Marianne's Response

Lily of the Valley didn’t bloom this year.

I live in Northern Wisconsin. I have had Lily of the Valley for years. They are spreading and have bloomed every year. But this year, I noticed the leaves looked jaggedly chewed off (just the top inch of each plant). I first thought maybe deer? But no. Did not have one single flower. The back of the leaves have a small web and very tiny moving bugs. Almost can’t see them. What are they? And how do I get rid of them? And will this hurt my planting of Lily’s of the Valley? Do I have to find an insecticide? Or if I check off this year, will they just be gone next year? Maybe it was a poor weather year? Never have had a bug on these plants. They always flowered profusely and now I am worried about losing the whole bed. I would like to hear your opinion on this problem. Thank you, Linda

Posted by Linda Wagner on June 22, 2020

Marianne's Response

First let me assume you mean the bulb lily of the valley, not the shrub that is Pieris but also called lily of the valley. This bulb can be eaten by rabbits and other animals as well as deer and jagged leaves suggest rabbits. I do  think the webbing and small bugs are spider mites. This would cause yellowing leaves but not jagged top growth removed. Spider mites infest dry or sickly plants but a blast of water from the hose every day for at least a week is an easy way to control them by breaking up the webs. The main reason this tough bulb will not bloom is damage to the foliage as the leaves make next year's flower buds. I suggest that after you take care of the mites (you can also spray an insecticidal soap to control mites) you add some Osmocote fertilizer  around the bulbs then cover with a half inch layer of compost or dairy manure mulch. This will slowly feed the remaining foliage to give you a good chance of flowers next year. Keep your eye out for early spring rabbits grazing and I predict you'll have plenty of fragrant blooms next spring. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti