Okay, I've had enough - all my plants are being eaten!?

Question

By - I guess - earwigs or slugs. At least that is what I can find everytime I turn over a rock.

I have tomatoes, clematis and morning glories and hostas - (those are the ones most affected) and there are a million chew marks on the leaves. Drives me crazy. They even took the buds of some of my flowers before they bloomed. My soil is very much clay with a good layer of good quality soil on top. My plants are thriving if not for those pesty critters.

I think it's the earwigs but I'm not positive. I bought a power that I blow on the plants and earth but it keeps raining (and washing it away). I heard there are pellets for earwigs but I just wanna cry.

Any advice?

I prefer a more natural approach (although right now I'm considering going neuclear) not only because I care but I have a dog who I love who spends much of her time noseying around our yard) so if you have a recommendation that doesn't involve a neuclear bomb, I would appreciate it.

Answer 1

if it's slugs put out a pie pan of beer and they will come and die, or pour salt on them.  it could also be Japanese beetles, they are out now, and i have damage to my plants and leaves from them.  if all of your plants are gone, like down to nothing, it's probably rabbits or deer (I have that problem too)  good luck!

Answer 2

I had the same problem in my garden and I was determined to stay organic. I made a mixture of fresh garlic (lots of garlic) , cayenne pepper, a little bit of vegetable oil and dawn dish detergent. I ground all of this up in my food processor and painted it on the thick stems of my plants. It worked. I would be careful not to get the mixture on the sensitive leaves.

Ooppss! I forgot to mention to add tons of water to the mixture. Sorry I don't have exact measurements.

Answer 3

In addition to the good advice from the other folks, if you live in a southern climate suspect leaf cutter ants.  They can and will defoliate an entire shrub in one night.  Check for them at night with a flashlight and poison the nest by pouring liquid insecticide directly into the entrance hole.  This will not affect your pet one bit.  

Answer 4

Slugs leave slimy silver trails

Japanese beetles leave the veins of leaves (lacy look)

Butterflies deposit eggs on the underside of leaves that hatch into worms...look for egg masses, some resemble mold

Butterfly and moth worms will defoliate lots of plants

Never heard of earwigs eating plants

ID the culprit, then murder it appropriately

Answer 5

I feel for you.  Here is some info to help figure out which bug it is.  Go outside with a flashlight and check the plants and see if there are earwigs.  They eat at night.

http://wihort.uwex.edu/flowers/Earwigs.h...

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/20...

Answer 6

Hello, I have read that if you plant garlic between your flowers and shrubs, you will get less slugs and bugs. Also many people really do the beer thing. The slugs crawl in the beer and drowned. The cheep dolor general bug killer works great on ridding bugs from eating your plants. But you probably don't want to use it on the plants that produce what you will eat. I would try a little table salt ware slugs are. People eat salt in there diet every day.  And some fertilizers actually contain salt.

P.S. The hint you were given about the soap is a good one, but don't use it on your food growing plants as it taints the flavor. You are what you eat!