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Somethings eating me!!!

Barry-KBarry-K Posts: 13
in Problem solving
Any ideas on what is slowly devouring this unidentified plant??

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited May 2022
    I think the plant is a viburnum and they are prone to Viburnum beetle which can cause such damage.
    There is usually an unpleasant smell in the area due to the beetles.
    Not a plant I have so I maybe completely wrong :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I think it is Viburnham beetle. The only way to stop it I believe is to interrupt it's life cycle. I dug one up a few years ago and planted something else it was really bad. Not sure all Viburnhams get it.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I concur with the above

    Devon.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    My sister had  a very bad infestation on one of her Viburnums. It's fine after being hacked back hard.
    Never had it here, on any Viburnum I've ever had. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    I had the same problem last year and hacked mine back on the advice of the good folk on here. It has started the long road to recovery with a small amount of new growth recently :) 

    It didn't half pong when I took my loppers to it :D 
    East Lancs
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Biglad said:

    It didn't half pong when I took my loppers to it :D 
    It's only faeces - nothing to worry about 😁

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • AngelicantAngelicant Posts: 130
    I chopped mine down to the ground twice in a effort to get rid of these beetles but they still came back. They overwinter in the bark and on any twigs in the ground and I think this is where I went wrong,  I didn't clear the ground all around it. I gave up in the end and dug it up four years ago.

    I have been reluctant to plant another in case the little blighters are still lurking about somewhere but have just planted a new one in the front garden so hopefully they are all gone now. 
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    GardenerSuze said:
    I think it is Viburnham beetle. The only way to stop it I believe is to interrupt it's life cycle. I dug one up a few years ago and planted something else it was really bad. Not sure all Viburnhams get it.
    Viburnum
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Papi Jo I think I am understood.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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