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HI folks,

This blog is all about creating an urban garden in a previously grass and concrete lot in suburban Australia.

no video today... i'm just trying to get back into the writing bits.... oddly enough the writing is easier than the filming and editing bloody hand is just no good

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The citrus leaf miner issues... the plagues proportions of them and some remedies, what i am going to do about these little buggers.

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So for those of you that know this... skip ahead about the citrus Update section.

We have been in this house for 6 years now and it is a concrete wasteland of concrete and grass with a pool. we decided that this needs to change and are creating a little urban farm in.

We had a very GREEN back garden but it was just yukka plants. AND they planted this big rooted trees right on top of retaining walls. They are huge and are pushing on the walls. They needed to come out. Roots and all down into the earth we had to go...

You can see here the view when we moved in.,... green... but not "pretty and productive.."
Certainly no biodiversity. Not good for bees. Just green yick.

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WHAT ARE WE CREATING?

We are trying to create a little mini urban farm.

Fruit and vegetables
Chickens Worms and Mealworms
flowers
Bee haven and maybe bees
biodiversity
pesticide free where possible
native plants as well. So not JUST food but also food for the insects that will live in the garden.

So i would love it if you would follow along

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THE PLAGUE

RIGHT FOLKS! So, I have a confession to make. I have been battling with citrus leaf miner in my Queensland back garden and it's been a bit of a nightmare. OMG. I missed a couple of weeks dealing with it, (ok rather a few with my buggered hand) and now I'm kicking myself for not dealing with it sooner. It spread, and spread quick.

If you're not familiar with citrus leaf miner, it's a pest that affects citrus trees by burrowing into the leaves and creating silvery-white lines or tunnels. Not only is it annoying, but it can also affect the tree's ability to produce fruit. it's pretty ugly really especially as my trees are SUPPOSED to be ornamental. My once beautiful ornamental pots now look like they've been through a warzone. Can see the damage from the other side of the pool.

But, I'm not giving up just yet. I've been trying to trim off the affected leaves and dispose of them in the rubbish (not the compost, as I don't want the pesky critters to spread). And to top it off, I've been using an oil spray to suffocate the remaining bugs. It's a bit of a process, but it's the only way to save my citrus trees from further damage. They keep coming back thought if i miss a week... waaaa

I must say, it's been a bit of a learning curve. But, I'm determined to get my garden back to its former glory. Ive negelected it such a lot with my jolly hand. And if you're dealing with citrus leaf miner too,there are plenty of ways to prevent and treat an infestation, and I'm going to share some of the ones i am using.

lets go..

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what is it and what to do

Citrus leaf miner is a common pest that affects citrus trees in Queensland, Australia. The leaf miner is a small moth that lays its eggs on the underside of citrus leaves. When the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the leaves, creating silvery-white lines or tunnels that can damage the tree's ability to produce fruit. While citrus leaf miner is not usually fatal to the tree, it can weaken the plant and make it more susceptible to other diseases and pests. The lines look really UGLY as well, and if i can see them from the other side of the pool... that is a bad sign.

However there are several steps you can take to prevent and treat citrus leaf miner infestations. I just wish... omg ... that i never let it get this bad in the first place.

HERE you can see the damage over a few branches

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PREVENTION:

The best way to deal with citrus leaf miner is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Here are some tips to help prevent an infestation that i wish i had followed myself

Keep your trees healthy: A healthy tree is less likely to be affected by pests and diseases. Make sure your tree is getting the right amount of water, sunlight, and nutrients. Use a good quality potting mix and fertilize regularly. Personally i use the purple powerfeed from our local greenbox store here in Australia. But i missed a few applications due to my hand not holding the water can.

Keep your garden clean: Remove any fallen leaves or fruit from around your tree. This will help to reduce the risk of pests and diseases. As we live in FRUIT FLY ZONE this is important too..

Monitor your tree: Regularly check your tree for signs of pests and diseases. Early detection can help prevent the spread of an infestation. Getting those little buggers off early HELPS. Or you end up like me with a battle. I wasn't worried with 1-2 leaves... now... ugggg
...

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TREATMENT

If you do notice signs of citrus leaf miner on your tree, there are several steps you can take to treat the infestation:

Prune affected leaves: If you notice any leaves that are heavily affected by citrus leaf miner, prune them off and dispose of them. This will help to reduce the number of larvae on your tree. see the photos below. DONT PUT IN COMPOST! BURN THEM.. lol or rubbish bin after being in a black plastic bag in the sun.

Apply a horticultural oil: Horticultural oils are a type of insecticide that can be used to control citrus leaf miner. These oils work by suffocating the larvae and preventing them from burrowing further into the leaves. Apply the oil to the leaves of your tree according to the manufacturer's instructions. I use a eco-natural one from the greenbox store. its about $6 or so... or you CAN make your own. I have included a photo of the bottle i am using.

Apply a neem oil solution: Neem oil is a natural insecticide that can be used to control citrus leaf miner. Mix neem oil with water and spray the solution onto the leaves of your tree. This will help to repel the moths and prevent them from laying eggs on your tree. I have not tried this one however.

Use sticky traps: I have also heard that Sticky traps are another effective way to control citrus leaf miner?? These traps contain a sticky substance that attracts the moths and traps them before they can lay their eggs on your tree. Again not tried this one yet... but i really am considering another option here as there are so many of these diseased branches and im worried about fruiting for next year.

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HERE IS THE OIL I AM USING!

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HERE ARE THE LEAVES YOU NEED TO SPRAY!

you need to focus on the NEW GROWTH in the tree, Hit that and hit it every 5 or so days as per instructions on the bottle.

These little buggers like tasty soft new leaves.

spraying these leaves will help stop them from taking hold in the new growth that they like. Combine this with removing the infected leaves and hopefully that should be enough.

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Here is a nice big plate of the infested leaves

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Say HI to the chickens

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Yeah but isn't it BAD to prune trees in Summer??

Yes... Pruning is summer is not ideal. You are supposed to prune trees in late winter and early spring. but as i have diseases omg diseases in my trees... they gotta go..

Pruning citrus trees during summer can cause stress and damage to the tree, as this is the time when the tree is actively growing and producing fruit. But seeing as mine are new-ish and not producing fruit i didn't think this mattered. Pruning during this time can lead to reduced fruit production, (which i already have) sunburn on exposed branches, and an overall weakened tree. Not a problem here as im only taking off a few things.

In general, it's best to stick to pruning citrus trees during late winter or early spring, when the tree is in its dormant stage and less susceptible to stress and damage. This will help to ensure a healthy and productive tree for years to come.

Here are the healthiest trees at the moment, one grapefruit and the oldest lime tree, yes they still have a bit of damage but they look the best.

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CONCLUDING MESSAGES

Just another very busy week all in all. I will now sign off and start the next video.. lol... as its already late as well

talk later

happy gardening

Sarah

Anyway thanks so much for stopping along and reading my posts I am just loving my HIVE experience so far. Such a fun platform for sure.

For those that don't know my i'm currently focusing on Daily painting and somewhat amusing my self and my family with Acrylic pouring.. lol.. i wish i had a separate studio for that as it is so messy.

My other HIVE interests are:

cooking
sunset photography (i take photos of the sky every night)
Art
Graphic Design
Gardening (just a smidgion)
Ballet
Sewing - I make Tutus and ballet costumes too...

Here are a couple of snaps of some of the stuff i do outside what you see up in the posts above.