Gardening with Cherise 02 April 2026

In this episode of Lunch with Pippa Hudson, host Pippa welcomes back horticulturist Cherise Fillion to tackle a range of gardening challenges submitted by listeners. The conversation kicks off with a deep dive into the threat posed by dusseys—small, tenacious mammals that devour garden plants, including foliage, bark, and even toxic species—prompting creative, non-lethal strategies like planting resilient, thorny, or fragrant species such as buchus, rosemary, and lavenders. Cherise emphasizes working with nature rather than against it, recommending native dune vegetation and hard-pruning plants that recover quickly from nibbling. The discussion then shifts to mole rats, which create large mounds and damage roots; Cherise advises against killing them, suggesting deterrents like water hoses, garlic sprays, or even DIY wind-spinning devices inspired by Dune’s sandworm alarms. For cat control, listeners share effective, humane methods including citronella oil sprays, banging soda bottles, and Jay’s fluid. A surprising voice note from Joy in Capri introduces the elusive snout-nosed weevil, which destroys plants from within, prompting Cherise to recommend persistent neem oil applications. The episode closes with tips on azalea care, including annual pruning and using pine needles for acidity and fungal support, and gratitude from listener Pam, who’s applying the advice to protect her garden from dusseys. The tone remains warm, collaborative, and solution-oriented throughout.