posted
Hi all! I'm having a problem with some of the sunflowers that I planted. I planted some dwarfs in the garden, and they are fine; I planted some mammoths in front of the garden, and they're doing OK. But the mammoths that I have planted along the fence are being eaten alive! Some of them don't have any more leaves left-just veins! I don't see anything on these plants (we're talking about 20 plants)-what could be causing this and what can I do to stop it? Thanks in advance!
Plants: 236 | From: Coastal CT | Registered: Oct 2004
| Seeded: 64.252.70.97
posted
Are the japanese beetles active there right now? I had to sprinkle sevin dust on my plants the other day- they were eating everything in sight!
If plants in my garden were being eaten, but no bugs were ever present,my immediate suspicion would lean toward snails or slugs. They do their damage after dark. Cut worms also work after dark as well. Ortho markets effective bait to kill slugs and snails, and sevin dust, 5%, kills over 60 insect pests.
* * * * Bob Plants: 640 | From: in my garden | Registered: Jan 2003
| Seeded: 64.12.116.68
posted
HI ROZY it could be the japanese beetles there very active here there into evrything i have been useing sevin dust also.but the rabbits are eating my sun flowers in my garden.leaveing nothing but the stalks.if its slugs you can also set out sausers of beer for them it will kill them.your friend in gardening.mike57
* * * * No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent. Plants: 722 | From: alabama | Registered: Nov 2004
| Seeded: 216.170.146.135
posted
Hmmmm....Beetles could be the problem. The ones that I have planted near the garden are starting to show some signs as well. What I'm not understanding is why the other plants nearby (pumpkins, tomatoes, peas, corn, beans, dwarf sunflowers) are not showing any damage-only the mammoth sunflowers. Are beetles selective? I'm starting to get scared here as I see the damage that's happening, plus I'm trying to go organic-what is sevin dust exactly? Thanks for the help!
Plants: 236 | From: Coastal CT | Registered: Oct 2004
| Seeded: 64.252.69.196
posted
OK-I went investigating today, and I found LOTS of ants on the damaged plants, and some ants on the good plants, which are now starting to get some holes in the leaves. Could the ants be doing this? Or are the ants there because of some other problem? All I can say is YUCK!
Plants: 236 | From: Coastal CT | Registered: Oct 2004
| Seeded: 64.252.70.95
posted
HI ROZY sevin dust is probubly the safest chimical there is to use on pest it can be used on your pets and in your veggie garden to.you might have leaf cutter ants and yes they will eat the leafs off your plants heres a link about them. http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/leafcutter.htm but i think the sevin dust will take care of them.heres a link on sevin dust http://www.epinions.com/content_54760279684 hope it helps.your friend in gardening.mike57
* * * * No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent. Plants: 722 | From: alabama | Registered: Nov 2004
| Seeded: 216.170.146.79
posted
Wow Mike! Those ants could definately be it! The only thing that throws me is that I'm nowhere near Texas. But anything's possible. I'm off to the grocery store now, where, hopefully, they will have some sevin dust. I'll let you know how I make out. Thanks for the help!
Plants: 236 | From: Coastal CT | Registered: Oct 2004
| Seeded: 64.252.70.95
posted
HI rozy your very welcome.we have the leaf cutter ants here in alabama also i think they are pretty much all over the south. hope the sevin dust stops what ever is eating your leafs.i did some more reserch it could also be cutter bees.or the japanese beetles eather way the sevin dust should take care of it.good luck with it.your friend in gardening.mike57
* * * * No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent. Plants: 722 | From: alabama | Registered: Nov 2004
| Seeded: 216.170.146.92
login | 
| 
| 
Printer-friendly view of this garden