Vine Weevils

Balgay.Hill · November 2021

I've just noticed the dreaded weevil notches on the leaves of one of the rhododendrons in the garden.
Is there anything i can do at this time of year, or do i have to wait on the soil warming up next year?

KeenOnGreen · November 2021

I find that the plants that get notched (by the adult beetles), look awful, but are perfectly healthy. I usually don't have to do anything with those plants.

It's the plants that have the grubs eating away at the roots that usually struggle or die. For some reason I never seen any leaf damage on these plants. It's almost as if the adults and the grubs choose completely different plants. Not sure if anyone has the same experience.

It sounds like your plant is in the ground is that correct? I have never found them to be a problem for anything in the ground, only for plants in pots, so I would be tempted just to leave undisturbed. I certainly wouldn't dig up a shrub now, for any reason, next Spring would be better (as frosts are already starting to happen in some parts of the country).

Dovefromabove · November 2021

You can get 'Traps' which tackle adult vine weevils (from the usual Nematode suppliers) but again, they have to be used before winter so there's nothing to do at the moment.

Balgay.Hill · November 2021

The rhododendron is only small and was planted last year in the ground.I thought it was too late to do anything this year, as there has been a few frosts. I'm trying to stay chemical free so will try the nematode route next year.

I'm tempted to dig it up and remove all the soil to stop it spreading to other plants, but will have a think about that.

Posy · November 2021

I agree that the adults seem to eat different plants from the grubs but I do get them in the ground, here, sometimes. I wouldn't dig up your rhododendron unless there is good reason to believe that you have grubs down there.

Fairygirl · November 2021

I wouldn't waste money on nematodes - by the time the soil's warm enough up here for them, it's too late. The chemical stuff doesn't really do much either IMO. You'd need gallons of the stuff if you have them in your plot.
I don't find the grubs eat rhodo roots, just the adults notching out the foliage.

Balgay.Hill · November 2021

Thanks for the advice. I wonder if the weevils were in the pot when i bought it, as nothing else seems to be affected. I'll leave it for now as there isn't much i can do just now anyway.
We'll see how it goes next year.

Fairygirl · November 2021

I had no weevils here until I introduced them in a plant I bought. PITA.

Vine Weevils

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