Gooseberry sawfly

[angie a]

Does anyone out there have any ideas for preventing sawfly attacking my goosebery bushes next year? The last two years they have suffered. Fortunately, after harvesting the crop, although this year's crop was well down on last years. I don't like spraying, but if I must, what should I use?

[bramble]

Angie, I just checked thre leaves every day while they were opening. Anytime i saw a sawfly i picked it off and killed it. It worked for me

[Farmer_Gyles]

there was another thread about this a few days ago - i had garlic planted around my gooseberries and no sawfly this year so that could be the cure
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...seberry+sawfly

[Nicos]

Overwintering cocoons in the soil!!

Look at this...

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/factsheets/pc3.php

[valmarg]

angie, at the first sign of gooseberry sawfly, chuck a few peanuts under the bush(es), the blue/great tits will do the rest.

The gooseberry sawfly usually appears when the blue/great tits are looking for natural feed for their chicks.

I've always found this a reliable method of getting rid of gooseberry sawfly.

valmarg

[SimonCole]

I've often thought that experimenting with different mulches is what is in order. Surely the bugs can’t reach the plant if a plastic sheet covers the ground?