VINE WEEVIL

[Jilly]

When I was sorting out the overwintered pots at the weekend I only found 2, I didn't search very thoroughly as everything is going to be soaked in Provado in a few weeks time. I love that stuff, if they ever take it off the market I'll be hiding a stash

[Rosefriend]

Haven't started looking yet as everything is still frozen but it is going to be far more difficult to see them, as it was last year...why?? Ah well, Perlite has made my life a lot easier but not when it comes to finding Vine Weevils....some of the large bits of the Perlite look exactly like VW grubs!!

RF

[Ladygardener]

Don't worry Rosefriend you'll still see them hopefully. My pots were half and half perlite and compost. I've poked a few bits of perlite to check if they were wevils, glad nobody could see me.

[Rosefriend]

Hahaha - pleased it isn't just me Ladygardener..

RF

[Jilly]

I hadn't thought of that Rosefriend & Ladygardener, well I think I only found 2 , I could have put a few back now, thinking they were perlite.

[Chuckles]

Years ago I had a major outbreak of the beasts, I used to go out at night with a tea bag squeazer and a torch hunting for the adults. I wrote about it on this thread somewhere thank goodness I only find a few these days.

[Geranium]

I found one in a pot of Dahlias that I rescued - I was just refreshing the compost and there it was! :oI should repot all last year's lilies, but I'm not doing that until this cold weather has finished. I haven't got any Provado - I suppose I could get some.

[Chuckles]

Didn't know they liked Dahlias I know from experience they like Begonias, primroses, Strawberry plants and Heuchera.

What amazes me is how they survive in pots that have been frozen solid. Provado is good, I've a feeling it only kills the larvae though so its a good idea to keep and eye open later in the year for nibbled leaves and maybe do a bit of exploring in the dark with a torch

[Ladygardener]

I looked for Provado today in Dobbies but could'nt get any. I normally buy it in B&Q but have'nt been there lately.

[Geranium]

Yesterday I noticed that several of my 'parked' pots outside the greenhouse have been scrabbled by something - there was compost lying around and odd small plants dug out. Could that be birds after the vine weevils?

[Chuckles]

Could well be blackbirds Geranium most likely just bug hunting in general, I've had them scrabble about in freshly planted pots before and they make a right mess. You can deter them with gravel on the top of pots, this is also said to deter vine weevil beetles.

[Geranium]

Thanks - I'll remember that.