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Gooseberry Bush Decimated

CatherineSeniorCatherineSenior Posts: 24
in Problem solving
Can someone please tell me what could have happened to my gooseberry bush? We have been away for a 2 weeks holiday and returned to this - there were lots of gooseberries on it before we left.

Posts

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    It looks like you've had an attack of the gooseberry sawflies. They strip plants very quickly but it will recover fine. Make sure to give them a good feed and mulch in the next growing season and make sure they're properly pruned to limit attacks next year.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • CatherineSeniorCatherineSenior Posts: 24
    Thank you so much - was devastated when I saw it.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I used to get a lot of attacks from them a few years ago. Some good tips were to prune so the centre of the plant is open (wine goblet shape) and to make sure the branches of one plant don't touch another so they can't easily crawl between the two. I also put up some bird boxes near to the plant which helps with any problems earlier in the year when the parents are looking for grubs to feed the chicks. Once you know it might happen it's easier to stop it. The eggs are normally laid on one leaf so if you see a leaf suddenly get a lot of holes in it then turn it over and you'll see lots of tiny grubs which you can just squash. If you miss those and you see a branch getting bare then the grubs are usually large enough to pick off by hand and leave on the bird table where they will be hoovered up in minutes. Wasps will also take the grubs so a more open plant encourages them to hunt around there. Once they've found one they'll return for more.
    My dad has been in charge of my bushes this year as I can't visit and he says a couple of them were stripped like this.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • CatherineSeniorCatherineSenior Posts: 24
    THAT HAS HELPED ME NO END, THANK YOU.

  • BaWBaW Posts: 11
    I was unable to get into the garden for a couple of days, only to find my young (1-year-old gooseberry bush) had been stripped. Can anyone advise whether the bush should now be pruned back, or do I just leave it until the winter?
  • maggie-1maggie-1 Posts: 97
    I found my gooseberry bushes had been stripped too, so I placed a wide container under some of the branches and gave them a wack with a trowel! I know, a bit violent but you should have seen the amount of caterpillars fall into the waiting container, dozens of the little blighters. Disposed of and next time I'll try to be more alert.
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