Posted this on the annuals forum and should have cross posted here, doesn’t seem to be much activity over there. I rarely use geraniums (pelargonium) and petunias anymore because I always had problems with budworms by late summer. This year I thought I’d try again, and bought a lot of them for window boxes and patio planters. The patio already has a problem, window boxes still ok. I also have calibrachoa on the patio that is looking ratty. I didn’t know the budworms came out this early.

Now that I think about it, the containers that are having problems are the ones that had a couple of geraniums last years that didn’t do well. They may have overwintered. The containers that have completely fresh potting soil still look good.

I’m thinking I have to just rip these out and replace the soil completely. And use some sort of control on the other containers. I hate using chemicals but those buggers are almost impossible to see and pick off, and they are inside the buds. Any thoughts?