Weevil proof plants

Klink

I'm thinking ahead here. I'm hoping to have a lot more plants (flowers/shrubs) in containers in my garden this year. So far i seem to have lost most of the plants i've grown to weevils,particularly the Heucheras i've had in pots.They've looked healthy right up until the leaves have been blown off the pot and revealed the total lack of roots!

Can anyone suggest plants that might be grub proof and/or ways to deter the little devils?

Klink

Yeah i have heucheras in the ground which are fine. I've had a couple of other plants eaten,one being a rhodadendron that i really liked. I'll try the mulch and see how that goes. Thanks @philippasmith2

Allotment Boy

Many plants suffer from vine weevil in pots.  In open ground most shrubs fare better.  For all situations the specific nematodes are effective if used diligently. 

Palustris

Never seen any grubs on Dianthus, but others may have.

A mulch of fine grit at least an inch deep does stop the adult laying eggs.

Fairygirl

I'd agree with @Palustris - I have weevils  here and dianthus are never touched. Most of mine are in pots. Grit is the best deterrent for egg laying. Heucheras are particularly attractive to them, for some reason. 

I've had Hebes in pots in several gardens. They never get bothered. 
I wouldn't recommend putting rhodos in pots anyway, as they won't thrive, and that just makes them more susceptible. Potted plants which might be a target will always suffer more than they would in the ground. 
I've had a Sarcococca in a pot for ages and it's also fine. Phormiums and Libertias [and many other grasses] would also be fine if you like those. Hellebores too. 

Klink

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll put more grit on my shopping list

The rhodadendron was waiting to be put in the ground where i've removed my large wildlife pond and put in a smaller one to give more space for planting. Unfortunately it didn't make it 

Another year,another opportunity 

Fairygirl

I think many of the 'daisy' plants might be ok. Rudbeckias, Leucanthemums, Heleniums etc. The only difficulty is that they tend to be quite tall, so it depends what else you had with them. 
If you group other shrubs which are more rounded - like the Hebes, it would work though. Annuals as well as perennials can be slotted in.
I grew some Ammi last year, and used those with groups of pots. There was a pot of sweet peas there in summer, and a Ligularia earlier in the year. This pic was taken in November.
I'll have spring bulbs etc to replace some of those. One of the pots is at the back of those.
The native primulas flower on and off year round, so I just move those in and out as it suits, and I always have a few bits of alpines etc to slot in. The native prims get weevil damage, but they're pretty indestructible. 

Klink

Looks good @Fairygirl . I've ordered a few,well quite a lot really, of dahlia tubers.Some for the garden and allotment and some for pots. I'm wondering if they'll be okay or are weevil  meal tickets.. I've never grown them before 

Fairygirl

Not sure - I haven't grown them for a while, although I considered getting some for this year. I can't remember if they were ever affected, and I would  grow in pots as they certainly couldn't stay in the ground here, and I can't be a*sed lifting stuff 

Klink

I can relate to that. It may be the first and last time i grow them!

TheGreenMan

I’ve put grit in every pot I have this last year so we’ll see if the number of adult weevils is reduced this coming spring and summer. I definitely noticed more walking around the yard so perhaps they were on the hunt for grit-less pots....