I cut the Davidii down, all dead tissue, so I dug it up. It had a long taproot but look what's gone on with the (or I should say, "lack of the " ) feeder roots. I've tried over and over to post a photo and @Frank it keeps giving me a message that " the uploaded file does not have an allowed extension" !! Never had this issue until now !! So, I'll try a photo from the web. This is what I had on all three Buddleias but it was an even thicker clump with way less feeder roots. What do you think? Root knot nematodes is what it looks like to me !!
Anniekay … I don’t know what is going on there. I looked that pic up and it came back with a different ID see pic . Who knew ginseng was in the ivy family. Learned somethin new…
I got that pic off the web after googling "free photo of root knot nematode damage to shrub roots". I'm pretty sure that this is what caused my buddleias to die. My ground has them in spades. That is interesting that ginseng is in the ivy family.
Oh Ok I see… I thought that was the example of what your buddliea roots looked like. Many buds are extremely susceptible to nematodes in the southern areas especially warm temps areas. My bad… plants are so mysterious at times. Especially some of the newer hybrids… We have jumping worms… I found some the other day , now another bugaboo to estimate .
Yep - I've never had trouble with those. I reckon it doesn't get hot enough here, and Zigs reckons we could actually still be in the ice age - the warmer bursts being something he calls inter glacial periods ... When I googled those root nematodes, among other things to do was to burn those roots, and plant lots of marigolds - they don't like those!
I was googling how to ward them off and the University of Florida Externsion agency says that they hate alfalfa !! They say you can add alfalfa pellets or alfalfa cubes to the soil and that will keep them away. I used alfalfa hay on my raised beds this year and I can get lots of it, though it's no longer cheap. Whatever works is good !!
If that's what they look like, I think you are right. Root knot nematodes are a scourge. Also pretty common in some areas. Some people plant "nemagon" marigolds as a cover crop to reduce the nematode populations. Another choice is nemagone mustard as a green manure crop. What is a mystery to me is why your buddleias are affected, but nothing else is.
When I first gardened here in 2021, I didn't have raised beds for my tomatoes and they all got the nematodes. They don't bother anything else in the yard but I do believe the two roses I have difficulties with have them as some roses are affected by them to a degree. I'm just not going to grow Buddleias any longer is all.
I was researching and Ammi Majus, Bishops flower, is 100% effective againt juvenile root knot nematodes at 10% added to the soil !! I'm definitely growing it next year and gonna incorporate it in the soil.
We have a lot of Queen Ann’s lace here that spreads seeds everywhere. They are a pretty flower and loaded with seeds. I have a different effect with it in the pastures because it’s poisonous to the horses, it’s considered a noxious weed for livestock. I am very happy it will help eliminate nematodes for your garden area. It’s also deer and rabbit proof. I have family in Florida and they have a terrible time with Nematodes.. and finally grow roses and other fav plants in pots to protect them from nematodes.
I have no issues with the RKN with my knockout roses, ramblers and climbers. It's the florabundas, polyanthas and tea roses they like to kill. If the Ammi gets too out of hand I can just hoe it up when it sprouts just like I do with zinnia and morning glory seed. Since it's warm here, they self seed like crazy !!
Anniekay I can’t imagine how great it would be to have zinnias self seed here. They are an annual here and a fav summer bloom in the garden. If it’s not too hot this up coming summer I may plant some . We are limited to water in hot summers as our water table drops in drought years and the water system is a well 250’ deep. I’m up 750’ above sea level in the northwestern foothills of Oregon where we experience snow and ice storms in winters. We do have wild morning glory, and other wild flowers that are a real problem here to.
In 5th grade there was a kid in my class looked exactly like Alfalfa !! Dirty all the time, wore a dirty suit and tie three sizes too small. Black hair, freckles and a great big cowlick at the back of his head !! His last name was Simpson but we referred to him as "Stinkson" !! He got a crush on me and walking home from school one day, he asked my mother if he could kiss me !! I took off running !! My mother started giggling and said: '"If you can catch her. " He never did catch me. Chased me 5 blocks to my house and never made it to the door !!
