I'm really not sure if this is more of a landscaping or gardening question. My newly planted aucuba suffered this winter and I've been carefully watching its new growth. It is now looking very healthy with big broad deep green leaves and I noticed a huge chunk missing from a new leaf. What kind of insect would do that in a short amount of time? No deer or rabbits to worry about just lots of squirrels..
grasshoppers ants catapillers just to name a few
No ants. Does mulch help prevent this from happening?
nope sorry i wish it did. i went out tonight and something ate every leaf off my rose bush. i cried for hours
That's a shame. I thought I read somewhere that cedar mulch helps keep insects at bay, but someone that I asked with experience said it's the opposite. To me, it made sense that it would work but I'm very new to gardening. I'm also guessing that insecticides are not a good idea...
Also, does the damage on my leaf look more like it was done by a slug and could that have been your problem also? If so, I will have to scout them out. I mulched just this weekend (not cedar though) and didn't see anything.
If it's near the ground then it is most likely that slugs are doing the damage, especially if the leaves look as though they have been cut with a knife. Slug pellets work best, just scatter a few around the plants.
I had problems last year with something eating the leaves on my trees and plants. I tried Neem Oil, (it works very well on roses). It is a natural product non poisonous, I spray it on my rosemary bush and still use it for cooking afterwards, (although it does leave it a bit sticky). Dilute as directed, spray the plant, shrub or tree thoroughly and the soil around it, it will stop whatever is doing the damage from doing any more. It has worked wonders for the problems in my garden. I am so glad I discovered it. It can be used for a variety of different things. Just Google "Neem Oil" to read up about it.
This message was edited May 18, 2010 10:00 AM
Yes, that is EXACTLY what the damage looks like. And it makes sense also because my plants are young they're closer to the ground. Thanks for the great advice. If the damage continues I will get the Neem Oil. At least now I have something to work with :)
