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Lily beetle check syndrome, worse than lily beetles themselves

micearguersmicearguers Posts: 646
in Problem solving
This spring I noticed that whenever I was near where my lilies grow, I would compulsively check for the presence of lily beetles. Every Single Time I got near them. The checks were useful in that the threat was neutralised, but at some point I realised it almost completely took the joy out of that part of the garden. My eyes would just always be drawn towards the lily foliage, any sense of unfocusing and mindful awareness destroyed. Alas I don't think I have the mental fortitude or flexibility to just let go. So I carry on like this next year, or perhaps have to give up growing lilies. Not only is the compulsive checking painful, the attitude towards this pest is unlike my general gardening approach and adds to the unease. All other pests I can tolerate, or I can amend conditions to recruit predators, or indeed, give up growing the pest target plant. I may try giving up on the oriental lilies next year and see if just growing Martagon lilies works. They still attract the beetle, but do self-seed.

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I decided to give up on lilies but never got around to throwing them out. Most flowered this year so I'm glad I didn't. Only two beetles as well. I'm going to put them in the soil rather than compost them and let them get on with it.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    I gave up on lilies because I just couldn't cope with the sheer volume of those wretched beetles. I'd stamp every one i caught along with their larvae but they just kept coming. In the end I gave them to OH's mum who doesn't get many lily beetles on them at all! I tried growing some fritillaries a couple of years and the little sods were there in an instant. I must just live in a really bad area for them.
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    I only try to kill them in early Spring.  That usually gives the flowers enough time to do their thing, and after that the beetles are welcome to have a feast.
  • micearguersmicearguers Posts: 646
    @KeenOnGreen that's what I do, but it's still a period of (guestimating) 4-6 weeks. @februarysgirl yes there's the fritillary issue as well :frowning:

  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I have lilies in pots. Every year for the last 5 or 6 years they've been decimated by lily beetles. 
    This year I stuck the pots out of sight in the composting area ready to bin the bulbs and reuse the pots.
    You guessed it - this year not a single beetle and and the lilies have flowered as well as they did in their first year.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
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