What's eating my sweet william?

Sweet William faces aphids on stems and buds, tortrix moth caterpillars that web leaves together, and slugs attacking young plants. Rabbits and deer will browse foliage in open gardens. Aphids are the most common pest, appearing heavily on flowering stems in late spring.

Clusters on soft shoot tips and flower buds; distorted growth; sticky honeydew and sooty mould Remove by hand or water blast; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; attract natural predators like ladybirds and hoverflies

Leaves webbed together with silk; caterpillars feed inside the webbing causing brown papery patches Unroll webbed leaves and remove caterpillars by hand; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for heavier infestations

Irregular holes in young leaves; seedlings and new transplants severed at soil level Apply iron phosphate slug pellets; set beer traps; hand-pick at night; top-dress with grit around crowns

Clean-cut stems and leaves, typically at a 45-degree angle; whole young plants removed overnight Install chicken wire guards or mesh cylinders around plants; use proprietary rabbit repellent sprays on surrounding area