What's eating my rustica rubra magnolia?

Rustica Rubra magnolia is most troubled by vine weevil notching leaves and damaging roots, and by horse chestnut scale on stems. Aphids colonise new shoots and slugs can damage young plants at ground level. Magnolias generally have few serious insect pests; healthy growing conditions are the best defence.

Characteristic U-shaped notches along leaf margins from adult beetles; grubs eat roots and bark of young plants Apply Steinernema kraussei nematodes to moist soil in late summer; use vine weevil traps for adults

Fluffy white egg masses and brown scale insects on bark of stems in late spring Spray with horticultural oil in late winter to smother overwintering scales; physical removal from small stems

Colonies on young shoot tips causing distortion and sticky honeydew with secondary sooty mould Insecticidal soap spray or neem oil on affected shoots; encourage ladybirds and hoverflies