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Delphiniums being eaten

JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 1,039
in Problem solving
Hi my delphiniums we’re looking great, then this morning I found one which has been defoliate, literally over night. I thought I had got them past the slug attack point, any ideas what could have done this?
Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.

Posts

  • JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 1,039
    Evening everyone. Bumping my question to see if anyone has any ideas so I can try to save the others from the same fate 
    Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Looks like either a snail or slug damage to me. Only thing you can do is to put a small quantity of slug pellets down and/or surround the whole plant with a circle of fine grit (about 6-8 inches in diameter) which I find helps keep them away. I also have stuck some copper tape to a plastic ring and put that round the whole plant. I did get from A....n one year a pkt of copper mesh tape about 1-2" wide which you can peg down in a circle around the plant There is no easy answer I'm afraid - slugs love delphiniums.  
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 1,039
    Hmmm last year they seemed to eat just the bottom leaves and once the plants got past a certain size they were fine. I was just surprised when the entire top disappeared overnight on such a well grown plant. I guess I’m off out with the torch to pick them off tonight then!
    Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
  • Singing GardenerSinging Gardener Posts: 1,237
    You don't have rabbits or deer do you?
  • JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 1,039
    No singing gardener I’m on a first floor terrace so no fear of that thankfully. I’ve put crushed egg shells around and no further incidents for now. 
    Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
  • Singing GardenerSinging Gardener Posts: 1,237
    That's good! We've been waging war with a particularly persistent rabbit who has been breaching our defences and loves to eat the new perennials down to the ground. Fortunately it doesn't seem to like delphiniums (and actually neither do my slugs and snails surprisingly).
  • GreenbirdGreenbird Posts: 237
    Slug or possibly cutworm.


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