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Solomons seal riddle

18 years ago

I discovered the oddest thing today. I have several of patches of Solomans seal, false, verigeted etc. IN one patch all the stems were chewed off about 6inches up from the ground. What would eat them? Why venture so far forward for that patch and leave several other's farther back closer to dense woods? I noticed last week a few were "broke" off. I wondered who's ball had rolled through snapping things. Now I am sure it is a critter of the animal variety, but which one? I have a HUGE patch in the front yard, never touched. I thnk they tried come comumbine too as there are a couple of chewed looking stems on one plant also. Again up front passing by several patches close to the woods.

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Comments (8)

laceyvail 6A, WV
18 years ago
Deer love them.
waplummer
18 years ago
Deer will eat both the true and false solomon seal. Before I fenced them out they would eat the leaves off the true leaving a bare stem,
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arcy_gw
Original Author
18 years ago
I am sure it is not deer. Has to be smaller.
oldroser
18 years ago
This time of year fawns are sampling everything. Most likely deer.
arcy_gw
Original Author
18 years ago
I live on the inside of a developement where all the lots are 2-3 acres. The development is surrounded by farmers fields. We are in the woods the farmers did not bother trying to clear. Deer are seldom seen on the outside of the circle. With the roaming dogs we have, etc. it is not deer. Besides the SS is "extra" in my hosta garden. Not one of the hosta has been snacked on. If I lived on tbe outside of the circle I would believe it.
Elaine_NJ6
18 years ago
Woodchucks, rabbits. I have no deer, and something sampled my false solomon's seal. Didn't eat much of it--just browsing on the way to the asters and boltonia--but chopped some down at the soil level.
knottyceltic
18 years ago
Rabbits are eating everything of mine right now. I like rabbits but I'm not pleased.

Barb
arcy_gw
Original Author
18 years ago
Yeah I am thinking it had to be bunnies. Funny the way they sampled. That is the part that confuses me. Oh well, I guess I will cut down the sticks and wait for next year. There had not been any more damage, so I guess it moved on. My neighbor's bunny hutch is no more, so I do not have a source for donestic buny droppings. That was the BEST deterrant of hungry rabbits I ever tried.

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Help identify this ground cover please

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