Particularly bad year for pests?

[FangsForTheMemory]

I'm fairly new to this gardening lark, so can someone tell me if this year has been exceptionally bad for pests? I'm talking hydrangea that was beautiful last year eaten to a nubbin as soon as it sprouted, something (rose sawfly? but I never saw one) that has eaten all the lower leaves on a rose bush that had no problems last year, clematis that had three leaves on it then the next day I looked and they were gone, cherry tree that has hardly sprouted . . . I'm finding it a bit depressing to be honest. Is this all normal?

It's hellishly bad!

Thewarm wet winter meant that few beasties died off. And the wet wet spring has made loads of soft, sappy growth which is perfect fodder for pests.

And the slugs and snails are surely record-breaking. And devastating.

Mild winter temperatures always mean a rotten year for slugs etc because three hasn’t been a cold enough snap to see them off.

Use all the treatments you can - garlic water, nematodes, soapy sprays (aphids), or whatever your murder weapon of choice, and hope for a nice long cold spell next year.

I have lost so many plants to slugs and snails that I’m on my third sowing of some things, so I empathise.

The only thing I've managed to see off has been the greenfly, which I blasted with soapy water! My problem seems to be beetles of some sort, I haven't seen that many slugs. Glad it's not just me though.

I have never seen so many slugs and snails. As they eat everything , I am sorry to say I kill them when I see them. Yeuk!

Its terrible. My roses are full of aphids. When I say full of Aphids, I mean I cant see any stems as it's just aphids covering them!

If I had a ladybird land in my garden they would never leave!