I'm having some trouble keeping my sunflowers safe from what seems to be a nibbling friend—I'm not sure if it's a rabbit, squirrel, or chipmunk. They're not eating the whole plant but are just biting the sprout off and leaving me with nothing but a sad little stump. I can't really cover them with a net since they grow so tall. Any suggestions for how to keep these little pests at bay?
3 Answers
I’ve been battling the same issue! My sunflowers just got uprooted and trimmed in half. I now plant them inside until they're about a foot tall and then use chicken wire or even paper towel tubes around them. I've had a 100% success rate since starting this! Plus, leaving out a dish of water can also help deter the little thieves. Good luck with your sunflowers!
One good strategy is to start your sunflowers indoors until they're a bit stronger. You can also use a compost sifter to cover them while they grow. Whatever's munching seems to get about 80% of them, so it really helps! Plus, the ones that make it through often end up blooming beautifully!
Haha, yeah, last year only about 10% survived for me too!
Starting indoors or covering them with a wire cage can save your sunflowers. I make a four-foot tall cage using half-inch hardwire cloth and some garden stakes. Cover the top with a light shade cloth to keep out birds and small critters while letting pollinators in. It requires some effort to set up, but it's super effective and easy to store for next year!
How big do they need to get before you put them outside?