who's been nibbling?

13 years ago

Went out to get the mail and as usual, along the way I look over beds. That's when I saw Southern Comfort had baby leaves. Looking beyond that I saw that 2 or 3 old leaves (under oak leaves) were still intact while several others had been nibbled off!

Deer? Squirrels?

The other heuchera in that bed were left untouched....thank goodness.

Any thoughts?
Deb

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
13 years ago
Rabbits? Look for a sharp diagonal cut for rabbits.

tj
User
Original Author
13 years ago
Ahh yes, well we do have a few bunnies around here, but I had forgotten about those guys.

TJ, thanks for the hint as to the possible culprit. It's just that I was surprised that they had gotten munched on.
:-)

Deb
Related Professionals
Shreveport Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Florence Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Manhattan Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Middletown Landscape Contractors · Middletown Landscape Contractors · Amarillo Landscape Contractors · Wenatchee Landscape Contractors · Cambridge General Contractors · Philadelphia General Contractors · Augusta General Contractors · Youngstown General Contractors · Platteville General Contractors · Palm Desert General Contractors · Sacramento General Contractors · Tacoma General Contractors
garden_crazy
13 years ago
tj
The rabbits always eat mine as the snow fades away in late winter. I figure at that point they are doing me a favor by cleaning up the scraggly old leaves. I let them have at it until the new growth really kicks in, then I protect them with dried blood. -That also gives them a nitrogen burst. It works for heuchera loving deer also.

gc
rbrady
13 years ago
Rabbits love to snack on mine too, they usually eat on them if there is no snow cover. They ate so many of them this winter I ended up wrapping some of them with chicken wire to protect them. In fact, I have rabbits so bad I have to wrap most of my trees and shrubs to protect them from the little rascals. My gardens seem to be an endless buffet:-(

Rhonda
User
Original Author
13 years ago
I have a question :-)
gardencrazy said: "I let them have at it until the new growth really kicks in, then I protect them with dried blood. -That also gives them a nitrogen burst. It works for heuchera loving deer also."

Is the "dried blood" that you referred to a product like bone meal?

tia,
Deb
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
13 years ago
Yes, dried blood is a regular store bought item. You can also use blood meal but I prefer the dried blood. Be careful. It is high in nitrogen and can burn tender plants (like lettuce, no so much heuchs) so just sprinkle it around.

tj
User
Original Author
13 years ago
OK thanks tj I'll look for it the next time I go garden stuff shopping. The added benefit of detouring the deer makes me happy too :-)

Deb
docmom_gw
13 years ago
I found exactly the same pattern of munching on my one and only heuchera. I think mine is just a Purple Palace, but I love how it contrasts with the other plants in my shade garden. I planted a bunch of seedlings last year, but they were so small I lost track of them. Maybe the rabbits missed them, too. I really wish I could have an outdoor cat, but they are horrible for so many other animals, not just the rabbits. I may need to try the blood or other products. Thanks for the information.

Martha