Help and Advice

Question 1

Name three plants you can use for ground-cover planting

Answer 1

Evergreen climbers
Trailing conifers
Flowering herbs

Question 2

Name five annual weeds

Answer 2

Annual meadow grass
Chickweed
Fat hen
Groundsel
Hairy bitter cress

Question 3

Name eight perennial weeds

Answer 3

Bindweed
Couch grass
Dandelion
Ground elder
Japanese knotweed
Oxalis
Stringing nettles
Willowherb

Question 4

Name five common nutrient deficiencies

Answer 4

Nitrogen
Iron
Magnesium
Calcium
Potassium

Question 5

How can you spot nitrogen deficiency? (four ways)

Answer 5

Foliage turns pale green
Yellowing young leaves in spring
Overall growth weak
Spindly plants

Question 6

How can you spot iron deficiency? (two ways)

Answer 6

Yellow on edges of young leaves, spreading between the veins
Weak growth

Question 7

How can you spot magnesium deficiency? (one way)

Answer 7

Older leaves turn yellow, with red or brown coloration spreading between veins

Question 8

How can you spot calcium deficiency? (five ways)

Answer 8

Distorted leaves
Cracks
Spots on fruit
Bitter pit
Blossom end rot

Question 9

How can you spot potassium deficiency? (three ways)

Answer 9

Leaves turn blue or yellow, with brown blotches or leaf edges
Leaves may roll inwards
Flowering and fruiting is weak

Question 10

Name three other nutrient deficiencies

Answer 10

Boron
Manganese
Molybdenum

Question 11

How can you spot boron deficiency? (three ways)

Answer 11

Growing tips die
Growth is stunted
Fruit and leaves distort

Question 12

How can you spot manganese deficiency? (two ways)

Answer 12

Young leaves turn yellow or pale green
Veins remain green

Question 13

How can you spot molybdenum deficiency?

Answer 13

Leaves on brassicas turn yellow and become stringy

Question 14

Name six useful predators

Answer 14

Hoverflies
Ladybirds
Birds
Amphibians
Ground beetles
Hedgehogs

Question 15

What do hoverflies prey on?

Answer 15

Aphids as larvae

Question 16

What do ladybirds prey on?

Answer 16

Aphids as larvae and adults

Question 17

What do birds prey on?

Answer 17

Aphids and larger pests like slugs and caterpillars

Question 18

What do amphibians prey on?

Answer 18

Slugs and insects

Question 19

What do ground beetles prey on?

Answer 19

Slugs

Question 20

What do hedgehogs prey on?

Answer 20

Slugs, snails and other invertebrates

Question 21

How can you encourage predators? (five ways)

Answer 21

Colourful, nectar-rich flowers
Nest sites
Drinking water
Pond or cool damp areas to shelter
Large stones on soil

Question 22

Name six barriers and traps

Answer 22

Tree and shrub guards
Nets
Fine mesh netting
Root collars
Pheromone traps
Bottle traps

Question 23

What are the two synthetics ways to control pests and diseases?

Answer 23

Insecticides (for pests) and fungicides (for diseases)

Question 24

What are the two basic categories of insecticide and how do they work?

Answer 24

Contact insectides
Spray directly onto pests, kills pests that touch treated surfaces
Systemic insecticides
Absorbed and travel through plant tissue, kill insects that feed on them