My snowball bush has been eaten!!

14 years ago

My snowball bush is quite large - approx. 7' high and the same wide. Last year and again this year, something has eaten the leaves until they are like lace. I did see some tiny black worms/caterpillars on the backs of the leaves. The bush is now quite unsightly and we were thinking of cutting it back to about a foot from the ground. My questions are - if we do this - when is the proper time to do it? and will it grow back again? Most importantly - what would we use to spray it with next year if it gets attacked again? Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Judy

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Comments (2)

ianna
14 years ago
Unfortunately snowballs are problematic in this way. They are susceptible to a number of bugs including caterpillars and beetles. It does do well to pruning but I don't know how it will be after a hard pruning.

Perhaps to combat the problem, you should try using neem oil or pyrethium based insecticides.

Ianna
thistle
14 years ago
what you have is Viburnum Beetle.I believe the larvae overwinter in the ends of the stems. I spray mine with dormant oil/sulpher in early Spring.This year was particularly bad for some reason and I had to do a follow up treatment with Bug Be Gone which is still available for use in Canada .My Shrubs are huge,but I have managed to keep the Beetles at bay for another year.So far so good and the Shrubs look wonderful.
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