Gardening Australia – September 2019

WHYAREMYLEAVESLOOKING

CURLED OR DISTORTED?

A common cause is sap-suckinginsectssuchasaphids,thrips

and mites. They’re out inlargenumbersinspring,makingthe

most of new-season sapflow.Citrusarecommontargetsfor

aphids, and young capsicumplantscanbetroubledbybroad

mites. These insects flocktonewgrowth,wheresapisontap.

Quickactionwithsoap

spraysminimisesthe

damage,butifit’stoo

latetostopit,pickoff

distortedgrowthandbe

readytorespondwhen

theplantsreshoot.

Somecurledand

distortedcitrusfoliage

couldbeduetocitrus

leafminer.Mostofthe

damageyouseewill

be from last summer.

Pheromone traps,

available at garden

centres, attract male

adult moths, and help

reduce future damage.

Hang one per tree when

new growth appears,

and replace every 8–12

weeks for best effect.

FUNGAL FURY

If you’re noticing some curl on new leaves of peaches

and nectarines, it’s likely your trees are infected with

leaf curl fungus. There’s not a lot you can do now, but

note in your diary to spray them with copper hydroxide

when the leaves have fallen in early winter, and again

in late winter or early spring, just before buds open.

HAND

Tipsfortacklingthis

month’sproblems

helping

PHOTOS

ISTOCK, PHIL DUDMAN

BORN & BRED

Neta’s UV stabilised hose-end fittings are

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