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Annuals/Something is eating the flowers on my petunias

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Expert: - 7/5/2010


Question
What can I do?

Answer
Petunia-eating pests abound, but my guess would be these are Slugs.  What do you think?

Ther's a new Nematode on the market that waits around for a Slug to appear.  The unsuspecting Slug dies a slow death, taking with it all his infected friends.

But Nematodes are tricky to apply.  I would probably wait for more experience before recommending these.

In the meantime, put out one of those shallow dishes of beer and see if any Slugs decide to show up for lunch some night.  At least you can get them before they reach your Petunias.

Diatomaceous Earth is also effective.  But every time it rains, you have to re-apply.  Wet D.E. is worthless. Dry D.E. is ruthless.

There's also the copper ribbons you can deploy around your Flower beds with your Petunias.  They can't crawl over them because of a chemical reaction that triggers bursts of uncomfortable electric current through their slime, so they avoid it.  Search and destroy the ones slithering around inside the copper strip.

Let me know if you need any further information on these; they are available at most garden centers, and by mail order.  I vote for all of them.

L.I.G.

Annuals

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Long Island Gardener

Expertise

Decisions, decisions... If you can't make up your mind which Annuals to grow, you're not alone. Problem with your new flowering Annuals flats? I`ve been there, done that. Petunias, Sweet Alyssum, Larkspur, Marine Blue Lobelia -- they all grow here at my house on Garden Street on Long Island, N.Y.. Cutting and Cottage Gardens, Sun and Shade Gardens, White Gardens and Night Gardens, I`ve done them all. Annuals are the perfect summer flower, bursting with color June through fall's first frost. I can`t speak on Cactus or tender Tropical Plants -- they don`t grow outside in my Zone 7. I`m no Farmer, so I cannot guide you on Fruits and Vegetables. But whether it`s an Annual you want to start from seed, mail-order or pick up at your local garden center, I can help you grow amazing blooms this Summer. Yes, together, we can turn your neighbors green with envy.

Experience

I have a lifetime of gardening behind me here on the North Shore of Long Island. While I have degrees in related fields, there's nothing like hands-on work to build real knowledge. I stay on top of current science -- there's a boom in research, and Kingdom Plantae is filled with surprises. By the way, I really do live on Garden Street.

Publications
Gannett newspapers, The New York Times, and hundreds of others - but not on Annuals.

Education/Credentials
B.A., botany; graduate credits in European Intellectual History and Political Science; minor coursework in related fields, docent training at our local botanical gardens (required for volunteers). I'm currently working on an advanced biochemistry degree.

Awards and Honors
I could tell you, but then you'd know who I am.

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