[MoreWhisky]

I have been told that a good way to deter the sawfly on my gooseberry bush is to cover it in fleece and tie round the bottom. Seems like a good way to me so want to try it.

So anybody who uses this method can u please tell me when i should use the fleece? As i worryed about putting the fleece on to early or doesnt it matter?

Cheers MW.

[Lottiegob]

Not sure about this - what about pollination of the fruit buds, I think the pollinators still need to access the plant.   What about bug spray instead?

[8doubles]

I think if the bush is in full leaf it will be safe to net it over as gooseberries flower and are pollinated when the leaves are budding.

On the down side if you fleece the plant you reduce air movement and increase the chance of American gooseberry mildew.

[Salmo]

The pollination by insects is a valid point but once the fruit has set this might work. It would also keep the birds off later when the fruit ripens.

Sawfly pupae are in the soil where the caterpillars dropped last year after they had finished feeding. The sawflies emerge from the soil and lay their white eggs on the undersides of leaves near to the base of the plant. One thing that might help is to cultivate underneathe the plant to expose the pupae to the weather or to birds.

I wonder if weed membrane placed beneath the bushes would
1)prevent the caterpillars finding their way into the soil to pupate?
2) prevent the sawflies from emerging from the soil to lay their eggs?

Has anyone tried this?

[greenhead]

I heard somewhere that ant powder spread around the base of the bush will stop the grubs before they climb the bush - not tried it through but sounds promising.

[Babstreefern]

I've sprayed the gooseberries and the soil around the base with bug killer, I may also hoe around the bottom at the weekend, just in case.  I got the saw fly last year and my goosegogs were stripped.