Garden Q&A: What's the best way to deal with cuckoo spit on lavender plants?

  Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions     

The good news is that cuckoo spit causes little or no damage to healthy garden plants, including lavender. File picture

Question

My lavender plants are covered in cuckoo spit. What actually is it, and what should I spray it with?

Answer

Despite the name, cuckoo spit has nothing to do with cuckoos. The frothy white blobs are produced by the immature stage of an insect called the froghopper, sometimes known as a spittlebug. 

The foam protects the young insect from predators and from drying out in warm weather.

The good news is that cuckoo spit causes little or no damage to healthy garden plants, including lavender. In fact, its presence often indicates a healthy garden ecosystem that supports a wide range of insects and wildlife.

Don't spray anything as there is no need for insecticides, organic or otherwise. Spraying could harm beneficial insects that help keep your garden in balance. 

Foam cover of a foam cicada an lavender. File picture

If the appearance bothers you, simply wash the foam off with a jet of water, but I wouldn’t even do that; I would just leave it alone and let nature take its course.

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