Top 10 garden pests and diseases revealed - BBC News
The box tree caterpillar comes top of the list of gardeners' concerns for the third year in a row.
The metallic blue alder leaf beetle can strip plants of foliage

The box tree caterpillar has come top of the list of gardeners' concerns for the third year in a row.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said it was the number one pest inquiry last year, as it continues to spread across the UK.

The alder leaf beetle, which feeds on the leaves of trees, entered the top 10 for only the second time.

The beetle has recently become re-established in some parts of England.

Honey fungus was the top concern in terms of diseases, while other types of fungi took advantage of the warm wet weather to attack fruit trees.

The RHS has analysed thousands of gardener enquiries for its latest tally of top 10 diseases and pests. The charity is conducting research into controls for the box tree caterpillar, focusing on the use of nematodes.

Meanwhile, a research project is under way to identify different slug species and what tempts them into gardens.

Matthew Cromey, principal scientist at the RHS, said the research will help increase biosecurity and provide best practice.

"Pests and diseases are among the main challenges we face as climate change affects our gardens and horticulture more widely," he said.

"We want to develop a nation of gardeners equipped and motivated to deal with the challenges of our changing world."

The RHS's top 10 pests for 2019 in terms of calls for advice were:

Honey fungus is the name given to several species of fungus that attack the roots of plants

The top 10 diseases for 2019 were: