I went out yesterday to check on buds to see if they were opening yet and I noticed that a few have little bitty holes in them :~(((( What is it??? And more importantly, How do I get rid of them?
Debbie
Need help with pest problem.
Debbie;
Have you got a lot of rain lately? Or have you irrigated your garden often? Moist and wet condition is the welcoming mat for snails and slugs. They love it, and they will come to find tender young growths, and flower petal to munch on. Early in the morning is a good time to check for these pest. You can set out baits such as rolled up papers at night, and find them in the AM, and discarded them. Putting sand around your plants base also discourage these critters. I would try to avoid chemical, especially if you have pets. Try a shallow dish of beer, fruits ect as baits too. These work. Lot of time, drown these in a handful of salt also very effective. I however would avoid springling salts on my plants (some plants are not salt-tolerant). These also is a good time to check your roses for aphids. They are very small and is hard to find with the naked eyes. But they colonize in big cluster, they suck up the juices on tender growth. Early treatment is best. Good luck, and enjoy Spring.
I don't think this is slugs. The holes are very very tiny and perfectly round. Doesn't look like the slug damage I get on hostas anyway. But, I'll put slug bait out there too just in case.
LOL, I found aphids on a few rose buds yesterday too. I know how to deal with them, but I have no idea what could making the tiny hole in the clematis buds.
Aphids are also known to attack Clematis (Check under the leaves) ...Just put some plain ole flour in a pair of panty hose and dust the plant...same with roses...this will cover their wet bodies and suffocate them..it works...They are more rampant during Spring..if you don't use chemicals in your gardens then you'll have tons of their predators: the ladybugs...my garden is brimming with Ladybugs....Jeanne
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinder/clematis_25.asp
I'll try to pantyhose/flour trick, thanks Jeanne, my clems look fine, but my climbing rose "Blaze" has alot of aphids right now.
Cool! Ways too cool Jeanne, thanks for sharing this info. I've used plan soappy water to spray Aphids, and they worked as well, though too much on some species Roses, the leaves will burn and drop, but that's the only observable side effect. New leaves will grow back, but Aphids are dried up in no time. Their eggs hatched the next day, and I've to repeat the process.
I wished I've more lady bugs, I noticed a few of them. In years past. My pest control personnel would spray the outside of our property for general pest control. In early spring I found many ladybugs flew up to my sidings, and drop dead. This spring I warned them not to spray. They used grandules around the house's foundation instead. Still I haven't seen much lady bugs. Is there a way we can increase these benificial lady bugs in our garden?
Debbie; I don't know what's the cause of your "little holes" on your Clem. Look like a trip to the County Extension office is in order. Unless someone else has experience with the same problem, and willing to share how they combat this.
Slugs, aphids & earwigs (later in the Summer) are the main insects that plague Clematis vines. I like your flour suggestion, Jeanne, and see if that helps to smother them. Don't forget that after a rain storm, the flour would need to be reapplied. Also, you might want to try insecticidal soap FIRST because the soap will adhere to the leaves and then the fine dusting of flour would be able to stick better. Both the soap & the flour should suffocate those nasty bugs!
P.S. Beer and/or slug bait works well for those slimy critters.
Lily_love: Ladybugs and other beneficial insects can be purchased from Plants Alive and other organic gardening websites.
Thank you, Shirley1md, much needed info. I'll look in to that. Look as if Jeanne's flour and my soap team up nicely.
I've been researching and it looks like earwigs may be my unwanted critter. Will the soap and flower take care of those?
Debbie