Holes in my dirt?

Ml_work · 05-19-2009, 12:17 AM

Today when I was watering I saw 4 or 5 holes bored into the soil in my JBP. They were up close to the trunk and out in the main root ball, the soil drys out there first. They were about the size of a pencil but not deep. I pushed a chopstick in them, nothing came out. What kind of critter would do this and how do I send them on their way?

Thanks,
Michael

Dav4 · 05-19-2009, 07:25 AM

Birds, perhaps. If it continues, give us a pic to look at.

Dave

larke · 05-19-2009, 08:38 AM

Your best bet is to get the trees into a proper grit/gravel mix - worms or bugs don't generally thrive in that. As long as you have "soil", you're bound to run into critters.

philgrayser · 05-19-2009, 09:47 AM

The holes could be caused by the Larvae (leatherjacket) of a Crane fly (Daddy long legs). The larvae usually eats vegatation (roots). it lives in soil and when it pupates into an adult cranefly it digs itself out and flies away. If you see a hole its because the 'beastie' has flown from it earthly home and should cause no more problems. Cheers phil G.

shrimpy · 05-20-2009, 07:20 AM

Hi Michael
You don't happen to have a friend with a sence of humour do you?

A mate of mine thought he would have some fun at my expense once.
He made some well placed holes in the soil of one of my bonsai, after a few days of asking around if anyone knew what had made the holes I thought I would as my mate his opinion was wire worm them he produced the peice of wire he had used.

Shrimpy

Ml_work · 05-21-2009, 11:27 PM

Thanks for the replies to all. I don't think it was birds but we do have all kinds around here. The "soil" is bonsai mix that the pine came in from Brussels back in Oct of this year. But the holes were not out in the loose bonsai soil, they were in the original root ball, which I can tell is not the same. I did fill in the hole and they have not opened back up. Maybe it was something that hatched and is gone. As for a friend messing with me, no one comes out here where I live. If the holes come back I will get a pic to see what you think.
Thanks,
ML

05-19-2009, 12:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ml_work Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 277	Holes in my dirt? Today when I was watering I saw 4 or 5 holes bored into the soil in my JBP. They were up close to the trunk and out in the main root ball, the soil drys out there first. They were about the size of a pencil but not deep. I pushed a chopstick in them, nothing came out. What kind of critter would do this and how do I send them on their way? Thanks, Michael

05-20-2009, 07:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
shrimpy Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Waikato, NZ Posts: 110	Hi Michael You don't happen to have a friend with a sence of humour do you? A mate of mine thought he would have some fun at my expense once. He made some well placed holes in the soil of one of my bonsai, after a few days of asking around if anyone knew what had made the holes I thought I would as my mate his opinion was wire worm them he produced the peice of wire he had used. Shrimpy __________________ If a man is alone working on his Bonsai and he speaks and there is no women to hear him. is he still wrong ??? Never ever believe anything, Until it has been officially denied:

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-19-2009, 07:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dav4 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: SE Massachusetts Posts: 93	Birds, perhaps. If it continues, give us a pic to look at. Dave

05-19-2009, 08:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
larke Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Tiny town beside the ocean, Z6 Posts: 6	Your best bet is to get the trees into a proper grit/gravel mix - worms or bugs don't generally thrive in that. As long as you have "soil", you're bound to run into critters.

05-19-2009, 09:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
philgrayser philgrayser Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 120	The holes could be caused by the Larvae (leatherjacket) of a Crane fly (Daddy long legs). The larvae usually eats vegatation (roots). it lives in soil and when it pupates into an adult cranefly it digs itself out and flies away. If you see a hole its because the 'beastie' has flown from it earthly home and should cause no more problems. Cheers phil G.

05-21-2009, 11:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ml_work Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 277	Thanks for the replies to all. I don't think it was birds but we do have all kinds around here. The "soil" is bonsai mix that the pine came in from Brussels back in Oct of this year. But the holes were not out in the loose bonsai soil, they were in the original root ball, which I can tell is not the same. I did fill in the hole and they have not opened back up. Maybe it was something that hatched and is gone. As for a friend messing with me, no one comes out here where I live. If the holes come back I will get a pic to see what you think. Thanks, ML

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)