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#1
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What could be eating my pansies?
Location: Central North Carolina
I have several beds of pansies which are being nibbled by some critter. Within a couple of days of initial planting, all the blossoms were gone and signs of the tips of the leaves being chewed were evident. About 50% of the plants were replaced and sprayed with a repellent which is supposed to be effective for rabbits and deer (the latter unlikely in this neighborhood) but the same thing happened to the replacements. The plants aren't chewed down to the ground immediately but bit-by-bit over the space of a couple of weeks. I'd heard about a soil fungus which can attack pansies, so I covered one bed with 0.5 inch mesh net supported on poles. That one bed is in much better shape than the others, which are by now chewed down almost to the ground. I look out at the beds several times each day but never see any critters about, not even birds on the ground. (I've got a couple of potted sedums which were gradually pecked away by birds over the summer.) Any ideas? Regards, Charles Sullivan |
#2
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Charles Sullivan expounded:
Location: Central North Carolina I have several beds of pansies which are being nibbled by some critter. Within a couple of days of initial planting, all the blossoms were gone and signs of the tips of the leaves being chewed were evident. Sounds like a small animal, perhaps a bunny. About 50% of the plants were replaced and sprayed with a repellent which is supposed to be effective for rabbits and deer (the latter unlikely in this neighborhood) but the same thing happened to the replacements. The plants aren't chewed down to the ground immediately but bit-by-bit over the space of a couple of weeks. I'd heard about a soil fungus which can attack pansies, so I covered one bed with 0.5 inch mesh net supported on poles. That one bed is in much better shape than the others, which are by now chewed down almost to the ground. Soil fungus don't have teeth ;- I look out at the beds several times each day but never see any critters about, not even birds on the ground. (I've got a couple of potted sedums which were gradually pecked away by birds over the summer.) Get a dog. Seriously, it sounds like some small animal is munching. The repellant must be replaced every time you either water or it rains. -- Ann, gardening in Zone 6a South of Boston, Massachusetts e-mail address is not checked ****************************** |
#3
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It's too early in the year for catapillars. How about slugs? After
it gets good and dark go out with a flashlight and check your plants and see if there are any critters having a banquet. zhan |
#4
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Rabbits, deer, goats, whatever herbivores you have in your area.
You can be sure all the wild critters are very hungry this time of year and they won't stick around when you are looking for them. Put chicken wire cages over your plants. "Charles Sullivan" wrote in message news Location: Central North Carolina I have several beds of pansies which are being nibbled by some critter. Within a couple of days of initial planting, all the blossoms were gone and signs of the tips of the leaves being chewed were evident. About 50% of the plants were replaced and sprayed with a repellent which is supposed to be effective for rabbits and deer (the latter unlikely in this neighborhood) but the same thing happened to the replacements. The plants aren't chewed down to the ground immediately but bit-by-bit over the space of a couple of weeks. I'd heard about a soil fungus which can attack pansies, so I covered one bed with 0.5 inch mesh net supported on poles. That one bed is in much better shape than the others, which are by now chewed down almost to the ground. I look out at the beds several times each day but never see any critters about, not even birds on the ground. (I've got a couple of potted sedums which were gradually pecked away by birds over the summer.) Any ideas? Regards, Charles Sullivan |
#5
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sounds like slugs to me,
try the usual Sluggo, diatomaceous earth, beer traps. Sue Western Maine "Charles Sullivan" wrote in message news Location: Central North Carolina I have several beds of pansies which are being nibbled by some critter. Within a couple of days of initial planting, all the blossoms were gone and signs of the tips of the leaves being chewed were evident. About 50% of the plants were replaced and sprayed with a repellent which is supposed to be effective for rabbits and deer (the latter unlikely in this neighborhood) but the same thing happened to the replacements. The plants aren't chewed down to the ground immediately but bit-by-bit over the space of a couple of weeks. I'd heard about a soil fungus which can attack pansies, so I covered one bed with 0.5 inch mesh net supported on poles. That one bed is in much better shape than the others, which are by now chewed down almost to the ground. I look out at the beds several times each day but never see any critters about, not even birds on the ground. (I've got a couple of potted sedums which were gradually pecked away by birds over the summer.) Any ideas? Regards, Charles Sullivan |
#6
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What exactly do slugs sound like?
Do they emit some sort of ear splitting shriek when they feed? "sue and dave" wrote in message ... sounds like slugs to me, try the usual Sluggo, diatomaceous earth, beer traps. Sue Western Maine "Charles Sullivan" wrote in message news Location: Central North Carolina I have several beds of pansies which are being nibbled by some critter. Within a couple of days of initial planting, all the blossoms were gone and signs of the tips of the leaves being chewed were evident. About 50% of the plants were replaced and sprayed with a repellent which is supposed to be effective for rabbits and deer (the latter unlikely in this neighborhood) but the same thing happened to the replacements. The plants aren't chewed down to the ground immediately but bit-by-bit over the space of a couple of weeks. I'd heard about a soil fungus which can attack pansies, so I covered one bed with 0.5 inch mesh net supported on poles. That one bed is in much better shape than the others, which are by now chewed down almost to the ground. I look out at the beds several times each day but never see any critters about, not even birds on the ground. (I've got a couple of potted sedums which were gradually pecked away by birds over the summer.) Any ideas? Regards, Charles Sullivan |
#7
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"sue and dave" wrote in message
sounds like slugs to me, try the usual Sluggo, diatomaceous earth, beer traps. "Cereus-validus....." wrote in message What exactly do slugs sound like? Do they emit some sort of ear splitting shriek when they feed? They sound like little chain saws. |
#8
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Many thanks for all the suggestions. I haven't figured it
out yet, but I will. |
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