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How much to trim back Portuguese Laurels badly attacked by vine weevils?

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  • MayLaneMayLane Posts: 203
    If a whole street is infested what will happen given how fast they multiple? 
  • Skylark001Skylark001 Posts: 75
    70 last night!  That indicates a severe infestation.  It will only get worse.  Take action now.  Go to BnQ and buy X number of bags of "Diall 10mm Gravel".  When we bought them 6 weeks ago they were £1.47 a bag.  Now I see on the website they're gone up to £2.47.  Get in quick, before the price goes up further.  And then get that 1 to 2 inch layer down. 

    Then keep shaking them of the branches and squashing them dead.   New weevils which arrive from other areas will see the gravel and go elsewhere.  (Weevils will walk long distances to find conditions they like.)  Unfortunately the weevils who have been feasting on your leaves and have already dropped hundreds of eggs which will develop into larvae in the soil and chew on the roots until they are ready to climb upwards and emerge.  Your stone barrier will ensure they can't get through and so they'll die.  Your plants may look weak next spring and summer, but by the following year they will have recovered . . . I hope.

    If you're going to be away for 10 days, just think of the leaves that will be nibbled and the eggs that will be laid during that period!   ACT NOW.   You'll be so glad you did.

    https://www.diy.com/departments/diall-10mm-gravel-large-bag/35709_BQ.prd

  • MayLaneMayLane Posts: 203
    There is no way we can do this before we go away because of work. We go in 36 hours. I have an adult stepson staying, o idea if I can employ him to hunt weevil.

    I've dug down and see no grubs. After 2 inches the soil is compact and clay like. Do they live like worms?
  • MayLaneMayLane Posts: 203
    I'm going hunting. I should be packing. I don't want to go away 😢
  • Skylark001Skylark001 Posts: 75
    As you can see from the photographs of our laurels, our pots are deep.  When we took out the laurel they had killed, we found larvae about 15 inches down.  

    Let me know the state things are in once you get back!  Bye.
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