Something Eating My Stalks??

[SmokeTUFF]

i was out feeding this morning when i noticed something on all my older plants. looks like bite marks, and i think it might be a mouse or vole or field mouse. Maybe you guys know exactly what the problem is. here a pics
thanks

smoketuff

 

[LittleDabbie]

Chipmunk maybe? Squirrel? any small rodents.. Got any of them around? they all eat gardens up..

Put up a fence or get a few 100 cats :D

 

[Homesteader]

mice or voles. Wrap and bury a 1/4" galvanized hardware cloth around the stalk about 8" high and a few inches into the soil.

 

[SmokeTUFF]

thanks for the fast response, since its in the same location on each plant im guessing its a smaller animal. i think im going to cut tops and bottoms off a few 2liter bottles and place them around. do you think my girls will pull thru or is that too much eaten off of them?

 

[Homesteader]

Its fine, maybe seal it with grafting wax if you have some, but I would consider getting steel hardware cloth and not plastic. If it tasted good, which we all know it does, the bastard will be back.

 

[bdank]

i might wrap it with something to protect the wound until it heals up.

 

[LittleDabbie]

Ive done worse wounds to my tomato plants de foliating them and there still standing :D You should be fine.

 

[SmokeTUFF]

mice or voles. Wrap and bury a 1/4" galvanized hardware cloth around the stalk about 8" high and a few inches into the soil.

could they climb it and reach a higher part of the plant? do you think my 2 liter bottle idea would work?

 

[Homesteader]

could they climb it and reach a higher part of the plant? do you think my 2 liter bottle idea would work?

Its worth a shot for sure and the much cheaper option if you don't have any. Hardware cloth is pricy! Just keep an eye on it because they will be back. Probably been chowin that for a week or two. Good thing you caught it before it was too late.

 

[Homesteader]

could they climb it and reach a higher part of the plant?

Think they only like the woody base but maybe they just like to keep their feet on the ground.

 

[ken dog]

I see field mice turds in the first and third picture... set out a mousetrap, and I bet you catch one tonight.

 

[baron717]

Hardware mesh around the base and then get traps and sticky mats or even some peppermint oil soaked cotton balls. Mice and rats hate peppermint.

 

[SmokeTUFF]

Hardware mesh around the base and then get traps and sticky mats or even some peppermint oil soaked cotton balls. Mice and rats hate peppermint.

Im going to get some tomorrow. Thanks

 

[SmokeTUFF]

I see field mice turds in the first and third picture... set out a mousetrap, and I bet you catch one tonight.

Ill give it a shot . im going to use peanut butter.
Thanks

 

[Seamaiden]

mice or voles. Wrap and bury a 1/4" galvanized hardware cloth around the stalk about 8" high and a few inches into the soil.

If you can find it, Tanglefoot also really helps here. I'd want to give the plant an aspirin treatment too, to help it deal with this major violation.

You are definitely on the right track, and if they girdle the plant they absolutely will kill it. If there's not much water around, consider adding a drip line to a small container, they'd rather drink from that than chew up your girls. If they're after food, consider throwing some rye grass or similar nearby for them to eat.

thanks for the fast response, since its in the same location on each plant im guessing its a smaller animal. i think im going to cut tops and bottoms off a few 2liter bottles and place them around. do you think my girls will pull thru or is that too much eaten off of them?

IME they will chew right through plastic if they're after water.

 

[SmokeTUFF]

my plants are about 30ft from a stream so i dont think water is what they seek

If you can find it, Tanglefoot also really helps here. I'd want to give the plant an aspirin treatment too, to help it deal with this major violation.

You are definitely on the right track, and if they girdle the plant they absolutely will kill it. If there's not much water around, consider adding a drip line to a small container, they'd rather drink from that than chew up your girls. If they're after food, consider throwing some rye grass or similar nearby for them to eat.


IME they will chew right through plastic if they're after water.

 

[Seamaiden]

Then they must be after the food. Trap crops can still offer some relief along with the other measures suggested.

 

[SmokeTUFF]

So far ive put the cut 2 liters around them and so far so good. will let everyone know changes

 

[500lbs Guerilla]

+1 for tanglefoot. Used to use it back when I was gorilla growing in trash cans. I'd coat the rim of the can in tanglefoot and I would find dead lizards and mice stuck all the time. Maybe the 2 liter bottler wrapped around the stalk and coated with some tanglefoot. Don't get it on your clothes.

 

[Homesteader]

Don't get it on your clothes.

or your hair!