Pest identification
What's eating my geranium maculatum?
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged holes in young leaves and soft stems in spring and after rain; slime trails on foliage and soil surface.
Control: Hand-pick at night; apply iron phosphate pellets (safe around pets and wildlife); avoid heavy mulch directly around crowns.
Vine weevil
Signs: Root feeding by larvae causes stunted or collapsing plants; adult beetle notching visible on outer leaf edges.
Control: Apply Steinernema kraussei nematodes to damp soil in late summer; remove and destroy larvae found when dividing or repotting.
Deer
Signs: Stems and leaves browsed close to the ground, often in spring or early summer; damage can be severe in gardens bordering woodland.
Control: Install deer fencing around vulnerable beds; apply deer-repellent spray to foliage; plant among deer-resistant neighbours to reduce attractiveness.
Keep geranium maculatum pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Geranium maculatum pests — FAQ
What is eating my geranium maculatum?
Geranium maculatum (wild cranesbill) is a North American woodland perennial largely free of serious pests. Slugs target emerging growth in spring, vine weevil can attack roots (especially in containers), and deer will browse the foliage in areas where deer pressure is high. Slugs cause the most consistent damage in UK and US gardens.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on geranium maculatum?
Ragged holes in young leaves and soft stems in spring and after rain; slime trails on foliage and soil surface. Hand-pick at night; apply iron phosphate pellets (safe around pets and wildlife); avoid heavy mulch directly around crowns.
How do I get rid of vine weevil on geranium maculatum?
Root feeding by larvae causes stunted or collapsing plants; adult beetle notching visible on outer leaf edges. Apply Steinernema kraussei nematodes to damp soil in late summer; remove and destroy larvae found when dividing or repotting.
How do I get rid of deer on geranium maculatum?
Stems and leaves browsed close to the ground, often in spring or early summer; damage can be severe in gardens bordering woodland. Install deer fencing around vulnerable beds; apply deer-repellent spray to foliage; plant among deer-resistant neighbours to reduce attractiveness.