This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Berbers sawfly.
Brickman0430
Posts: 182
I have three Berberis plants, helmand pillar and two thunbergii, however, for the last two or three summers they have been completely defoliated by the dreaded sawfly, and unfortunately have to go down the chemical treatment route. I believe I need a bug killer containing pyrethrum, but my question is, do I spray the whole plant? Or just the soil around the base? Pat.
0
Posts
Sorry to say you can not hand pick these off, they strip the leaves completely if left.
I used a systemic spray on first signs of damage, have a small berberis hedge of the Thunbergii type plus a golden one. Completely spray all the plants and around base, I try to do this before the Blue Tits require their food for feeding young, so spray early in season when leaves are just fully out may prevent the attack. Berberis Little Favoite I have two never seem to be attacked by sawfly?
I think I'll stick with the blue tits
In the sticks near Peterborough
If you water the chemical into the root system early you may prevent the sawfly laying the eggs. The Blue Tits will find their food elsewhere and you will have a Berberis worth admiring. The Sawfly lays its eggs in the soil at the base of the plants.