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What could have eaten the top leaves off baby sunflowers??
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Author:  cheetahduece [ Sat Jul 05, 2014 9:03 pm ]
Post subject:  What could have eaten the top leaves off baby sunflowers??
Hi ! I have planted about 50 sunflowers from seeds in a fairly straight row, I noticed today that 11 of them had the top leaves cleanly cut off, just as if a scissors was used! :( The babies were only 6 inches high and doing awesome!
I suspected deer as I live in the country and deer reside across the road from me in a heavily wooded area.
I put some of my cats hair ( Snookie loves getting combed) around the remaining ones that are not damaged and sprinkled cayenne pepper around the row.
I never had this happen before, will they still grow or do I need to replant the ones that were eaten?
Any help would sure be appreciated :)

Thanks so very much!!

TOL = Tons of Love! A Positive saying I created in these trying times, pass it on if you like it!
Author:  northwesterner [ Sun Jul 06, 2014 9:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What could have eaten the top leaves off baby sunflowers??
There is a product called "Deer Scram" that you might want to look for if you suspect deer in the garden. The cat hair is a good answer to rodent-type garden grazers (I put dog hair in my garden to discourage nests of mice/rats from the woods across the road from me).

Were the plants cut off at the ground level, or part way up? I've seen cutworms hit bedding plants and seedlings, and I use beneficial nematodes in the garden early to help reduce their numbers. If it is cutworms you could add some Bt to your watering can and water it over the plants. It kills caterpillar-type worms when they eat leaves or stems and take in the Bt into their systems. You might want to root around just under the soil around your plants to see if you find any dark-colored worms.

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Author:  cheetahduece [ Sun Jul 06, 2014 2:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What could have eaten the top leaves off baby sunflowers??
Thanks so very much!! The plants were snipped off at the very top of the plant about 4 inches of plant and leaves are remaining, basically they ate the very top 2 leaves,

Thanks so much for the tip on Deer Scram!!!

Hope you have an awesome Sunday!!

I am looking forward to looking all kinds of info up here :)
Author:  northwesterner [ Sun Jul 06, 2014 3:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What could have eaten the top leaves off baby sunflowers??
Cut worms snip plants off right at the base. Good luck if it's deer!
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