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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2006 16:20:28 GMT
Hi all,
while repotting a cutting for a friend today I noticed a sort of small white slug curled around the roots. I checked all my other cuttings and found several more of these. I've read about vine weevils - are these them (sorry, awful grammar)? And what can one do to prevent them? So far they don't seem to have done any damage to the growth of the cuttings ... cheers ...
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Post by toonia on Sept 20, 2006 16:37:36 GMT
It sounds like they are! Were they curled in a C shape?
It sounds like you caught them in time. The only thing to do to be safe is to repot the cuttings in fresh compost but I don't know how to stop weevils laying in the first place!
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Post by Plocket on Sept 20, 2006 16:42:44 GMT
I'm not sure how you actually stop them but you can treat your potted plants with Provado to avoid them in the future. I don't think it's organic I'm afraid, but as far as I'm concerned it does the job. I have loads of pots and am terrified of the dreaded vine weevil so I treat them regularly. As for your cuttings - as Toonia said, the best thing is to use fresh compost and destroy the bugs. Check the rest of the soil you used too in case they are in that. Keep an eye out for the bugs - oh this site should help you: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0600/vineweevil.asp |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2006 16:49:23 GMT
Oh Lord, Toonia and Plocket... I checked the website and that's definitely them. Luckily I repotted all the cuttings and don't have anything else in pots, but after looking at the website, and descriptions of leaf damage, I think the buggers have been at my climbing hydrangea. I'm desperately trying to keep the garden organic because we grow herbs and salad things; hopefully it's not too late to get and use some netatodes (they say early September, but it's still quite mild here). Thanks for the advice .... yeeuch, they are really disgusting things ... cheers ...
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Post by Plocket on Sept 20, 2006 17:01:59 GMT
Good luck CC - they scare the bejesus out of me too! Px
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Post by toonia on Sept 20, 2006 17:04:18 GMT
What's wrong with me? I'm being so upbeat and positive today...but I was going to say, you've caught them in time for damage limitation!
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Post by Alicat on Sept 20, 2006 17:31:58 GMT
 Hi CC. watch out for the chafer grub as well. They can do the same sort of damage. I found four in a pot the other day was most miffed. I'm afraid they didn't have a very nice death though. I left them in a pot, in the sun until I found out what they were. Then my son filled the pot with water. ;D ;D Alicat ;D ;D Sorry, slightly off topic.
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Post by Dutchy on Sept 20, 2006 17:46:36 GMT
The organic answer to Vine Weevils is Nematodes. I hope that is what they are called in English too. Nematodes are microscopic worms that need warm soil to live and from there get into the Vine Weevil grubs and kill them. You probably will have to wait until next year May/June before you can water them into the soil under your Climbing Hydrangea. Once you've got these b==grs there is no getting rid of. The nematodes limit the damage and keep them under control. The entire street where I live have them. I am the only idiot trying to do something about it and it shows. My plants are not half as infested with grown ups and at least my plants seem to be healthier. You have to do something or someday they will start eating the roots of your Hydrangea. It's what the grubs do. Before I found out about them I lost all my front garden Viburnum David ii. Leaves cut and roots diminished poor things could not survive.
Good luck Dutchy
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Post by Plocket on Sept 20, 2006 18:24:01 GMT
But what happens to the nematodes when they've eaten or destroyed all the Vine Weevils? I have horrible thoughts about them mutating into equally nasty monsters that destroy my garden. Sorry to sound like such an ejit!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2006 10:47:24 GMT
Plocket, I'll worry about the nematodes mutating into a Super Vine Weevil (makes me think of those 50s horror films!) when the time comes; right now I'm going down to the garden centre to see if I can still get/apply nematodes this year. Dutchy, your story about your front garden has the hair standing up on my head ... and, Alicat, now I've got nightmares about chafer grubs. This is obviously why people have those gravelled gardens with a tasteful phormium ... I definitely feel myself turning into a plant hypochondriac! Many thanks for all your advice ... cheers ...
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Post by Plocket on Sept 21, 2006 11:58:01 GMT
You might have to get them by mail order CanaryCreeper and there are recommended times for using them. Good luck though - I gather they are the best thing to use.
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Post by piggingardener on Sept 21, 2006 13:16:15 GMT
I'm with you Plocket - I use Provado twice a year. I spent £12.50 on a clematis from Gardener's World a few years ago, planted it up in my arch pot, and it didn't thrive. It was full of the blighters! I now have to treat all my pots in May and September (note to self - do it Sunday!!!!)  |
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Post by Alicat on Sept 21, 2006 13:21:47 GMT
Sorry. CC. Does anyone know if nematodes work on chafer grubs please.
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Post by Plocket on Sept 21, 2006 13:36:53 GMT
I've got to do my pots again Piggin - and will you remind me in March please? ;D
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2006 14:29:04 GMT
I know this is off topic, but perhaps we could set up a 'diary of things to do' board that everyone could contribute to? I know they have them in magazines etc., but often they just have the obvious tasks ... cheers ...
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Post by Plocket on Sept 21, 2006 15:35:50 GMT
That's a brilliant idea - start a new thread!!!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2006 15:51:06 GMT
Well, seriously, could we do something like for the 'birthdays' thread/board ... where a task would automatically come up that week? I'm a computer idiot so I don't know if that is possible ... cheers ...
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Post by madonplants on Sept 21, 2006 15:54:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2006 11:30:52 GMT
That's a great site, Keith. Thanks to everyone for advice. I've found out that I won't be able to get and apply the nematodes until next year. After re-reading the information on the RHS site (vulnerable plants), I dug up my Heuchera to check ... and there were five of these horrid things curled up in the roots. I've removed them, filled the planting hole with fresh compost and given the poor thing a good feed of seaweed ... but am now terrified it's spread further, to bigger plants/shrubs that will not be so easy to dig out ... anyway, that's the latest update on my weevil woes ... cheers ...
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Post by Margi on Sept 24, 2006 20:48:52 GMT
Hi Alicat
Yes, you can get nematodes which work on chafer grubs - check out either the Organic Catalogue, Green Gardener or Defenders.
Margi x
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Post by Alicat on Sept 24, 2006 23:17:31 GMT
Sorry margi have only just picked up your reply. I will check it out tomorrow. I've had a really great day in the garden today. My shed almost looks good enough to sleep in. - No I won't be doing that really. but it's good to have a tidy shed. - Next the greenhouse. It's very hard to keep up, with children around.
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Post by Alicat on Sept 24, 2006 23:20:48 GMT
Hi madonplants. sorry only just picked up on your message too. Will also check it out tomorrow. cheers Alicat.
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Post by madonplants on Sept 25, 2006 10:31:34 GMT
Hi Alicat,
How long will the shed stay like that? When I clean/clear mine out, or should I say when my wife does, it soon gets in a mess again. I keep telling her, the problem is there is too much in it! My excuse anyway!
Keith
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2006 14:23:59 GMT
I use Provado every year, too many pots window boxes etc and then the wretched things come through from my neighbours, this year I've had adult weevils climbing up the walls indoors, they are very slow though but hard to squash.
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Post by grannyjanny on Sept 25, 2006 21:07:21 GMT
Brilliant idea CC.
Janet.
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Post by Alicat on Sept 26, 2006 13:50:13 GMT
Hi Alicat, How long will the shed stay like that? When I clean/clear mine out, or should I say when my wife does, it soon gets in a mess again. I keep telling her, the problem is there is too much in it! My excuse anyway! Keith I don't know!!!! I have the same problem - I'm a terrible horder. But it's a really great feeling. Alicat. Sorry can't stop and chat now - got to fetch the kids from school. Happy gardening. |
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