|
|
Post by Deleted on May 12, 2007 10:10:39 GMT
Apologies for changing the name of this thread; it follows on fron 'Unhappy Heuchera'. After the advice yesterday, I dug up some of the smaller plants at the front of the ped, and they all had vine weevils to a greater or lesser degree. As a temporary measure, I've washed off their roots and re-potted them in pots for the time being. That leaves me with the larger shrubs at the back, two of which are showing signs of this problem - a climbing hydrangea which is obviously dying, and a two-trunked fatsia, one trunk of which seems to be infected. For the next couple of days it will not be possible for me to get into town to get either Provado or nemasys. Is there anything I can do over the next couple of days to stem this problem ... I have visions of losing everything, and it has taken so much work over the past two years to get the garden to this point ... any advice gratefully received ... cheers ...
|
|
|
|
Post by nightowl on May 12, 2007 10:28:59 GMT
Oh my god!!  I've only ever had them in pots and containers, didn't know they would go for large established shrubs with big tough roots! That's scary And sorry, CC, I don't know of anything else that will see them off  Good luck   |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 12, 2007 11:09:30 GMT
Nolawn, thanks for the sympathy ... I've been googling (as you can imagine), and generally they don't go for plants in the open ground, but the adults tend to live in dry stone walls - and there is a very large dry stone wall behind this bed. In fact, until now it was always my favourite feature in the garden (now I'm cursing it). So obviously the shrubs provided a near-by restaurant. One measure I was considering - please, someone advise - was digging up the shrubs at the back, pouring boiling water into all the planting holes, filling with fresh compost and re-planting - but the problem is I have nowhere to put the shrubs while I'm doing this, would just have to leave them bare-rooted on the patio, probably for several hours. I know these sound like panicky posts, but I am panicking ...
|
|
|
|
Post by beejay on May 12, 2007 11:31:25 GMT
I would think you could cause more problems for your shrubs by moving them to be honest. I can't see that a few days before you can get something to treat the soil should make a huge amount of difference to your shrubs if the vine weevils are causing all the damage. They have probably been munching for some time! I would not have thought that the grubs would be too interested in woody roots preferring nice fleshy ones instead. Try not to panic!
|
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on May 12, 2007 11:40:55 GMT
I found them in my dahlia containers last year but didn't actually know what they were then. Funnily enough though, it didn't kill them and they've come up again this year when I repotted them... I've been lookin a lot into companion plants etc but the only solution I've ever found for vine weevil is provado. Found this though but I still think that would be a longer time scale than you were looking for www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0600/vineweevil.aspI don't know if anyone else thinks this is a good idea but could you not wrap the shrubs in damp newspaper or something to stop the root drying out while you're doing the other work? Is there no one else who could nip into town/local garden centre/DIY store for you? |
|
|
|
Post by Plocket on May 12, 2007 17:53:21 GMT
I would have thought that if it's only for a day or so your plant will still be ok, but then DROWN it with Provado!!! Good luck CC, and as Aprilaydee says, isn't there anyone else who could get some for you sooner rather than later?
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 14, 2007 13:23:29 GMT
Thanks to all! Aprilayde and Plocket, we have a difficult domestic situation at the moment which is why I was unable to get out - but now have Provado and have drenched the bed in question, as well as all pots. I think it was the idea of the little blighters being invisible that got me panicked ... cheers ...
|
|
|
|
Post by Plocket on May 14, 2007 14:43:42 GMT
Glad you've got the Provado and dosed the wee beasties - they really give them the creeps!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by snowowl on May 14, 2007 15:30:15 GMT
I hate Vine Weevals  |
|
|
|
Post by nightowl on May 14, 2007 16:42:01 GMT
I hate it when you've chucked the Provado about and think you're safe and then you suddenly spot an adult one sitting on a leaf waggling it's antennae at you!  Found one walking up the bedroom wall once  |
|
|
|
Post by snowowl on May 14, 2007 17:34:31 GMT
What do the adults look like and how big are they?
I found 2 black beetles in my soil in a shady boarder and i thought they might be adult weevals .
|
|
|
|
Post by Plocket on May 14, 2007 17:40:09 GMT
They are dull black, I would guess about 1cm long, and look kind of nobbly. Yuck yuck yuck!!! I FREAK if I see the adults - almost the whole garden is Provadoed if I see one!!! Which reminds me, I hope I marked in the diary when I next can treat my containers.
|
|
|
|
Post by beanie on May 14, 2007 17:42:10 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by lottielady on May 14, 2007 17:44:26 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by snowowl on May 14, 2007 17:46:06 GMT
 So they are only tiny then it could well have been the adults. I killed them just in case.I have had plenty of trouble with the grubs but mainly in pots i had to succomb to pravado although i hate using it . I hate weevils more though.
|
|
|
|
Post by nightowl on May 14, 2007 19:53:12 GMT
If you're not sure SO, Vine Weevils (or Vile Evils as I call them) walk very sloooowly.
