GARDENING

Press, 11 May 1984, Page 10

GARDENING

by

M.Lusty

Some time ago “The Press” ran a captioned photograph of the lawn weed hydrocotyle. The herbicide combination of picioram and 2,4-D was only available in commercial quantities. Could you please advise me if there is yet available any kind of control for this spreading lawn cancer, procurable in small, domestic quantities? L.R. (Chch). The smallest quantity of the combination picioram plus 2,4D now obtainable is sold in 5 litre containers. As yet I have still to see a fully effective treatment of hydrocotyle in lawns. All the materials applied so far have only been partially successful and follow up has been very necessary. The careful application of the combination of MCPA and MCPP through a Lawnboy sprayer at one and a half times the recommended strength may be the best herbicide currently available for home garden use for hydrocotyle control in the lawn. Some damage to brown top may occur particularly if application is indescriminantly made.

Enclosed a leaf from one of my oaks. It is black as you see, and so are most of the branches. I have used copper oxychloride but it has not done much good. Your advice would be highly appreciated. J.M. (Waimangaroa). The blackening of the foliage has been caused by the development of sooty mould growing on deposits of honey dew. The oak aphid exudes this honey dew and must be controlled in order to clean up the tree. Although this pest is generally not regarded as serious, severe attacks on small trees, particularly where they are not flourishing, can stunt