natural killer for gooseberry sawfly

[tomsloc]

The programme victorian farm recommended spraying with a mixture of soaked and macerated elder leaves (from an elderberry bush ) and soap -mixed in water. Perhaps worth a try!!
Tom

[Tam]

Here is an organic way to get rid of these blighters, who can ruin a bush in no time at all. Good luck to you.

Organic gardening and pests: the gooseberry sawfly - Telegraph

[purplekat]

I would be very wary of spraying a foxglove solution on something I was going to eat - even just touching the leaves can cause heart palpitations in some people, never mind ingesting it

[Rabidbun]

I'm managing so far with soft soap spray when the things are still wee (was squishing until they got too numerous), so worth a try first perhaps.

Good thing too - I have no idea how to ID an elderberry bush, much to my shame.

[valmarg]

At the first sign, I used to chuck a handful of peanuts under the bush. The birds (particularly blue tits and great tits) would find them. Bearing in mind they have chicks to feed at this time of year, they soon cleared the sawfly grubs.

valmarg

[chris]

My chickens seem to scoff them, which is great.. (just watched them now). Only trouble is they like the leaves as afters!

[SarzWix]

I think it might be against the law to concoct your own pesticides too, so might be best not to without checking...

This:
Buy Grow Your Own Protector from Wiggly Wigglers is a natural way of controlling lots of different nasties, including sawfly. (It's available lots of other places too, possibly cheaper.)

[ginger ninger]

Good thing too - I have no idea how to ID an elderberry bush, much to my shame.

There easy to recognise Radibdun. There in most hedgerows and once you find out where they are, you can nip back when there in fruit and pick them for elderberry wine or jam, there even yummy in muffin's. Have a look at these photos, then you'll know what your looking for.

[tomsloc]

I agree with you purplekat -spraying with foxglove does seem a bit risky as it`s very toxic !!

[briggsy2011]

Hi
having just planted my gooseberry bush (careless) what is the soapy solution to keep bugs off