Rhododendrons are gorgeous additions to any garden or grounds . regrettably , they also pull in a host of pests that also appreciate them . If your rhododendron show harm , you might enquire what is wipe out them . We ’ve done the research to take you nine potential suspect .
Many insects and animals commonly feast on rhododendrons , including :
With all these possibility , you might marvel how to tell which pests are responsible for eating your rhododendrons . We call for you to read on as we describe each pest , explain how to know if they are your culprit and how to protect your plant from further wrong .
Pests That Eat Rhododendrons
A legion of insects and animals line up rhododendrons yummy enough to eat up . Luckily , each pest leave narrate - fib signs and can be prevent from make further damage .
1. Weevils
While many types of weevil consume rhododendron , the most vulgar is the black vine weevil . Weevil larvae feed on the root of the rhododendron plant life , while the grownup prefer the leave .
Michigan State University ’s Bob Bricaultexplains that if you see circular notch in the leaves , there is a pretty good chance that weevil are your perpetrator .
use insecticide to your rhododendrons a couple of weeks after you first commence to acknowledge the damage . Be sure that the insecticide you choose specifies that it ferment on weevils .
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nematode are a natural , chemical - barren alternative . Remove mulch , Rock , or gravel and apply them to your soil . However , you must wait until July to apply them because they will freeze and die if the conditions is n’t lovesome enough .
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2. Caterpillars
Washington State Universityidentifies cutworms , looper , and oblique banded leafrollers as vulgar caterpillars responsible for prejudicial rhododendrons . Caterpillars particularly enjoy the folio tissue paper of the rhododendron plant life .
Caterpillars run to eat leave by rend tumid , irregular - shaped piece from them . If you see this type of terms , your culprit is likely a cat . Caterpillars provender at night so they wo n’t be visible during the day .
For lowly infestations , you’re able to remove cat by bridge player or let them to be eaten by natural predator . For gravid infestations , however , you may want to expend a pesticide . Apply the pesticide as before long as you see caterpillars on your plant life .
Check out " How To Get Rid Of Caterpillars Without Killing Them"for non - calamitous methods .
3. Scale Insects
Though small , scale insect cause pregnant scathe to rhododendron plants . They are responsible for rhododendron scale disease and cause black fungus growth .
To an unskilled nurseryman , scale insects will look like growths on the plant . They submit as tan - colour disc - shaped lumps on the rhododendron ’s leaves and stem .
Like with caterpillars , a modest infestation can be absent individually . However , exfoliation insect need to be pried off .
To prevent or deal an infestation , utilise gardening oil spray . This should be done in former springiness for the best results .
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4. Spider Mites
wanderer speck will not suffer humans or animals but can stimulate extensive damage to works . They live together in colonies and can be scandalmongering , green , or reddish - brown .
Clemson College of Agriculture , Forestry , and Life Sciencesexplains that you will see spider hint on the bottom of your leaves . If your plague is severe , it will also be visible on the tops of the leave .
Like the other cuss we ’ve discussed so far , not see to it spider hint does not stand for they have n’t caused damage . folio drib , leaf stippling , or leafage bronzing are common signs that spider mites have visited your plants .
Insecticidal max , horticultural sprays , or pesticide will be your best course of action for getting rid of them . take a treatment specifically for spider mites , however , because many pesticides will also kill the spider mites ' natural predators .
lend oneself your treatment in the evenings but not within 24 hours of predicted rainfall . That agency , the treatment will take longer to dry out but will not be wash away by rain . Be sure to treat both sides of the parting .
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5. Lace Bugs
lacing hemipteran are whitish - tan with lace - patterned annexe . While they may have some beautiful features , their price to rhododendron design is anything but beautiful .
The Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbookexplains rhododendron leaves damaged by lace bugs will be yellowed and flecked on the top with tar - like spots on the bottom . You will notice the damage done by lace bug around early to mid - July .
Insecticide can be in effect in managing lace bugs . However , less invasive methods are also recommended . Hosing your plant ’s leaves down with water will help remove some insects hang around to banquet .
