Pest identification
What's eating my geranium sylvaticum 'mayflower'?
Vine weevil
Signs: Cream larvae destroy roots and crowns, causing collapse; adults create distinctive scalloped notches around leaf edges at night.
Control: Drench soil with pathogenic nematodes in late summer; inspect root zone when dividing clumps and destroy any grubs found.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Holes chewed through new leaves in damp conditions; slimy deposits on and around plants overnight.
Control: Remove by hand at night; apply ferric phosphate slug pellets; place grit or gravel mulch around crowns to deter movement.
Aphids
Signs: Small soft colonies on new shoot tips in spring; slight leaf curl and sticky residue on stems and lower leaves.
Control: Pinch off affected tips; spray with insecticidal soap; allow natural predators (ladybirds, hoverfly larvae) to establish before intervening.
Keep geranium sylvaticum 'mayflower' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats geranium sylvaticum — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common geranium sylvaticum 'mayflower' problems & fixes
- Geranium sylvaticum 'Mayflower' watering schedule
- Geranium sylvaticum 'Mayflower' light requirements
- Full geranium sylvaticum 'mayflower' care guide
Geranium sylvaticum 'Mayflower' pests — FAQ
What is eating my geranium sylvaticum 'mayflower'?
Geranium sylvaticum 'Mayflower' shares the tough constitution of the species and rarely suffers serious pest damage. Vine weevil, slugs, and occasional aphid clusters are the main threats. Rabbits will graze young foliage in spring. Overall this cultivar is one of the easier garden perennials to keep clean.
How do I get rid of vine weevil on geranium sylvaticum 'mayflower'?
Cream larvae destroy roots and crowns, causing collapse; adults create distinctive scalloped notches around leaf edges at night. Drench soil with pathogenic nematodes in late summer; inspect root zone when dividing clumps and destroy any grubs found.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on geranium sylvaticum 'mayflower'?
Holes chewed through new leaves in damp conditions; slimy deposits on and around plants overnight. Remove by hand at night; apply ferric phosphate slug pellets; place grit or gravel mulch around crowns to deter movement.
How do I get rid of aphids on geranium sylvaticum 'mayflower'?
Small soft colonies on new shoot tips in spring; slight leaf curl and sticky residue on stems and lower leaves. Pinch off affected tips; spray with insecticidal soap; allow natural predators (ladybirds, hoverfly larvae) to establish before intervening.