Help! Critters are eating my hostas!!

[ABCMom]

For the second year in a row some pesky little creature has eaten my freshly planted hostas in the front yard. They don't touch the ones in the back and they don't seems to bother the ones in the front that came up on their own from last year. But the brand new ones I just planted a week ago have been chewed down to the ground! Not sure if it's a rabbit or a ground hog (usually see the groundhog in the back yard and like I said, it doesn't bother the ones out there - so I am guessing rabbit) Why does it only eat the new plants? Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[gina2000]

New plants are very tender, ABCmom. I'm not sure that's the answer but it's the most logical thing I can come up with. Also, if the new plants are smaller than other plants in the garden, the critters can reach them more easily.

 

[olena]

I agree that tender foliage is the draw You may want to consider putting some cage-type material around them. You can also try those humane animal traps. Will you be replanting?

 

[gina2000]

Well, ABCmom....I just checked out my hostas today. Three of my favorites have been knawed and chewed! And I mean really, really chewed.

Hmmmmmm.....is this war???? These are established hostas so it can't be that they are tender. And all my other hostas have been left alone.....

Never trust a bunny rabbit......

 

[Dodie]

Around here, bunnies LOVE hostas more than anything else! Especially the tender little young ones, but the older ones are evidently tasty too.

Can you cover them with some sort of net or something until they're more established?

You have a bunny gourmet.

 

[Snowwark]

Hmmm...sounds like you guys are under siege by some out of control bunny battalion!!

ABCmom, it's great to see you here! Do you have any hostas left now???

Kim

 

[Eileen janice]

This is my 1st time to this board, I came looking for an answer to the same question. DH planted carnations for me today and in just a few hours a bunny ate the flowers off. Now he's sitting in the garden looking for more. So is there anything that can be put down by the plants so that they stay out for the garden. ie. moth ball a spice

 

[olena]

moth balls or black pepper. My Mom likes to use cayenne. If you use pepper, you'll have to sprinkle regularly.

 

[Eileen janice]

Thanks, I think I'll try the pepper because moth balls are somtimes hard to find.