Lilly beatles
aktiernan
Posts: 1
Hi all, this year the Lilly beetles seem to be in biblical proportions in the garden. I love lillies, especially varied varieties (but often the ones Lilly beetles love too). I've been taking them off by hand but are there any other organic, non chemical way to keep them at bay? Such as plant combination (my garden is cottage garden style)
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I pinch and squidge. - I agree, there seems to be a plague this year
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I've got over a hundred lollies and touch wood not found a single critter this year so far. You watch I will have jinxed myself and get a plague tomorrow
last year it was like a full time job patrolling the lilies. I caught more in the morning and evenings than any other time of day. Might go and have a look now paranoia is setting in.
Well so far I've squished 3 or 4 a day and I only have a few Lillie's but I've never had so many beetles.
Went and checked and still no sign. Please don't send me any either
We have had a few for the past couple of weeks - I take them off & chuck them in the field next door - I haven't the heart to squish them - they are such a beautiful rich red colour & look so attractive on the
green foliage
of the lilies.
I would add that I am finding some also on the leaves of my Tulips, so please keep an eye out for them their also. I know that they mainly attack the lilies but they seem to be partial to other plants as well.
I found some on the Verbena bonariensis.
I squish any I find. Throwing them into the field isn't going to work , they fly back.
Yes I know they fly fidgetbones - but perhaps they will fly to next door's garden instead of mine - I do the same with snails & hope that perhaps a thrush will enjoy a tasty meal of it rather than the snail returning to eat my plants.
Usually get them on my Snakeshead frittilaries but this year there were none. I think they drowned in the very wet winter.
Garlic water sprayed on Lilly plants will deter beetles and its not toxic to animals or yourself. Simply take 3 cloves of garlic, crush it, put in a pan of 2 pints of water, boil for 3 minutes, leave to go cool, and then use around one tablespoon of the concentrated garlic water to one gallon of water. Add a little bit of washing up liquid (this makes the water stick to the leaves), and spray the plants all over, not forgetting the underside of the leaves where the often lurk. You can also use the same for slugs/snail, and aphids.