[chrissie B]

just been down the garden to give the toms some more pot ash how much do you  give i have propper food is that not enough :?:  anyway prob number two today is there are lotts of green bugs on the toms and roses mainly , flying , flat backed in the shape of a shield, there are other colours as well in different sizes but mostly the green ones .
are they a problem ? there dosent seem to be any chewing going on , can i just leave them alone??
chrissie b

[DadBear]

Try spraying them with a solution of tea tree oil in water. Works on mine. i use a pressure sprayer (£4.99 from tesco) and a fairly dilute solution.

[WG.]

Sounds like one or other of the shield bugs which are sap suckers so are certainly doing harm.  See http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0900/green_shield_bug.asp

Re your potash / tomatoes.  If you have been feeding according to directions, then it is probably the heat which is causing the problem.

[Ice]

Dadbear.  

I have one of those from Tesco and it just squirts two jets out sideways and I can't work out how it's supposed to spray forwards.  Can you help?

[WG.]

I have one of those from Tesco and it just squirts two jets out sideways and I can't work out how it's supposed to spray forwards.  

Sounds like there is a bit missing.  There should be a mister cap which screws on over the nozzle you describe

[chrissie B]

thanks for the info
been out in the blistering heat , you know the saying mad dogs and english men out in the mid day sun.
with some honey , a q tip and a placky bag getting them off manually , had to come in though before the heat stroke set in .
we have to do our gardening when all the neighbours are in doors so to avoid having to explain what im doing .
chrissie b

[WG.]

out in the mid day sun with some honey

Ooooh I wish!  Don't think Mrs Golf would approve though

[Ice]

[/quote] Sounds like there is a bit missing.  [/quote]

* :cry:

[chrissie B]

nothing missing its the way i wrote it im afraid.
chrissie b

[muntjac]

fairly liquid wil fix shield bugs  

[DadBear]

Dadbear.  

I have one of those from Tesco and it just squirts two jets out sideways and I can't work out how it's supposed to spray forwards.  Can you help?

There should be a small milled plastic thing which is screwed over the end of the brass sprayer... the more you screw it in, the finer the mist.. You could always stick your finger over the end...

[mkhenry]

Dadbear.  

I have one of those from Tesco and it just squirts two jets out sideways and I can't work out how it's supposed to spray forwards.  Can you help?

My sprayer did that Ice.I removed the head gave it a good wash blew through it and hey presto it sprayed forward  Just a thought.

[chrissie B]

the bugs are not a problem now as i pulled up the toms
chrissie b