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Is something digging up my plants?

M0rganaM0rgana Posts: 47
in Problem solving
In both my front and back garden, when I've gone to deadhead pansies in containers, the whole plant has lifted. It's as if something had dug them up. Now the same is happening to violas. They aren't looking too good, and some seem to have been completely unrooted. Is this a common thing? Is it an animal? 

Posts

  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    Could be vine weevil grubs eating the roots if there is no visual disturbance on the surface.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Have you got squirrels? I've seen them in my garden dig up plants and run off with them.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • M0rganaM0rgana Posts: 47
    Hmm, I reckon it might be the vine weevil grubs. I don't want to use pesticides that might harm the bees. Is there a relatively cheap/easy solution? 
  • DaveGreigDaveGreig Posts: 189
    Vine weevil are the scourge of containers. I was refreshing the compost in mine earlier in the season and got almost a 3” pot ful of the grubs to put on the bird table. 

    Before you replant your containers replace the compost by at least 8” deep and you should be ok. 

    There is only one bee friendly method to control them I’m afraid and it involves going out at night with a torch on an adult hunting, catching and squishing spree. 

    You can get the slugs and snails while your at it.😝
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    @DaveGreig are the nematodes harmful to bees?  They work but it’s too late for the Spring dose and too early for the autumn one. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • M0rganaM0rgana Posts: 47
    Maybe I should do the nematodes next year - do folks tend to use them routinely to prevent problems?
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    You can apply at the end of September, that will kill grubs,  then again in April to catch the new ones and kill the adult beetles. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • DaveGreigDaveGreig Posts: 189
    Oops I forgot about the nematodes. Me bad.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Vine Weevils particularly like Pansies/ Violas/ Primulas and Heucheras in pots.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • M0rganaM0rgana Posts: 47
    I'll take this as a lesson and use the nematodes going forward, thank you! 
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