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What is Munching my Dahlia?

Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
in Plants
Hi,

From the pictures below can anyone kindly identify what creature they think is eating my potted dahlia leaves? It is outside and has been for a week now. It is strong and healthy asides from these munched leaves. I have done the usual of checking the back of all the leaves, the soil at the base, rim of the pot and bottom of the pot. Can't find anything. It is in a courtyard so would expect snail trails if it was that. It is random aswell as these leaves were not munched all at once. There were several days of nothing before more were munched. 

Any insights is much appreciated!



It is frustrating as the ones out in borders have not not been touched such as this one:




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Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Slugs,  they absolutely love them,  I’ve given up with them now. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    Do they just eat them and completely disappear then? For a tall pot in the middle of quite a large courtyard seems crazy unless it’s hiding somewhere. 
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Snails or slugs . Snails crawl off when they’ve had their fill ,slugs often go down under the soil or up under the rim of the pot. But that’s what’s scoffing your leaves for sure .
  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    Thanks. Does anyone know of anything that would deter them from dahlias that works? These iron based slug pellets that are supposed to be organic and not harm predators that eat them any good?
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Sometimes they'll eat until there's nothing left but a green ' target ' on the tuber. If you can get your plants to adolescence, the slugs lose interest.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
    You can get copper tape to stick round your pots. I've used it and not had slug problems, but admittedly I don't have much of a slug issue, so I'm not sure how effective it was!
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Could it also be cutworms? Seem to be more of them than usual in my garden this year.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • rossdriscoll13rossdriscoll13 Posts: 234
    @Alfie try using Strulch. It’s a mineralised straw mulch.  I use it and it works.  It also improves your soil structure.
  • WAMSWAMS Posts: 1,960
    Are you still bringing your dahlias in at night, Alfie? I am for the ones that have only just begun to send up shoots, and for cuttings. There are often little slugs lurking in or under the pots ready to start their feast.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Slugs definitely love them. I was reminded of that last year when I started growing them - it was the reason I'd stopped many years ago. 

    The copper tape etc will only work if there aren't already slugs in there. You make the problem worse if you're trapping them in the pot. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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