Weeds on patios, brick paths and driveways can be difficult to remove without damaging the structure of the paving. In these cases the simple remedy is to use a ready-mixed spray of Pathclear Path and Patio Weedkiller. With regard to pests, the most common is the greenfly, or aphid, which makes plants unpleasantly sticky. In some instances, such as on honeysuckles, the sugary substance secreted by the greenfly may grow a black mould giving the impression that something is seriously wrong when by combating the greenfly both problems will go away. Greenfly are prone to attack pansies, petunias and fuchsias as well as many other flowers, fruit and vegetables.
Insecticides come in two forms.
There are the shoot-down contact kinds which kill as the spray hits the insect. Then there are the time-bomb 'systemic' types which put a temporary poison into the sap of the plant which the insect sucks up. The latter kind, if carefully applied, is less harmful to beneficial pollinating insects, but is deadly to aphids be they greenfly or blackfly, which can protect themselves against contact insecticides. The 'green' alternative is to use an insecticide soap made by Bio and Phostrogen or to use a border of French marigolds around your vegetable plot to emit a scent which aphids detest. You can also cover vegetables such as lettuces with a protective blanket of fleece.