It is also important to keep your rhododendrons in good health , water them as often as they need , and provide them with the necessary food . The sound your works are , the advantageously able-bodied they are to fight off the damage done by pests .
6. Rhododendron Borer
Similar to the painting above , rhododendron borer larvae are yellowish - snowy with a reddish - brown header . The adult , on the other helping hand , have spicy or black-market abdomens highlighted by sensationalistic bands .
As their name suggests , they are a uncouth predator of the rhododendron plant . They also cause serious damage .
The Penn State Extensionwarns that even a clean plague of rhododendron borers can induce the plant to die . This is because they cause the leaves to turn yellow and then browned before wilting away .
You will also notice few blooms on your plants that have been invade , as well as scar on the plant ’s branches and sprig .
To keep the plague from unfold , snip aside portions of your rhododendrons that have been softly overrun . For heavy infestation , take away the plant entirely so the dirt ball can not relocate to neighboring plants .
Your line of defense is n’t just slay plants , however . you could take action to place and remove borers before the plague becomes too risky . To do so , place pheromone traps in your plants to lure and capture the rhododendron borers .
Once you ’ve found one of the rhododendron borers in your trap , you will sleep together that they are starting to become a trouble . use insecticide 7 - 10 Clarence Day later to take care of any other borers that have made their room to your plant .
7. Deer
While a server of worm enjoy eating rhododendrons , they are n’t the only ones . Deer particularly enjoy azalea and are more likely to eat your plant in the wintertime when other food is scarce .
Unlike insect , cervid and other animate being will not spend their time hang out in your plant . You will only get laid they were there if you ’ve ruled out insect , observe tracks , or overhear them in the number .
cervid direction relies more on prevention than getting rid of them after they ’ve come around . If you do n’t have a for finicky rhododendrons , you’re able to plant the Carolina or rosebay varieties since deer do n’t like them as much .
If you must have the rhododendrons that the deer prefer , you’re able to keep them away by planting plant to cloak their smell . Juniper , shrub rose , and candleberry are good alternative . you’re able to also install deer fencing or netting so they ca n’t access your plants .
Take a look atHow To Stop cervid From eat My Flowers ? [ 5 prove Tactics]for more ideas .
8. Rabbits
rabbit may not promptly spring to mind as possible perpetrator because all rhododendron multifariousness are poisonous to them . However , rabbits are still especially doting of seedling rosebay variety .
Like some of the insects we ’ve talk over , rabbits have a particular eating pattern that can help you watch if they are hold out after your rhododendrons . Virginia Techdescribes this approach pattern as clear - deletion and at an angle .
Remember , though , that rabbit are not potential to be the generator of equipment casualty if your rhododendron are not specifically the rosebay variety .
Rabbits are not fond of juniper bush , rosemary , currant , holly , or lavender , so implant these around your rhododendron will deter them . you’re able to also protect your plants by drape them in sack that rabbits will not be able to masticate through .
9. Squirrels
squirrel may also find their way to your rhododendron plants , peculiarly when there is nothing else available to eat . Since they stay for a short time and move cursorily , you ’ll have to rely on the evidence they leave to find out if they are a problem .
Squirrels opt the rhododendron ’s flowers , so a tell - tale sign that they ’ve been feast is a scattering of fall flowers around your plants . They may eat some of the leaves as well , but that would only occur if there were no peak available to eat .
The saying " you pick up more flies with honey than acetum " applies well to the management of squirrel in your rhododendrons . Squirrels wo n’t choose blossom if other foods are available , so the more effective way to keep them away is to sic up a squirrel self-feeder and keep it stocked .
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Summary
Prevention is always the first step in protecting your rhododendron from pests . Keep your plant life healthy and take steps to discourage pestilence from them before they even get a opportunity to visit .
If you are unfortunate enough to find some damage to your rhododendrons , do n’t panic ! There are plenty of options for managing pests once you place which one you are sell with .
