Viburnam Recovery, I hope...

it is determined to survive isn't it? keep up with the garlic spray.

Keeping fingers crossed, there’s life in that viburnum yet.

Well, there’s a happy ending! I’ve yet to encounter this dreaded beetle. May it remain south of the Pentland Hills!

Just joined to answer this, I had the same problem but found you need to drench the soil as far out as beyond the edge of leaves, all around the roots as they seem to overwinter in the soil/gravel etc, I used provado, I do not like chemicals but I did it as soon as the weather warmed a little. I sprayed the bush as well as soon as flowers died,under the leaves as well. They have not returned as yet, and that was a few years ago,

I find cutting to the ground often results in regeneration. Also some unwanted shrubs I thought I had dug out completely regrew from a missed bit of root.

I'm happy for you Lincs it's always sad to lose any plant especially one holding memories , lets hope it grows big and strong just like your granddaughter ...

There is lots of the Viburnum Beetle around here, a shopping centre nearby had been planted up with dozens of these shrubs, but miniature ones that hardly reach knee high, but the beetles have chewed every single leaf leaving half moon notches in every single one! The plants continue to "exist" more than grow & I think they produce some flowers. As it's not a place we visit frequently I'm not sure.

back in November a new B&M store opened there & our grandkids waned tosee it. They knew of a B&M store in another town nearby but thought we could visit here more frequently. So we have been up a number of times to visit it with them but as we have been in the depths of winter I haven't had much opportunity to get a good look at them.

There is a bigger one planted close to the entrance of the church I attend but that one doesn't seem to suffer nearly as badly & flowers profusely all winter! :)

Thankyou for all your comments, the one we lost from the front garden was The Snowball variety, I still have one in the back garden, when it was attacked the leaves looked like lace and all ended up like skeletons, it only took a couple of days for that to happen, pleased to say it didn't lose its leaves last year and did produce flowers for me, was affected by Blackfly, I will continue to drench that one as well....

I've a different problem. My V. Tinus is about six feet tall but suffers from occasional die back of complete branches. I cut off the dead branches but it doesn't regenerate.

What a lovely surprise for you it looks healthy the new growth.

Stera I also had that happen many years ago, ended up cutting all the branches off one side of the bush, after a few years it did take on a better shape, don't know what caused that either, our plants/shrubs certainly like to keep us on our toes..

Thankyou Threepence, hope you are keeping well..

Just found this blog Sue after looking at your latest blog to find out about your viburnham.
I am pleased it survived and I have never heard of garlic being a cure. As there is a huge viburnham in our new garden, I will make a note of that incase it happens to that one!

Rose I tried everything I could find, some of which were quite expensive, they did absolutely nothing, I've been using my garlic mix on my roses for a few years now, started after watching a programme about the queens gardens, I figured if it was good enough for our queen then its good enough for me, douching my viburnams was my last resort, wish I'd used it first but we live and learn don't we, lol...

Can you buy this spray Sue or is it your own mix?

You can buy it Rose but I make my own, 2-3 garlic cloves chopped or crushed, approx. 4pts boiling water dash of washing up liquid, some people use neem oil, mix together and leave overnight to cool, then transfer into your spray or as in my case the watering can as for the viburnam I wanted to make sure it was well into the ground onto the roots, I do use the spray on my roses.....Oh nearly forgot, pour it through a sieve or muslin cloth before you pour it into your spray......There's lots of homemade remedies online Rose...

I'm playing catch up and found the garlic recipe interesting. I have put this in favourites as I grow a few different viburnums and find personal recommendations to problem solving helpful. Like Karen I hope the V. beetle stays away. The recovering bush looks great. I am pleased you managed to save it because memories are really what gardening is all about.