What's eating my geum 'prinses juliana'?

Geum 'Prinses Juliana', a semi-double orange cultivar, is susceptible to geum sawfly larvae above all else, plus aphids and slugs. Like all Geums in the rose family, its foliage is attractive to sawfly from late spring. Overall the plant is resilient; prompt detection keeps damage cosmetic rather than serious.

Larvae (pale green, spined) devour leaf tissue, leaving only veins in severe cases; active late May to late June, one generation per year. Check crowns from mid-May for egg masses; hand-pick larvae promptly. Support ground beetles and birds that prey on larvae. Soil nematodes reduce next-year populations.

Clusters on young stems distort and weaken new growth; honeydew deposits attract ants and sooty mould. High-pressure water spray dislodges colonies; insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil as a follow-up. Avoid nitrogen-heavy feeds that promote the soft growth aphids prefer.

Irregular holes in foliage and shredded young flower stems in wet spring conditions. Apply ferric phosphate granules around crowns in early spring. Encourage hedgehogs and ground beetles. Hand-collect on damp evenings.