Orange Lichen on Hibiscus

Question:

I have a Hibiscus which is several years old. This year it has many orange fungal looking blotches on its branches. What is it & what should I do about it?

Answer:

This sounds like Common Orange Lichen (Xanthoria parietina) and is not dangerous or harmful to your Hibiscus.

Rust on Roses

Question:

How can I prevent my rose bushes getting rust, also do I need to put a pot ash in soil, they are just starting to get the leaves, then during the summer they get what I think is rust and they fall off.

Answer:

Rose rust fungi can survive over the winter on fallen leaves or on the soil surface. They can also become attached to objects such as stakes, fences and rose stems.

Spray your plants and surrounding area with a fungicide now before the overwintering spores germinate, make sure you spray both sides of the leaves and the stems. Try one of the following: Scotts Fungus Clear, Systhane Fungus Fighter or Roseclear 3 (the last two also contains an insecticide if this is needed), you should be able to get them at your local garden centre. These sprays also help control powdery mildew and blackspot.

If you prefer not to use chemicals pick up and burn or otherwise dispose of fallen and infected leaves. Prune the plants to keep them as open as possible and allow air to circulate. Cut out and destroy any rust lesions on the stems, as well as old and weakened wood.

For best results use a combination of natural and chemical solutions.

Bifenthrin and Rotenone

Question:

In a fruiy growing book I ahve it talks about using Bifenthrin and Rotenone for attacking different types of insects and fungus on fruit bushes and trees but I cannot find it in UK do they come under a different name in UK?

Answer:

Bifenthrin can be found in Scotts Bug Clear Gun, Bayer Sprayday Greenfly Killer Plus and Doff All-In-One Garden Pest Killer.

However Rotenone, better known as derris, are to be withdrawn from sale for use by home gardeners. The timescale for withdrawal has not yet been announced, but it is likely that gardeners will have until September 2009 to use up their existing stocks of rotenone dusts and sprays. Products were withdrawn from retail sale in September 2008.