However in some places some of the new buds were still developing.

Having seen that there were still areas of the tree that were still struggling it was decided to investigate how the roots were. I did not want to carry out a total re-pot as such so elected to investigate the condition of the roots around the perimeter of the pot by carefully removing a strip of compost around 50mm wide exposing the roots.

Most of the roots exposed were older darker coloured roots rather than the young white fleshy roots one normally gets. During the course of removing the compost a lot of vine weevil grubs were found, at various stages of development from very young brownish coloured juveniles to the usual white grubs and also some that were starting to pupate ready to turn into adult beetles. All those that were found were removed and dealt with.

Detail view of vine weevils as they were uncovered in the compost, the one on the left in the picture has started to pupate