What's eating my pelargonium 'deacon fireball'?

Pelargonium 'Deacon Fireball', a double-flowered miniature zonal geranium, is primarily threatened by aphids in its dense foliage and vine weevil grubs in containers. Geranium sawfly can skeletonise leaves in summer. Botrytis (grey mould) in spent double flowers can worsen if soft-bodied pest damage is left unchecked.

Sticky, curled shoot tips; insects sheltering in the dense compact growth; sooty mould on leaves. Spray with insecticidal soap or dilute neem oil, ensuring coverage inside the compact canopy; repeat weekly.

Sudden collapse of stems; cream-coloured grubs destroying roots found in compost when plant is removed. Drench with Steinernema kraussei nematodes in late summer; treat preventively at potting time.

Skeletonised or lacy-looking leaves from larvae feeding from the underside. Hand-pick larvae; apply pyrethrum or spinosad spray; inspect weekly from late May to August.