If it's shiny and fast moving it's a good guy ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by snowowl on May 14, 2007 20:24:28 GMT
Oh no i dont think they were weevil adults what i found. After looking at those pics and they moved fast i have killed something harmless i feel realy guilty now |
|
|
|
Post by bagpuss on May 16, 2007 11:59:14 GMT
I hate them too! I regularly Provado my pots etc (except the ones I grow vegs in). There are a couple of things you could try as a preventative measure: top dress containers with a deep layer of grit. Apparently they won't want to lay their eggs through it as it will be uncomfortable for them. put a sticky band around the top of the container, so that the adults get stuck to it. Get yourself one of these: www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=42813&C=Froogle&U=42813&T=Alias&MA=battery%20operated%20fly%20swatterso that when you find any adults you can "fry" the b******s!  |
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on May 16, 2007 21:26:23 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on May 18, 2007 21:31:10 GMT
Just want to ask some things...
When I look at the back of the packet of the provado stuff, it says to use on container plants. Any reason why it doesn't mention borders? And if I did use it on the borders, would it kill any good guys such as worms or does it just kill the bad nasty disgusting vine weevils?
Also, why can't you use it on veg? Only asking cos I think I might have got a bit on the carrots a while back. Not a lot mind, but just wondered.
|
|
|
|
Post by cjhomebird on May 18, 2007 21:58:51 GMT
I use the provado on pots and the borders. i hate these things they are evil.
i do like crushing them they are hard and make a lovely cruncing noise.
I too have found the cheeky b*****s in the house.
CJ
|
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on May 19, 2007 21:20:56 GMT
does anyone know why it only gives instructions for use on containers plants and also why it can't be used on veg?
|
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on May 19, 2007 21:57:48 GMT
Is there a contact address/phone No/e.mail on the label Aprilaydee, might be worth getting in touch with them  |
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on May 20, 2007 9:52:00 GMT
I've emailed Bayer now so we'll see.
|
|
|
|
Post by isabella on May 20, 2007 13:39:34 GMT
Hello Aprilaydee- I wouldn't be keen to use Provado on edible crops even though there is one you could use on veggies. As it is a systemic insecticide it actually travels through the plant and I don't really care what it says on the label - how can you be sure it isn't still in the plant when you eat it  I do use Provado on ornamentals if really necessary. If your carrots have been nibbled it is more likely to be Carrot fly grubs at work. |
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on May 20, 2007 14:50:55 GMT
no nothing's been nibbled apart from my campanula I think. I just found one when I was planting out the borders and carrying on from CC's panic at finding some in her borders I wondered why it didn't have instructions for use in borders, just containers.
I've tried to be as organic as possible with my veg, but I'll use something if I have to. I was just wondering what it is that's in there that makes it not sutiable for use on edible crops.
|
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on May 24, 2007 17:49:13 GMT
Response from Bayer
Provado Vine Weevil Killer 2 is only registered for use in pots and containers as for effective control of the vine weevil grubs and plant root damage it is essential to get the right concentration of product around the plants roots. It is not possible to achieve this in the open ground without causing an environmental hazard, consequently use in the open ground is not permitted. The only treatment that can be used in an open ground situation is Nemasys nematodes but usually root damage is less critical as there is more space for the roots and more predators to reduce vine weevil populations.
Provado Vine Weevil Killer is a very safe insecticide which is absorbed into the plant roots and prevents vine weevil grubs from feeding. Although hatching eggs and small vine weevil grubs will be killed directly more mature grubs may survive for some time but will no longer be able to damage the plant roots. The product has no effect on earthworms or predatory beetles but since it is absorbed into the plant will give systemic control of plant sucking pests such as aphids. Since there may well be chemical residues in plants with this treatment, it was decided not to carry out the necessary studies to enable consumption of treated plants and, consequently, the product should not be used on any edible plants.
As the adult vine weevils are quite a mobile pest you will continue to find re-invasion from other areas including neighbouring gardens and all we can do is to provide protection against the most damaging aspect of the pest ie root damage in our pots and containers. Treatment of plants does not control the adults or the leaf notching caused by adults. To control adults this can be done by physically trapping them by shaking plants over a sheet or spraying them with a contact insecticide such as Bug Free or Sprayday Greenfly Killer when they are active ie at dusk or during the night.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on May 25, 2007 18:55:58 GMT
Thanks for sharing that April. I always thought the adults would be killed too Whilst at my inlaws the other day, they asked me what was wrong with their Hydrangea in a pot. It was all sad looking and the growth looked stunted. I promptly got hold of a stem and gently pulled, it came straight out of the pot and and had very poor roots. Yes, you've guessed VINE WEEVIL |
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on May 25, 2007 19:34:18 GMT
ooooooooh the lil buggers!!
I might invest in some nemsys stuff but I haven't found any in the borders as yet. Plus there are only annuals in there at the moment anyway so no big a loss if anything does happen.
I like the part where they put "it was decided not to carry out the necessary studies" with regards to use on edible plants. Carry them out dammit!! LOL
|
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Jan 26, 2008 17:47:31 GMT
Knew it. I just live with them and think of some of my plants as differently edged specials Nematodes again this summer. Despite no one else doing it Vineweevils are the new pest in town and no one seems to know it yet. Maybe it is true, I am the only real gardener in this street |
|
I've only ever had them in pots and containers, didn't know they would go for large established shrubs with big tough roots! That's scary 
