do they pull up? I'm always suspicious that I'm leaving some root behind, although less so SarahStuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799371703899376033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-89629108109331428102017-08-01T07:01:53.525+01:002017-08-01T07:01:53.525+01:00It has struck me that my phrase 'ecological ra...It has struck me that my phrase 'ecological ramblings' sounds a little insulting and what I mean is 'lateral thinking'. Your insights frequently illuminate my blog!<br />Your point about more of a small hedge being devoured as the caterpillars' more nutritious food disappears is a really good one. The poor caterpillars have no choice but to carry on eating.<br />I wonder if Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-39035541260850833562017-07-31T13:01:38.505+01:002017-07-31T13:01:38.505+01:00Your ecological ramblings are always welcome Sarah...Your ecological ramblings are always welcome Sarah. Make them as long as you like!<br />As to tut tut about weed pulling out - it's often a great control method! I am constanttly delving into my borders pulling out epilobiums.<br />The weeds not to pull out are those perennials such as couch, ground elder etc that are best left intact to spray!Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-84439542051619982552017-07-31T12:37:03.338+01:002017-07-31T12:37:03.338+01:00Sorry that was so long! I might have written more ...Sorry that was so long! I might have written more than you did!!SarahStuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799371703899376033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-14129103045941325172017-07-31T11:58:05.919+01:002017-07-31T11:58:05.919+01:00This got me thinking!
On the 'why have they c...This got me thinking! <br />On the 'why have they completely gone' question, could it just be the natural boom and bust of the species? On the South Downs we have years when the Chalk Hill Blue butterflies are out in their thousands. It can be difficult to walk on a path for fear of stepping on them. But other years you barely see them. It's normal for populations to vary hugely, SarahStuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799371703899376033noreply@blogger.com