Get to grips with seasonal problems
1 Honey fungus is the name for several species of Armillaria fungi that attack and kill the roots of woody and perennial plants. Symptoms include white growth between bark and wood and clusters of honey-coloured toadstools in autumn. There is no control – all you can do is remove the tree, stump and root, so there is no plant tissue left to feed the fungi. 2 Aphids are small sap-sucking bugs that weaken, stunt and distort plants and exude sticky honeydew, causing sooty mould to form. Rub them off with your fingers, encourage predatory insects such as ladybirds, or control larger colonies with a natural pyrethrum insecticide. 3 Moles are active in spring and will disfigure lawns and borders, and disrupt and hinder plant growth by leaving roots dangling in empty air…