Question From: Saratoga Springs, New York, United States
Q: I can pull the wilted stems right out of my balloon flowers and there isn't roots on the stems. Can you help, I just put down grub stuff.
A: Hopefully you did a little digging in the soil. Here's a website that tracks the life of grubs in the soil in New York. http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/publications/grubs/files/grubs.pdf . Grubs aren't usually a problem in perennial beds. The Japanese beetles and chafers prefer to lay eggs in short damp grass. If the stems were cut off at the base, cut worms sound like the culprit. Voles will also dine on roots. Dig the roots of affected plants and see what you can find. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy
