Pest identification
What's eating my alexandria alpine strawberry?
Slugs and snails
Signs: Berries eaten at ground level, often hollowed out; seedlings and young crowns can be grazed overnight.
Control: Apply iron-phosphate slug pellets (wildlife-safe); use copper tape around containers; handpick at night; improve drainage to reduce slug habitat.
Vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)
Signs: C-shaped white grubs eat roots from late summer, causing sudden plant wilt and crown collapse; adults notch leaf edges at night.
Control: Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist soil in late August to September; use vine weevil killer compost for containers.
Birds (blackbirds, wood pigeons)
Signs: Small ripe berries pecked and removed; plants can also be scratched up while birds search for insects in the mulch.
Control: Drape fine bird netting or use a cloche over plants once fruiting begins; pin netting firmly to ground to block entry.
Keep alexandria alpine strawberry pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats wild strawberry — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What eats alexandria alpine strawberry — our other guide for the same plant
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common alexandria alpine strawberry problems & fixes
- Alexandria Alpine Strawberry watering schedule
- Alexandria Alpine Strawberry light requirements
- Full alexandria alpine strawberry care guide
Alexandria Alpine Strawberry pests — FAQ
What is eating my alexandria alpine strawberry?
Alexandria alpine strawberry draws slugs and snails to its low-growing fruit, birds pecking at the small berries, and vine weevil grubs attacking roots. Botrytis gray mold can ruin berries in wet spells. Slugs are the most persistent problem for this ground-hugging cultivar. Use iron-phosphate pellets, berry nets, and good air circulation around plants.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on alexandria alpine strawberry?
Berries eaten at ground level, often hollowed out; seedlings and young crowns can be grazed overnight. Apply iron-phosphate slug pellets (wildlife-safe); use copper tape around containers; handpick at night; improve drainage to reduce slug habitat.
How do I get rid of vine weevil (otiorhynchus sulcatus) on alexandria alpine strawberry?
C-shaped white grubs eat roots from late summer, causing sudden plant wilt and crown collapse; adults notch leaf edges at night. Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist soil in late August to September; use vine weevil killer compost for containers.
How do I get rid of birds (blackbirds, wood pigeons) on alexandria alpine strawberry?
Small ripe berries pecked and removed; plants can also be scratched up while birds search for insects in the mulch. Drape fine bird netting or use a cloche over plants once fruiting begins; pin netting firmly to ground to block entry.