What's eating my pelargonium peltatum 'sofie cascade'?

Pelargonium peltatum 'Sofie Cascade', a trailing ivy-leaved geranium, is most commonly damaged by vine weevil grubs eating the roots in containers and aphids attacking shoot tips. Geranium sawfly larvae can cause visible leaf skeletonising in summer, and whitefly may build up in sheltered spots.

Plants collapse despite watering; pale grubs found destroying roots in basket or container compost. Drench compost with Steinernema kraussei nematodes in late summer; use preventive vine weevil compost treatment at planting.

Distorted, sticky new growth; colonies of small insects on shoot tips; sooty mould follows. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat weekly; pinch out and dispose of the worst-affected tips.

Leaves skeletonised or with window-pane damage from larvae feeding on the underside. Hand-pick larvae; apply pyrethrum or spinosad spray; inspect undersides of leaves from late spring onward.