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Cherry Laurel hedge being eaten!

Annie_kennedyAnnie_kennedy Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hi - I am completely new to gardening and this forum but was wondering if anyone could give me some help. I have recently moved to south west France and am getting to grips with (what could be) a lovely garden. There is a young Laurel hedge (maybe 2 ft tall planted by previous owner) which is being eaten alive right now. I have read that the hedge is a robust fast growing choice so seems ideal to cover the ugly wall against which it is planted. I attach a picture of an eaten leaf - practically every leaf is like this. Are slugs the likely culprit? The winter has been very mild here so not traditional UK seasons. Any ideas would be very welcome. Thank you
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Vine weevil and slugs by the look of it. The notches are from adult weevils. 
    It's quite common unfortunately, but if the hedge is reasonably well established, and otherwise happy, it should come out of it and grow.
    Laurel is pretty easy, but it does need decent soil and enough moisture early on until well established. It'll then cope with most pests and diseases.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Annie_kennedyAnnie_kennedy Posts: 4
    Thank you so much for your prompt reply. The hedge looks in a precarious state as ravaged like this all over so it would seem helpful to it, if I try to eliminate the pests. I can deal with slugs (not seen any but could be there) but any products I can use to get rid of the weevil? Reading around, it seems like larvae attack the roots and might endanger the growth (or existence) of the hedge?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited January 2023
    Normally it's the larvae/grubs that are the biggest problem, but laurel isn't usually too troubled by them. However, a new, immature hedge is more vulnerable, so it's a possibility.
    There isn't much you can do unfortunately, although there are chemical treatments for vine weevil. It may depend on what's available where you are though. The larvae may have come in with the laurel itself. 
    There's also a nematode treatment but they need fairly specific conditions for using them, so that might not be viable just now.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    When we moved here an area was really infested with vineweevils and shrubs were showing a lot of leaf damage … we found the vine weevil nematodes really effective … two applications the recommended time apart and there was no more damage for several years. We then gave another two applications and haven’t had a serious problem since. 

    They’re available online and have to be applied when the soil is a certain temperature.  Check out the info online but don’t buy them until you’re ready to use them as they have a very short ‘shelf life’. 

    Good luck 🤞 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Annie_kennedyAnnie_kennedy Posts: 4
    Thank you so much and yes that seems to be the only ‘solution’ as such so I will definitely give it a go, hopefully maybe warm enough here in a month or so. I am encouraged that this actually worked will for you as I was beginning to despair….
     
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    You’ll need a watering can with quite a coarse sprinkler rose as the nematode solution will block the holes if they’re too small. It’s as well to be prepared 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Annie_kennedyAnnie_kennedy Posts: 4
    very useful advice - thank you!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hope that works for you @Annie_kennedy - the temps being suitable is what matters most  :)
    I've tried them in the past but by the time the soil's warm enough here it's much later in the season, so I'd be constantly trying to get ahead of the problem which wasn't feasible. They're expensive, so I didn't try it after that.
    I still have v. weevil but all the plants/shrubs are established and don't succumb, other than some potted heucheras, which are very prone to attack. 

    I had an old watering can rose and just made the holes bigger on that which worked well. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    What do the locals say?

    Even the British "locals" will know better than us in the UK.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Why do you keep trying to turn people away bede?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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