Mint and Sage under attack!

[moreteavicar]

In the last couple of weeks, mint and sage bushes growing together have developed a myriad of holes in the leaves.

HELP please!

I am disabled so picking off critters won't be an option for me.

[Nicos]

Not sure…my guess would be flea beetle
If so, can you hoe lightly at the base and sprinkle Diatomaceous powder on top of the soil. That would help to interrupt their life cycle.

[nickdub]

I wouldn't stress about it. Both mint and sage are real thugs of the herb garden and will shrug off any attacks. The leaves will be fine for use in the kitchen with or without holes, but I wouldn't eat any from a plant treated with a pesticide.

Bugs are part of nature too and are food for larger creatures.

[moreteavicar]

I wouldn't stress about it. Both mint and sage are real thugs of the herb garden and will shrug off any attacks. The leaves will be fine for use in the kitchen with or without holes, but I wouldn't eat any from a plant treated with a pesticide.

Bugs are part of nature too and are food for larger creatures.

That pre-supposes there are any leaves left.
Just been further down the garden and another mint plant is stripped down to the chassis!

They have also just stared attacking a Salvia.
With the aid of my wife's good eyes I have discovered that the plants seem to have on them tiny brownish flying things that fly off when disturbed.
Too small and fast to identify.

[Nicos]

Flying or jumping like fleas?

The mint will be fine - just cut it down to just above ground level and it will come back next year. Burn or bin what you cut off if you feel happier doing that.

[nick the grief]

they'll cease hostilities soon as the cooler weather comes in my pot of mint by the back door is just green sticks at the minute but come spring it will be back ... I've never met anything that will see off Mint yet .. I just give it a bit of a top dressing once a year and then knock it out the pot and chop it into 4 with a bill hook and replant 1/4 and away it goes again.

Sage, I usually take a few sprigs and stick them in water on the kitchen windowsill and pot them up when they have roots on ... Sage is like Nicos, a sophisticated thug ... Im more like mint

[Nicos]

Well, ^^^^ at least he didn’t call me ‘old’ this time

[Iris_Germany]

That pre-supposes there are any leaves left.
Just been further down the garden and another mint plant is stripped down to the chassis!

They have also just stared attacking a Salvia.
With the aid of my wife's good eyes I have discovered that the plants seem to have on them tiny brownish flying things that fly off when disturbed.
Too small and fast to identify.

Hi,
There is one bug who is specialised in mint plants.
Look here. Seems to be him alright.
https://www.gartentipps.com/minzblat...ekaempfen.html

(I do not know the name of this bug in English. In German he is called mintleaf-beetle. A glittering green bug.)

[Nicos]

^^^^^ that’s the one I find on mine from time to time.