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foxglove trouble

• Message 1. 

  Posted by penelope (U10773619) on Sunday, 15th April 2012

  I have grown foxgloves in a shady border for many years and for the first time ever the leaves have been eaten and sometimes torn to pieces by something.
  Slugs were the obvious suspect and I have been putting down slug pellets for some weeks to no avail. There is no sign of any slug life there eg. slime tracks or dead slugs so I assume something else is attacking. I have noticed lots of pigeons around. Do they like foxglove leaves. Any ideas please?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by AlinaW (U2220240) on Sunday, 15th April 2012

  Pigeons do tear leaves, although I've not herad of them attacking foxgloves before. But - it only takes one bird to have the idea.
  I'd suggest that you put a netting tent over your foxgloves - make sure that the bottom is held down well with bricks or pegs so that no creature can get trapped - and see if that solves the problem. You will only need to cover them for two or three weeks as the pigeons will find something else to eat.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by treborstemme (U15013358) on Sunday, 15th April 2012

  Hi,
  
  In confusing situations like this I tend to go out late at night to have a look with the torch to see if its perhaps caterpillars or vineweevil.
  
  I would also try putting a small cup of vegetable oil at soil level as the vineweevil love cooking oils of all types. I found this trick on youtube and caught dozens of vineweevil and earwigs that were munching at my dahlias last year on my first attempt.
  
  Good luck

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  Posted by hollie-hock (U15202984) on Sunday, 15th April 2012

  Thanks for the tip about the vegetable oil, will try that at some point

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• Message 5

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  Posted by sparklepinksunflower (U10977805) on Monday, 16th April 2012

  I might try the oil thing as I have so many problems with vine weevil.
  
  i have had exactly the same problem with fox gloves this year, they have been eaten down to skeletons
  
  its not pigeons, the eating pattern is wrong and I am certain foxgloves are poisonous to most things.
  
  I am still wondering about slugs as I have not been able to find any actually eating them.
  
  I have lost prob 10 fox gloves, hoping they might re grow, but not holding my breath
  

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• Message 6

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  Posted by Engineer (U3135859) on Monday, 16th April 2012

  Have a good look underneath them for caterpillars. I have seen many Angle shades or possibly Noctuid caterpillars around my garden this year (they are brownish and quite plump), especially underneath some rather sorry-looking foxgloves.

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by linda (U1797657) on Tuesday, 17th April 2012

  I'll bear this tip in mind. I've planted Dahlias for the first time this year. I have childhood memories of earwigs in my Dad's Dahlias and Chrysanthemums. Not that earwigs bother me, but I remember the amount of time he spent trying to keep them at bay, so have always steered clear of them. However, there are so many lovely varieties these days I thought I'd give them a try

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