What's eating my edging lobelia?

Edging lobelia (Lobelia erinus) is most frequently attacked by aphids, which colonise soft trailing shoots and flower stems. Slugs and snails target seedlings and young transplants. In containers, vine weevil grubs can destroy the root system. Rabbits occasionally nip off low-growing clumps in border plantings.

Dense colonies on tender shoot tips and flower stems; honeydew, leaf curl, and reduced flowering. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; use water jet to knock off colonies; plant with pollinator-attracting companions to bring in ladybugs.

Seedlings and young transplants eaten at soil level; holes in lower leaves; silver slime trails visible. Use iron phosphate pellets; start seed under cover and transplant at a larger size; use grit mulch around containers.

C-shaped cream grubs eat roots in pots and hanging baskets, causing sudden wilting and plant death. Apply pathogenic nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer; repot annually to check for grubs.