[Agatha]

Can someone please advise me?

I have major vine weevil trouble in my pots, can't afford to replace all the soil and can't use chemicals on edibles (don't really like doing this anyway).  I have two catalogues advertising nematodes for vine weevils; one (Marshalls) says it will send from spring through to autumn and the other says it only sends in spring and autumn as it doesn't work well over summer, and I have missed the spring application time.

My question is, has anyone used it at this time of year and is it effective?  I really don't want to have to wait till autumn to deal with it but don't want to spend lots on a treatment that won't work at this time of year. 

Thanks!

[Auntiemogs]

Will be reading this with interest Agapanthus as I've got problems with them too.    Luckily, I managed to treat any edibles earlier in the year (non-edibles were chemically treated). 

I think that they are laying eggs during the summer, so until they hatch, there is no point applying nematodes. All we can do for now is to do the nightly check with a torch and nab as many as possible before they get the chance.

This is useful reading...
http://www.defenders.co.uk/pest-problems/vine-weevil.html

Going to stay on top of it this year in the hope that I'll get shot of them...

[New shoot]

I worked at a garden centre where vine weevil started to be problem.  It arrived via neighbouring gardens and took up residence in the wind break hedging round the site.

We were advised to apply nematodes April and May, then again August and September, plus do a full spray for the adults in April. 

This strategy was devised by an adviser from the HTA (Horticulural Trades Association). The theory was with the nematodes is that you catch the overwintered grubs that pupate in the spring, the spray did for any adults hanging around and then the second dose of nematodes caught all the end of season grubs so they didn't get a chance to overwinter and cause problems the following year. 

If you haven't done the spring treatment and have grubs in pots, the nematodes will work now.  Its also worth treating any non-edibles showing notched leaf damage with a chemical treatment to knock the adults back.  if you have none, it may be worth getting a plant to dose as a lure.  Laurel is a favourite and a small hedging plant would be cheap to buy 

[Auntiemogs]

Do you know what the spray was NewS?  Took my old decking up a couple of weeks ago and it looked like a snowstorm of tiny (smaller than a pin head) white eggs. Not sure if they were weevil eggs but if there's a spray available I might give the place a good going over this year...

[New shoot]

The spray was one not available to the retail market    The best treatments available to the home gardener are Provado Ultimate Bug Killer as a foliar spray or Provado Vine Weevil Killer as a root drench for plants in containers.

I don't think the eggs you found under your decking are likely to be vine weevil, as they lay theirs in soil next to plant roots, but ant powder is a good all round bug killer for crawling insects, in areas where you don't have plants 

[Agatha]

Thanks for this advice.  I do have grubs in the pots now, so will treat them asap.  My nectarine & fig have some really good fruits developing and I don't want anything to spoil their chances of cropping well.