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holes in leaves of hostas, cannas, lamb's ear

17 years ago

We are newbies at gardening. This is our second year with these plants and everything is coming up wonderfully, but the 3 plants mentioned have holes being eaten in them (some rather large!) and we can't see any specific bug on them.

We do have one plant just planted that the flower buds are actually being eaten before the bud opens and blums! (Link below called 'Garden Pests' is to pictures of problem plants).

We have other bushes, vines, grey mounds and lavender that don't seem to be bothered by what ever is eating those mentioned above.

Can anyone help me identify what is happening and what we need to do...thanks so much in advance.

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Pest

Featured Answer

Marmite

6 years ago

I had the same problem and found the culprits today!!!

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Comments (10)

morz8 - Washington Coast
17 years ago
My first guess is slugs or snails although I can't see any trails in your photos. To be sure, go out at night after dark with a flashlight and look. You can zap them in a heartbeat with a spray of one part household ammonia to 3 parts water, spritz it right on the critter and don't worry about getting it on foliage - it won't hurt anything but the slug.

There several effective slug baits available too if you wish to go that route, check your local garden center.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
thats not slug damage.. try google for cutworm damage.. one bug per plant does amazing damage .. then it morphs to a moth or something else .... and then the damage stops ... during the day .. the cut worm sleeps in the soil within a few inches of the plant during the day .... if you scratch around you will find it soil colored and curled in a semi circle .... squish it ... i never found more than one at any given plant..

good luck

ken

PS: there is a hosta forum .... just rip out the bad couple leaves.. and your hosta will look great ... no real need for chemicals in my world ....
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venusdenton
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks Morz8 and Ken for your responses.

I did check the hosta forum, but there was nothing there. I can post the question to them tho as well.

We will check for slugs and cutworms.

Thanks again!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
IDing the culprit is always the way to start ...

one bug can do a lot of damage.. and if you can find just a few.. you might be done with them .. no need to go all nuclear.. but if you want.. thats fine with me ...

also .. its maturing fast.. they will probably be gone in a week or two ... i kinda went zen over the years ... a little leaf damage doesnt bother me.. like it used to ...

ken
denimjacket
6 years ago
Marmite, I have the same damage. Were you able to identify the insect by name. I would love to treat the plants. Thanks.
Marmite
6 years ago
Hi Denimjacket. I simply removed all damaged leaves by hand so I could see the rate/progression per day and found almost no progression thereafter. So my conclusion was that they either have a short lifecycle or I accidentally removed the pest (or a combination of the two) - just glad I didn't have to use any poison as it would have been disastrous to the bees living off my Cuphea
Whitney Lance
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Spray with Thuricide or BT. It's an organic that only gets rid of caterpillars. It doesn't do anything to any beneficials in your garden. Spray last thing in the day as the little boogers only come out at night. Leaf Roller caterpillars will destroy Cannas before you'd even realize it because they hide down in the middle of the rolled, new canna leaves during the day. And there is rarely only one.
Marmite
6 years ago
At last the culprit has been identified!!! Australian Cabbage Looper
hastyandwheatly
6 years ago
Exactly it

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