Not only people like the edible hollyhock, which is even one of the ancient medicinal plants, some pests also like to eat the mallow plant. If you want your plant to remain beautiful and bloom profusely, then take precautions.
How do you protect hollyhocks from pests?
The best measures to protect hollyhocks from pests are: choose a sunny location, avoid too much moisture, collect snails and, if necessary, use natural remedies such as nettle manure or curd soap lye against insects. Good care promotes the resistance of the plants.
Which pests particularly trouble hollyhocks?
Snails are particularly difficult for hollyhocks because they particularly like the young leaves. The younger the plant, the greater the damage that snails can cause. If the snails eat heavily, the entire plant may die. The mallow flea beetle, beetles, caterpillars, spider mites and shrews also like to feed on the hollyhock.
How can you prevent pest infestations?
The best prevention against diseases and pest infestation is an ideal location and good care. Strong and he althy plants are less likely to be attacked, they are simply more resilient.
Always plant hollyhocks in as sunny a place as possible with well-drained but not too moist soil. Water the plants regularly, daily during the flowering period in summer. This also helps against the mallow flea beetle, which occurs particularly in dry and firm soil.
Pest control for hollyhocks
Against snails, regular collection of the voracious creatures at the beginning of darkness helps. The snails are particularly numerous in wet summers. Then it may also be necessary to use snail pellets (€16.00 on Amazon) to get rid of the plague.
Spraying with nettle manure often helps against other pests. Unfortunately, this spray has a very strong smell. If you are sensitive in the relationship, then it is better to use a solution of water and curd soap. The effect is similarly good. You should only use insecticides if the infestation is very severe.
The most important tips against pests:
- It's better to prevent than to fight pests
- sunny location
- avoid too much moisture
- Avoid insecticides if possible
- Collect snails
- Nettle manure or curd soap against insects
Tip
The he althier and stronger your hollyhocks are, the less they suffer from diseases and pests. Therefore, do not buy or plant weak hollyhocks.
