The seeds that I planted weren't calendula :(....different varieties and heights of marigolds. I think everyone must know about my "weed"! It's growing taller every day and looking less compact and less like a marigold. It's between 6"-8" tall just from the rain over nite. Once these weeds are gone, the sunshine can get to the real marigolds underneath. It will also look much more organized and less "weedy" when they start to fill in. Thanks again for your help! LC Grace.

I have bought the standard orange marigolds from the six-pack at Home Depot as well and something is eating them leaves first and then right down to the stem. I have been using marigolds as a pest barrier for over 25 years and have never seen this happen to marigolds. I don't have slugs as none of my hostas have been treated and not one leaf has been touched nor have I seen a single slug in any of my gardening here in 4 years. i'm at a loss to know what is happening. What is the soap solution recipe? I might as well see if I can save the rest. I have to wonder if it is a tiny worm doing it b/c i can't find anything else. If it was a rabbit and we do have rabbits, they wouldn't nibble the leaves in such tiny increments, they would just munch it down. No, this is something very small doing this.

Yes North53--- they think they have to be very careful with the roots but if the roots have started to go round and round they will contimue to do so after it is put in the soil. Even if you break the odd one it is better than leaving them in a ball. The best thing you can do for any plant annual or perennial is to gently loosen the roots before you plant. Anyone who doesn't believe this try an experament this fall pull a plant who's root you haven't loosened. I guarantee it will still be in a ball.

I live in Northern IL. I have planted Marigolds along the back of the house for 30 years. Never a problem. This year something is destroying them. It seems to happen at night. It is not insects as it is digging up the plants and eating a little of them. I have not seen the culprit. I suspect that it is not a rabbit as it is not nibbling and I do not think they would dig up the plants. After reading through this thread, I would say it is one of the following: Cat Squirrel Skunk Birds, but the digging up part does not seem to fit I am going to try the repellent spray approach starting today Comments would be appreciated. After a couple of days of watching the progressive damage, the culprit's main target is the flowers. It is eating those and in the process destroying the plant, sometimes pulling it out of the ground. This seems to fit the cat stories above.