WHO IS EATING MY PLANTS?? NAME THAT PEST!!

by Sandy Pudoff

Answered

I have 2 plants in my north facing backyard mixed border that have "moderate" pest damage. I normally don't bother with pest control, I'm kind of a live and let live gardener. I fertilize, mulch, water and attempt weeding. This year the damage is out of control on only these two plants, which are about 30 feet apart. I am stumped on the Angel Trumpet. Clueless. I think the sweet potato might be cutworm (from what I've read on Hometalk) but I am not physically able to get down and crawl around looking for the cutworms. If it's cutworms, is there a more disabled friendly solution for getting rid of the pests? Thanks for the help Hometalkers!

who is eating my plants name that pest, gardening, pest control, Angel Trumpet is not blooming well this year and foliage holes go all the way up the 8 feet plant except the newest 6 of leaves

Angel Trumpet is not blooming well this year and foliage holes go all the way up the 8' feet plant except the newest 6" of leaves.

who is eating my plants name that pest, gardening, pest control, Lime green sweet potato has similar holes but not quite the same Are these cutworm holes Is there a treatment other than hand picking

Lime green sweet potato has similar holes, but not quite the same. Are these cutworm holes? Is there a treatment other than hand picking?

4 answers

Sally Roesner Fuhr on Jul 26, 2014
slugs. Incidentally, all parts of the angel trumpet are poisonous--closely related to Jimson weed (loco weed). It's a hallucinogen. It may be called datura or brugmansia.

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- Sandy Pudoff on Jul 28, 2014
  @Sally Roesner Fuhr Thanks for the info!
  
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- Sandy Pudoff on Jul 28, 2014
  Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
  
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Douglas Hunt on Jul 27, 2014
I would start by just giving both of these plants a good blast with the hose, making sure you get the undersides of the leaves. If you suspect a caterpillar, a reasonably benign strategy would be to use Bt, Bacillus thuringiensis, which can be applied as a dust or a spray and won't affect beneficial insects.

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- See 1 previous
- Sandy Pudoff on Jul 28, 2014
  @Douglas Hunt Thanks for helping, I had already tried the water blast. For the angel trumpet, I am thinking caterpillar damage but I also see what looks like some kind of leaf miner damage in the leaves, perhaps chlorosis from the foundation, could it be a virus, etc. A lot of ?? for a freebie plant! Should I be picking off the affected leaves? I have some Bt on my "potions" shelf so I will give it a go. The ipomoea is only acting as a place holder/weed deterrent, I am not wed to it. I will give it some Bt also and I've cut it back by half already. Appreciate your time and knowledge!
  
  Helpful
- Douglas Hunt on Jul 28, 2014
  @Sandy Pudoff Bt works on caterpillars, not anything else. To really know what is going on, I suggest you take some of the affected leaves, in a sealed plastic bag, to the local extension office. There's one on McDuff in Jax.
  
  Helpful
Chas' Crazy Creations on Jul 07, 2023

Here's a post that might help - https://chascrazycreations.com/keep-pests-out-of-your-garden/

Helpful Reply
Chas' Crazy Creations on Dec 07, 2023

Here's a post that might help - https://chascrazycreations.com/keep-pests-out-of-your-garden/

Helpful Reply

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WHO IS EATING MY PLANTS?? NAME THAT PEST!!

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