| Root weevils can ruin rhododendrons. The adults make notches on the margins of the leaves when they feed and the larvae feed on the roots of the plants. The adults hide in the soil beneath the shrub during the day and then climb up the stems and branches at night to feed. You can stop their pilgrimage by wrapping a barrier around the main trunk of your rhodie. Wrap a 4" wide strip of paper or plastic around the base of the trunk, then smear it with TangleFoot (a sticky substance made especially for trapping insects). TangleFoot is available in most garden centers and is relatively inexpensive. When the root weevils walk onto the barrier they will be permanently trapped. Continue to reapply TangleFoot and eventually you'll get rid of the entire population. |
