Pest identification
What's eating my acer palmatum 'garnet'?
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on emerging shoot tips; honeydew drips onto lower foliage producing black sooty mould; leaf curl
Control: Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; wash off with water; avoid high-nitrogen feeds that produce lush aphid-attracting growth
Vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)
Signs: White grubs devour roots of container plants; adults leave U-shaped notches in leaf margins
Control: Drench compost with pathogenic nematodes in late summer; check and refresh compost annually
Scale insects
Signs: Oval brown or grey scales on bark; weakened stems; honeydew and sooty mould
Control: Rub off with damp cloth; apply horticultural oil in late winter when dormant
Keep acer palmatum 'garnet' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Acer palmatum 'Garnet' pests — FAQ
What is eating my acer palmatum 'garnet'?
Acer palmatum 'Garnet' is most troubled by aphids feeding on shoot tips in spring, causing honeydew and sooty mould on the delicate foliage. Vine weevil grubs damage roots in pots. Scale insects can encrust stems. Aphids are the most common problem — inspect buds as they break and treat early with insecticidal soap.
How do I get rid of aphids on acer palmatum 'garnet'?
Colonies on emerging shoot tips; honeydew drips onto lower foliage producing black sooty mould; leaf curl Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; wash off with water; avoid high-nitrogen feeds that produce lush aphid-attracting growth
How do I get rid of vine weevil (otiorhynchus sulcatus) on acer palmatum 'garnet'?
White grubs devour roots of container plants; adults leave U-shaped notches in leaf margins Drench compost with pathogenic nematodes in late summer; check and refresh compost annually
How do I get rid of scale insects on acer palmatum 'garnet'?
Oval brown or grey scales on bark; weakened stems; honeydew and sooty mould Rub off with damp cloth; apply horticultural oil in late winter when dormant