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Post by plocket on Jul 9, 2007 14:37:25 GMT 1
I've got a lot of containers in my garden which I gather are prime sites for Vine Weevils to nurture their maggot-thingies. Will putting gravel or grit down as a mulch prevent them from laying their eggs or not?
It was just a thought! Ta!
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Post by madonplants on Jul 9, 2007 14:49:36 GMT 1
I remember seeing an old GW on tv not long ago and there was an article on Vine Weevils and they said one of the ways to get rid of them was to get rid of the adults. Roll up some corrigated cardboard and put them down near to where they may be. Early morning they will use this as a hiding place and you lift up the rolls of cardboard and dispose of them. I must admit these programmes never tell you how to dispose of any pest.
Can't remember if the gravel mulch was mentioned but worth a try. I use nematodes and they work not bad.
Birds, alongwith other predators, eat weevils as well, but while we keep feeding them, why should they chase their natural diet?
Keith
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Post by plocket on Jul 9, 2007 14:56:04 GMT 1
Mmmmm I'm torn about the birds thing Madon - I never think they eat enough of my bugs whether I feed them bird food or not  If I can get hold of some corrigated cardboard I will try that trick Madon - on a dry night though  Cheers! |
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Post by The witch on Jul 9, 2007 16:04:11 GMT 1
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Post by plocket on Jul 9, 2007 16:17:05 GMT 1
I'm not sure I'm ready to re-pot all my containers - I've probably got close to 100 at the moment : Thanks though The witch! |
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Post by emseypop on Jul 9, 2007 17:38:35 GMT 1
get yourself a nice box of milktray, the diveder things are corrigated, not sure its cardboard tho-or matchmakers.......ummmm
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Post by plocket on Jul 9, 2007 17:41:20 GMT 1
Ooooo now there's a thought - what a cunning plan Emsey!!! ;D
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Post by The witch on Jul 9, 2007 21:29:12 GMT 1
I'm not sure I'm ready to re-pot all my containers - I've probably got close to 100 at the moment : Thanks though The witch! Goodness P - I can quite understand why you would be unwilling to to re-pot 100 containers - I use gravel as a mulch on most of my pots - not had much trouble with vine weevil, perhaps thats why  |
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Post by plocket on Jul 10, 2007 8:23:13 GMT 1
I've put flint around some of my newer clematis and have used the bag up on others, but I've got a lot of containers where smaller plants act as a sort of shelter for the base of the plant, rather than using a mulch. I've not actually had trouble with vine weevils yet, but as soon as I see one I start to panic : So far I've seen two in the last week - to me that's worth worrying about but I doubt it can be classed as trouble |
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Post by madonplants on Jul 10, 2007 10:05:08 GMT 1
I've put flint around some of my newer clematis and have used the bag up on others, but I've got a lot of containers where smaller plants act as a sort of shelter for the base of the plant, rather than using a mulch. I've not actually had trouble with vine weevils yet, but as soon as I see one I start to panic : So far I've seen two in the last week - to me that's worth worrying about but I doubt it can be classed as trouble When we moved here, the previous owner had left 10-12 stone containers with some fuschias in them, why I don't know. Some were labelled, some not. I didn't do much with them last year, as I wanted to see if they were hardy ones or not and this year they were riddled with the grubs. I straight away bought some nematodes and I must admit, they seem clean now. Some are full of weeds now where the fuschias had been got at or not hardy, but the hardy ones are flowering well. Bees had used a few of them as well, as I found out one day!!! It's a job I kept putting off, due to all the troubles we have had in the past few months, as you know. But now Jennifer is safe, I am slowly cleaning them out and taking them to a friend of ours. We don't like the pots at all! The only 'problem' I had with the nematodes, was to keep them well watered, as it was while we had a dry spell!! We did have one, honest! Keith |
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Post by plocket on Jul 10, 2007 11:13:14 GMT 1
I have to admit that I'm a bit cautious of nematodes but I can't put my finger on why!!!
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Post by madonplants on Jul 10, 2007 12:28:19 GMT 1
I have to admit that I'm a bit cautious of nematodes but I can't put my finger on why!!! I am organic, so can't, or should I say, won't use Provado!! Keith |
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Post by plocket on Jul 10, 2007 13:04:51 GMT 1
I'm semi-organic. I'm organic with everything in the garden EXCEPT Provado. Are nematodes organic then?
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Post by maggyd on Jul 10, 2007 20:36:03 GMT 1
I think I might of lost my gardenia to the blasted things, I repotted it after washing the roots and discarding the compost but it was still looking sick so when I came back from my wet hols I did it again, and would you beleive it more eggs  Ive repotted it and pruned all the sickly leaves I dont know if it will recover but I couldnt stand looking at it , it was either that or the compost bin. |
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Post by madonplants on Jul 10, 2007 21:30:37 GMT 1
I'm semi-organic. I'm organic with everything in the garden EXCEPT Provado. Are nematodes organic then? Yep, very organic. It's basically a predator killing a pest! Keith |
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Post by plocket on Jul 11, 2007 9:40:03 GMT 1
But what do the nematodes eat when they've eaten all the vine weevils? That's what worries me!!! : |
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Post by sweetleaf on Jul 11, 2007 10:18:36 GMT 1
They dont, they apparently die off.
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Post by madonplants on Jul 11, 2007 10:52:28 GMT 1
They dont, they apparently die off. You beat me to it!!! Yes they die! Keith Edit.. Here you are, Plocket, but I got mine from Wigglywigglers. |
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Post by plocket on Jul 11, 2007 11:58:02 GMT 1
Thank you very much for that Madon - I've also looked them up on Wiggly-Wigglers and I have a feeling they actually work out cheaper than Provado. I've e-mailed Wiggly-Wigglers with some questions and I have a very strong feeling that I'll be using nematodes the next time I treat the garden |
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Cheers!