AboutTom Alonzo Expertise I have been a gardener for 20 years with perennials both growing from seed and from nurseries. I went through the Master Gardener Program from Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service and I answered questions on the Hotline a few years ago for the Wyandotte County Kansas Extension Service. I have also lived in the Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Kansas and Missouri and am experienced with a variety of climates, soils and weather conditions.
Experience I have been growing perennials for over 20 years now. I am self-taught mostly except for a master gardener class. I have experimented with all kinds of perennials including many that are not common to my area. I have read hundreds of books and grown hundreds of varieties of plants and hope to make it a business some day. I have become versed in botanical names and growing conditions and what I don't know off of the top of my head I can usually easily find in my vast array of research material and botanical and horticultural contacts. I especially enjoy experimenting with growing plants out of zone.
Question I recently bought a Magolia bush, i have just noticed there is something eating it as there are holes in the leaves,& also the leaves are turning brown with some sort of infestation. I heard on a progrmme on TV, to spray plants with soapy water to stop this happening, is this true.
Answer Bonjour Rachel,
Thanx for your question. You may have a leaf miner infestation on the magnolia. Yes, you can use soapy water using dishwashing liquid and water. There are also horticultural soaps available at your local nurseries and DIYs. Apply according to directions. You can make you own soapy water and spray it on the plant. Leaf miners are hard to control and as the plant grows you will find it harder and harder to treat effectively. Sometimes they just go away and sometimes they will get worse before winter kills them off. I hope this helps.
Tom
