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Tiny clear worms - what are they?

sadlaurelssadlaurels Posts: 7
in Problem solving
Hello, a few weeks ago I posted (have changed username in interim) about our pathetic portuguese laurels. They were planted bare root in mid March and have been struggling since. Anyway Fairygirl gave us some great advice, we upped watering and things were looking up and the plants looked way healthier!

Unfortunately in last week it looks like something has decided to eat them and many of them are back looking crap with weird cankers, discoloured tips and nibbles around the edges. I was digging around under the top layer of soil and found these little tiny clear worms - loads of them. Are they the culprit? Much googling hasn't really identified them. I'm sure the plants have shothole too but is there another likely cause of this? About to throw in the towel at this gardening malarky...

Thanks in advance for any advice or insight!




Posts

  • sadlaurelssadlaurels Posts: 7
    Thank you very much for time and advice Pansyface! Exactly what I was hoping to hear to be honest  :) Was dreading that it might be vine weevil but if the worms are indeed nematodes perhaps they'll sort out the problem if it exists. Either way what will be will be. I guess we were just curious if this was some very basic gardening issue we should be addressing but now will happily sit tight and wait this out with a cup of tea! 
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    You see similar worms turn up in compost bins all the time but they're generally in the soil doing harmless worm stuff.
    Unhealthy plants have less defense against bugs so you're probably going to be better off boosting the plants' health if you can rather than targeting the pests for now. 
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • sadlaurelssadlaurels Posts: 7
    Great, thanks wild edges! I've added some compost and a little bit of bonemeal to the soil recently so we'll keep watering them and hope for the best. Thank you both again for the help!
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    Whatever you do don't throw in the trowel. Gardening is always a challenge but success is worth a hundred failures. Eventually there will be a lot less failure and a lot more success. 
  • sadlaurelssadlaurels Posts: 7
    Thanks Bijdezee. You're an encouraging bunch around here, appreciate it!
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