What's eating my dahlia leaves?
lyssa13
10 years ago
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lyssa13
10 years agolyssa13
10 years agoRelated Discussions
What is eatting my sunflower's leaves?
Comments (5)Although I can't help id the consumer, I noticed something in my own garden... I planted dahlias in my front and back yard. In the back bed, there are also many sunflowers. All of the flowers near the sunflowers look fabulous!! The dahlias in the front were getting eaten to nothing each night and the dahlias in the back, near the sunflowers, are tall and in bloom. I also noticed that the sunflowers are covered in lady bugs. I bought lady bugs and released them in the front. I wish I could find sunflower plants but am unable...Anyway, in a very short time, the front dahlias are now finally growing!! I am loving the lady bugs!! These sunflowers are very tall - maybe 9'. I planted tiny sunflowers in the back yard, not too far from the tall ones, and they got eaten the first night. In my case, I think it was rabbits. There was NOTHING left of the seedlings. I will forever buy lady bugs and mantis every spring, if they don't show up naturally....See MoreWhat's eating the tops of my dahlias?
Comments (22)Well, I've lost a dahlia to a much more easily identified suspect - DH! He feels really badly about it. I had too many tubers for the space I planned, so I popped one in the ground in the yard near a Gardenia that is still small this year, and he didn't know it was there (despite the 4'tall stake right next to it). I was told after this incident that fluorescent tags should now be applied to any new plants not contained in clearly marked and bordered beds. Ha Ha. He reduced it to 4" stalks with no foliage using the weed whacker. I'm hoping that it recovers, but I'm not going to hold my breath...just thought you guys would get a laugh out of this one. He's cuter than the squirrel in the photo, so I'm going to let him live....See Moresomething eating my dahlias
Comments (5)Earwigs could be doing it, too. Since you don't have too many dahlias you could use a trap like wadded up newspaper in a cup inverted on the stake. You go out in the AM & shake the cup into a bucket of water & get rid of them. If you have identification tags on the stakes the earwigs sometimes hide under them & you can a most satisifing SQUISH if you go round in the morning & just push the tag down onto the stake. You can also use an old piece of hose lying flat on the ground - they will crawl in there after their night-time meal & you can shake them out in the morning & squish them-- you get the idea- they like cool dark places to hole up in the daytime & come out at night to feed on your plants, so if you can catch them asleep you can get rid of a lot of them. I don't think you can EVER get rid of EVERY earwig, though!!...See MoreWhats now eating my dahlia flower petals?
Comments (8)I agree Jennifer. Should have mentioned it in my previous comment. Occasionally I see them during the day tucked in new leaves on our hydrangeas. Before I discover the rats I would do as you do and go out with a flashlight and a tall plastic jug with a small amount of the soapy water. Got hundreds from my small dahlia area. When I discovered the soya sauce and cooking oil method it did a better job than my picking. But then the rats came and would tip over my bait stations. Had to get rid of the stations and the rats. Now I use a form of white powder that is supposed to cut the earwigs causing them to die. Doesn't seem to work too well for me. I try to focus on the flowers and ignore some of the chewed leaves, but the flowers are also susceptible, especially as they begin to fade. No more bait stations, flashlights and soapy water for me. My dahlias are blooming well and their flowers look great, but I know the earwigs are there. Ugh! Anyone know what to do to attract earwigs only? Maxyck...See MoreNoni Morrison
10 years agoCCvacation
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