Thanks so much for all the advice provided above - really appreciated.
We have a small dog that uses the garden so if any intervention is needed it would have to be pet friendly. I was planning on trimming things back and seeing whether this improved things - which from what I've read it should do, if the issue is shot hole. A good course of action?
Hi All, Just a quick update on my situation with the Vibernum.
Just today, I've cut the thing right back and removed dead wood and all of the plant that was touching the soil underneath it. (You recall I had a problem with either shot hole or Viburnum beetle - maybe both?) Anyway, I notice on the soil below it hundreds of these tiny little insects which are jumping around - particularly when you disturb the soil.
Can anyone tell me what this beastie is? (Sorry, i know they are tiny so hard to photograph)
Also grateful for any advice on what I can do to kill them at this stage if possible? It would however have to be something that is safe for pets as we have a small dog.
Many thanks in advance for any advice you can give!
It's clear that the issue was the viburnum beetle, so I went to town on it last year, cutting it right back and was sure to remove any dead twigs and pieces of wood and clear the round underneath it also.
I have inspected it this morning and its clear I wasn't successful in eradicating the larvae as they are all over the leaves again now and the thing looks in a rather sorry way...
What can I do at this point before the larvae hatch?
Its too big and densely packed to remove each by hand successully and I can't use pesticides that may be harmful as we have a small dog that uses the garden daily.
Is there something safe and effective I could spray it with that would actually work?
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Can appreciate your worries. I have a dog too and won't use herbicides or pesticides in the garden... ever!
You're right - You can prune/shear off the affected leaves, just go easy on pruning the Laurels stalks and branches as it may stress them.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all - a great help!
Hi All, Just a quick update on my situation with the Vibernum.
Just today, I've cut the thing right back and removed dead wood and all of the plant that was touching the soil underneath it. (You recall I had a problem with either shot hole or Viburnum beetle - maybe both?) Anyway, I notice on the soil below it hundreds of these tiny little insects which are jumping around - particularly when you disturb the soil.
Can anyone tell me what this beastie is? (Sorry, i know they are tiny so hard to photograph)
Also grateful for any advice on what I can do to kill them at this stage if possible? It would however have to be something that is safe for pets as we have a small dog.
Many thanks in advance for any advice you can give!
Cheers tetley - I hope they are Springtails as you say.
Thanks very much
I agree with springtails. Nothing to worry about.
Thank you!
Morning all!
Just a quick update on things from last year.
It's clear that the issue was the viburnum beetle, so I went to town on it last year, cutting it right back and was sure to remove any dead twigs and pieces of wood and clear the round underneath it also.
I have inspected it this morning and its clear I wasn't successful in eradicating the larvae as they are all over the leaves again now and the thing looks in a rather sorry way...
What can I do at this point before the larvae hatch?
Its too big and densely packed to remove each by hand successully and I can't use pesticides that may be harmful as we have a small dog that uses the garden daily.
Is there something safe and effective I could spray it with that would actually work?
Any help or advice greatly appreciated