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sjw

By Sjw

gloucestershire, United Kingdom Gb

I have a number of plants in my border that are not doing well namely ladies mantle, hardy geraniums and lupins, on further investigation I have dug a few plants up and discovered numerous leather jacket grubs. I know they can be a problem in lawns mine is ok but could these be the cause of the damage. And what can I do about them except squashing them on discovery.




Answers

 

It is unusual for these plants to suffer from anything, Sjw, as they are as tough as boots. If the plants are alive but just not doing well then I suspect that something is eating the roots eg your leather jackets. Sorry, but I don't know a solution but I am sure that someone will.

31 May, 2012

 

Are they newly planted? I was wondering if they were vine weevil grubs if they are new. I'm not suggesting you have your id on the grubs wrong but just a thought.

31 May, 2012

 

That seems rather a drastic solution!!!

31 May, 2012

 

I'd agree with Seaburn on this. There are other critters that do eat the roots of plants, like vine weevils. There's a good chemical solution to deal with this problem.

31 May, 2012

sjw
Sjw
 

Thanks for all your replies, I have looked at the Internet regarding the type of grub it's definitely leather jackets whenever I dig the border over its them that I find, regarding the plants they have been in the border for around three years and have always flourished. I have looked into nematodes but say best treated in autumn so I guess I'll just have to keep squishing them.

31 May, 2012

 

I usually cut an old compost bag up and place around my plants, black side down. Next morning I remove the grubs.
They are quite interesting in the fact that they pupate at about 1' down, they move up and down in the soil depending on things like moisture and weather. So there is never a guarantee that you will find the damned things if you dig down a little to investigate. There is no nematode that I am aware of to deal with these critters. But when you get an influx of daddy long legs later in the summer, you will know they have just emerged as adults and are out for plenty of sex. That's the time to beat them down. You will no doubt be able to see them frolicking in your borders, flirting with each other.

1 Jun, 2012

 

We have a troll this morning he has been flagged by several members so hopefully he will be gone soon.

1 Jun, 2012

 

He does seem to have been deleted, Denise. Thank goodness! :-))

1 Jun, 2012

 

:))

1 Jun, 2012

How do I say thanks?

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