Something is eating my strawberry leaves
srilunewgardener
15 years ago
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gardenguru1950
15 years agocalistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
15 years agoRelated Discussions
Something is eating my strawberries.
Comments (25)I've read that used coffee grounds act as a deterrent for slugs and snails, even the little bit of caffeine left in them being toxic to them. It's a quick and cheap trick to try, anyway. I've also read that they are a deterrent to most rodents. I'm trying this for the first time this year, and it's early days yet, but so far no problems from either slugs and snails, the tree squirrels I see cavorting about, or the wood rats that stripped my lilies a few years ago. The coffee grounds are good for the plants and safe for kids and pets. I don't think it will help with insects or roaches, but who knows? I did find a round hole like described in the opening post and I have to admit that after watching the video posted of the roach eating the strawberry, that looks like the most likely culprit. The question remains "What is an effective deterrent?" Who thinks of roaches as a garden pest? LOL!...See Moresomething is eating my strawberries
Comments (8)Would ants eat a large hole like that? I haven't noticed slugs in the berry patch... I've definitely seen ants on slug damaged strawberries, but I I don't know whether ants would feed on undamaged fruit. Are you sure that you don't have slugs and/or snails? If you haven't already, do an after dark flashlight inspection. That's when you're most likely to catch them in action. Given the sheer number of slugs, snails, and pill bugs that inhabit my 1/4-acre lot, I resort to Sluggo Plus when berries begin to ripen....See MoreGrrr.. something is eating my strawberries!
Comments (1)It could be pillbugs, they'll eat anything. I ended up propping up our strawberries so they don't touch the ground....See MoreSomething is eating my strawberries....
Comments (10)Congratulations on your new garden! Let's see if we can get those buggers. There are a few things that come to mind. The first is that it could be birds, but from what I can tell from the damage in picture it doesnâÂÂt seem likely. The second thing it could be is pill bugs, more commonly known as the roly poly. In small numbers they donâÂÂt do much, but when there are a lot they can do some real damage to your garden. Here is a little bit of information on how you can find and identify them: They need to be in moist, dark environments. They are about 3/8th of an inch long, wingless and have seven pairs of legs. They roll into a ball when threatened or scared, which is where they get their nickname. Pill bugs are usually found in the cracks in the dirt and under plant residue. They are active in the late spring, and usually at night. They are often lumped together with sow bugs or potato bugs, and while they are very similar, they are not exactly the same. They feed on any decaying organic matter, which is why large populations can often be found in compost piles and piles of leaf litter. Since they would rather feed on decaying matter, they will usually ignore healthy plants. However, when populations get high, they will feed on new growth and young plants. Tonight when it gets dark I would recommend going to your garden and trying to find them either to rule them out or move on to the next step of getting rid of them. Let me know how that turns out and I will either tell you how to get rid of them or try and diagnose a new bug. Best of luck!...See Morehoovb zone 9 sunset 23
15 years agogobluedjm 9/18 CA
15 years agosrilunewgardener
15 years agomashamcl
15 years agosrilunewgardener
15 years agocalistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
15 years agoBeekeeper.Matt
13 years agohoovb zone 9 sunset 23
13 years agohoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
13 years agosmileclick
10 years ago
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