I am not sure what is going on...one is not growing well -- crinkly leaves...and something looks to be munching on the other...but there are no bugs??? I have some others in other areas of my bedding and they are doing great (especially one by my mailbox). I also have a hollyhock and rose bush in this general area and they are not doing too well either. Ice plant is doing great and so are lillies.
I did notice alot of ants in this area ... can ants cause problems????
here is another picture
I don't know why your coneflowers look like that but I would ask in the coneflower forum.
The munching looks like snails or slugs. You wouldn't catch them unless you went out late and night or before dawn in the morning with a flashlight. As for the crinkly foliage...maybe it is because they are new leaves, the first to break through the ground?
Looks like snails to me, too. Try getting some slug bait. I had similar problems the first year I gardened at this house. Go out after dark with a flashlight and be prepared to be grossed out LOL. I didn't know slugs could get that big!
Awww! Poor flower. I would get the mulch underneath it pushed out and away from the plant and add a little granular flower fertilizer. The leaves aren't tough yet. My coneflowers are tender at first too. They turn quick and become hardy looking for lack of a better word.
You can catch slugs with beer in shallow mayo tops. That's what I use. The other user is right. They are nasty and huge when stretched out and all happy! I've seen little mushroom looking traps that would be cute for the garden, but I'm not going to open them up to see all the slugs. I just get rid of the jar tops. You can also put a piece of wet wood down and lift in the morniing to see a bunch. YUCK!
the crinkly appearence may be due to chemical fertilizers like the ones you might be using for the rose bush. i would recommend a slow release fertilizer.
I have heard that crushed eggshells around the plants deter slugs. They do not like the sharpness. I am trying that method this year in my hosta bed before I use chemical deterrants which I would prefer to avoid.
I read the same about slugs and eggshells. I put them out for my birds. I'll have to try for my hostas too.
How much sun do they get? Snails and slugs like to be where it's shady, and these plants need full sun to do well also.
DP
Could it be earwigs? I experienced a similar leaf-eating pattern on the leaves of some my dahlias. I suggest investigating after dark to inspect the leaves (look in the fold too, they love to hide). Earwigs love to eat herbaceous flower stem leaves. http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/browse/order.php?bid=50
Could also be Flea Beatles, especially if it's generally dry in this spot? You buy a natural pellet slug bait made from potassium (I think) to kill slugs. They ingest it and die. It's harmless to the environment. We have a horrible slug problem every year here.
The reason I mentioned Flea Beatles is because of the 'mottled' appearance of the leaves. ;o)
Yes, we use the slug pellets, too. There are different brands. They are natural. Says on label it's safe around pets, too.
I use Sluggo. I had such success with it last year, I bought a ten lb bag this year. Definately worth its weight in gold. I tried beer and milk works too, but I kept seeing the slugs crawl back out of the lids; only half of them would drown. Plus, w/ Sluggo, they crawl away to die, so you never have to get near them! :)
Maybe you could try a different plant?
DP
GrammyJo can you tell me the name of the natural pellet slug bait ?
I have tried the eggshells in hope of not having to use chemicals but it did not work....just made a big mess for me ! lol I have sooooo many Hostas and they are all eaten....very bad this year.
I then used Sluggo but I really hate using chemicals. :-)
Sluggo is actually a "good guy", it has iron phosphate as the active which is toxic to slugs but not to people, pets, wildlife, etc. I don't know if it officially counts as organic, but it can definitely be used in the spirit of trying to garden in a safer more beneficial way. It's the ones with metaldehyde as the active ingredient that you want to stay away from.
stormcloud - I've used coffee grounds with great success. Try a local Starbucks or your favorite breakfast place and spread them out around your hostas and very lightly work them into the top of the soil. It worked for me.
