Sunflower assault

Chaselady · 06-24-2013, 07:20 PM

My husband planted several sunflowers on our island. They are only about 8 inches tall. For the past 2 days he has noticed a plant missing each day. They are completely gone, and the dirt looks like it was returned to the spot. There are no footprints of any kind. Anybody have any ideas?

Sunrise Point · 06-24-2013, 08:14 PM

Do you have rabbits on the island? A rabbit could have eaten them right down to the soil.

Are there any roots left?

Chaselady · 06-24-2013, 08:46 PM

I have never seen rabbits on the island. I can't imagine how they would get out here.

phoenix · 06-25-2013, 05:28 AM

Squirrels will also do that at least they have in mine . I put a little wire around them until they get bigger

secondcurve · 06-25-2013, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenix

Squirrels will also do that at least they have in mine . I put a little wire around them until they get bigger

Happens to me all the time. I believe it is chipmunks.

nhboat61 · 06-25-2013, 06:50 AM

I would go with squirrels. I've seen them in action. They would work in tandem. One would climb the stalk and use it's weight to pull it down, while the other would then nimble on the bent stalk and then drag it away.

I had 8 plant go that way one year. I thought it was a deer, until I saw the 9th and last one being worked on.

Mighty smart fellers if you ask me.

Chaselady · 06-25-2013, 07:22 AM

Thanks for the ideas, everyone. I feel like I am living in an Agatha Christie novel... 10 Little Indians. One gone each day!

upthesaukee · 06-25-2013, 09:34 AM

And if the grey squirrels don't get the peonies, then the red squirrels will try. And when both of them are full, the chipmunks do the cleanup.

Take your pick...we do not have rabbits in our yard.

phoenix · 06-27-2013, 05:14 AM

To be more specific i use chicken wire i cut a small section and en circle the plant and seems to work well and i suspect both will eat if they can get at the plant

jogator1 · 06-27-2013, 01:38 PM

I had the same issue with our sunflowers. My son planted 50 seeds and most started growing yet everyday there were a few missing. One night we went outside and noticed snails were devouring the sunflower plants. They would climb up the plant and eat the whole plant. Now I don't know if you have snails in that area but we sure do. I went to Lowe's and bought some snail bait which fixed the problem.

06-24-2013, 07:20 PM	#1
Chaselady Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Melvin Village Posts: 309 Thanks: 150 Thanked 105 Times in 73 Posts	Sunflower assault My husband planted several sunflowers on our island. They are only about 8 inches tall. For the past 2 days he has noticed a plant missing each day. They are completely gone, and the dirt looks like it was returned to the spot. There are no footprints of any kind. Anybody have any ideas?

06-25-2013, 05:28 AM	#4
phoenix Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: phoenix and moultonboro Posts: 1,519 Thanks: 58 Thanked 265 Times in 186 Posts	Squirrels will also do that at least they have in mine . I put a little wire around them until they get bigger __________________ it's tough to make predictions specially about the future

06-25-2013, 09:34 AM	#8
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,547 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,397 Thanked 1,918 Times in 1,061 Posts	We have Peonies... And if the grey squirrels don't get the peonies, then the red squirrels will try. And when both of them are full, the chipmunks do the cleanup. Take your pick...we do not have rabbits in our yard. __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

06-27-2013, 05:14 AM	#9
phoenix Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: phoenix and moultonboro Posts: 1,519 Thanks: 58 Thanked 265 Times in 186 Posts	To be more specific i use chicken wire i cut a small section and en circle the plant and seems to work well and i suspect both will eat if they can get at the plant __________________ it's tough to make predictions specially about the future

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06-24-2013, 08:14 PM	#2
Sunrise Point Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Meredith Center / Winnisquam Posts: 250 Thanks: 87 Thanked 34 Times in 21 Posts	Do you have rabbits on the island? A rabbit could have eaten them right down to the soil. Are there any roots left?

06-24-2013, 08:46 PM	#3
Chaselady Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Melvin Village Posts: 309 Thanks: 150 Thanked 105 Times in 73 Posts	I have never seen rabbits on the island. I can't imagine how they would get out here.

The Following User Says Thank You to phoenix For This Useful Post:
Chaselady (06-25-2013)

06-25-2013, 06:50 AM	#6
nhboat61 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Wakefield NH Posts: 117 Thanks: 52 Thanked 16 Times in 13 Posts	I would go with squirrels. I've seen them in action. They would work in tandem. One would climb the stalk and use it's weight to pull it down, while the other would then nimble on the bent stalk and then drag it away. I had 8 plant go that way one year. I thought it was a deer, until I saw the 9th and last one being worked on. Mighty smart fellers if you ask me.

The Following User Says Thank You to nhboat61 For This Useful Post:
Chaselady (06-25-2013)

06-25-2013, 07:22 AM	#7
Chaselady Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Melvin Village Posts: 309 Thanks: 150 Thanked 105 Times in 73 Posts	Thanks for the ideas, everyone. I feel like I am living in an Agatha Christie novel... 10 Little Indians. One gone each day!

06-27-2013, 01:38 PM	#10
jogator1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 73 Thanks: 62 Thanked 16 Times in 9 Posts	I had the same issue with our sunflowers. My son planted 50 seeds and most started growing yet everyday there were a few missing. One night we went outside and noticed snails were devouring the sunflower plants. They would climb up the plant and eat the whole plant. Now I don't know if you have snails in that area but we sure do. I went to Lowe's and bought some snail bait which fixed the problem.