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Vine weevil

1tonyroth1tonyroth Posts: 3
in Problem solving
How do I get rid of vine weevil 
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Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Have you found them in pots or in the soil please
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    1) Provado Vine Weevil killer.  Nasty stuff and we don't use that any more. We only ever used it in pots.

    2) Nematodes. We never found much success with these, but others say they have. Using them when the ground is at the right temperature is the trick.

    3) Sift through the soil by hand to find the grubs. It's fiddly, but we do this with our pots that contain plants they they like.

    We generally find that they are only a problem with pots, and only ones that contain certain plants. By avoid growing these plants in pots (i.e. Heuchera), we don't have many problems with Vine Weevil.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    As @KeenOnGreen says, some plants are more susceptible ( particularly Heuchera ) when grown in pots but they do also attack the likes of Japanese anemones grown in the ground.
    Provado will work but should only be used in pots/containers and any flower spikes should be removed for at least 6 weeks after treating with this to avoid poisoning any pollinating insects. When dealing with pot plants which are infected, it's also wise not only to sift the compost but have a good poke round into the root ball as the grubs tend to burrow in there and the "new" tiny ones can often be hard to spot.
    A good layer of grit around the problem plant can also help deter the adults from laying their eggs.  We all like an easy life - Vine weevils included  ;)  
  • 1tonyroth1tonyroth Posts: 3
    Hello garndenersuze we find them in pots 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    If they're in pots, you may find it worth trying nematodes. 
    https://www.gardening-naturally.com/vine-weevil-nematodes-12-sqm

    Other suppliers are available.


  • AngelicantAngelicant Posts: 130
    edited March 2022
    Just pulled my pot grown fushias out of the mini greenhouse as they had new growth on to start hardening them off and two of them just pulled straight out of the compost. Spent a very satisfying couple of hours rinsing what was left of the roots off and removing the grubs from the compost for the blackbirds. Got a thin piece of plastic coated wire and managed to dislodge a few more that were hidden in the twisted roots so hopefully I have got them all. Never had this with fushias before although they did get a Busy Lizzie in a pot last year.
    My Heucharas are all in the ground but none of those in the back garden look particularly healthy so will be digging them up and checking the roots next week before replanting them a bit deeper to see if they recover (@Fairygirl's advice on another post)
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @1tonyroth They seem to like Heuchera's and primulas or polyanthus in pots. If you are growing any of these it might be best to grow them in the garden instead. You can still get vine weevil problems in garden soil but  they seem to like compost more.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I gave up on Heucheras but they do get my primulas that are in the ground.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    Vine weevil love begonia corms as well, Fuschia are high on their list of preference as well as many sundry other plants. They are a nightmare. If you chose to use Provada, not sure it is available any more, you need to dose the pots every 6 weeks and it is expensive. Leaving the pots to soak overnight is a good way of ensuring the whole pot is treated fully.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Bear in mind that the nematodes need the right temperatures to work. That can be a problem, especially at this time of year. I can't use them. By the time it's warm enough, it's really too late.
    I don't get any problems with primulas in the ground though. I don't usually have them in pots, other than when I've been splitting them for other sites, and they haven't touched those. Heucheras are popular with them though, unfortunately.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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