I have several fern leaf bleeding hearts and I noticed that one of the branches was lying on the ground. It had been cut at the very base...a clean cut. Every day there are one or two more like this. What could be causing this and what should I use to control it? Thanks. Don't know if you can see it in this picture, but I will post it anyway.
It could be cutworms, Dale. Here's more info: http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG295/html/cutworm.htm
I bet it is cutworms. The same thing happened to some of mine. Now I put toothpicks at the stems; it seems to work.
What is the toothpick method of control? I read where you can put a collar around the base of the plant...do you do the same thing with toothpicks?
Tinfoil collars work, especially if the plants are already in the ground.
As clumsy and clueless as I can sometimes be in my garden, the less pointy objects I have in there the better, LOL!
Our rabbits also cut plants clean like that- they dont eat them- just cut and leave.
Even if you dont see rabbit poo, you can still have them.
Rabbits usually eat most of their droppings.
Cut worms SUCK! I placed a small pot around a vine of mine- prevented those bad bugs from chopping it right down!
Just slice the pot and slip it over the stem at the base of the plant. Works like a charm and is durable!
