{"id":34391,"date":"2022-06-24T06:52:48","date_gmt":"2022-06-24T06:52:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/?p=34391"},"modified":"2022-06-24T06:52:49","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T06:52:49","slug":"what-is-eating-my-petunias","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Eating my Petunias? These Are The 10 Worst Pests"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Petunias are a colorful plant that&#8217;s a member of the nightshade family. Not only are petunias lovely to look at, but they&#8217;re also known for having an appealing scent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People are drawn to petunias, but so are many <a href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/plants-for-south-facing-gardens\/\">garden<\/a> pests. In fact, there are many pests that will feed on petunias and destroy these beautiful flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_32 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><label for=\"item\" aria-label=\"Table of Content\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1'><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#Whats_Eating_My_Petunias\" title=\"What&#8217;s Eating My Petunias?\">What&#8217;s Eating My Petunias?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#Petunia_Eating_Pests\" title=\"Petunia Eating Pests\">Petunia Eating Pests<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#1_Aphids\" title=\"1. Aphids\">1. Aphids<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#2_Mealybugs\" title=\"2. Mealybugs\">2. Mealybugs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#3_Budworms\" title=\"3. Budworms\">3. Budworms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#4_Spider_Mites\" title=\"4. Spider Mites\">4. Spider Mites<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#5_Cutworms\" title=\"5. Cutworms\">5. Cutworms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#6_Snails\" title=\"6. Snails\">6. Snails<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#7_Slugs\" title=\"7. Slugs\">7. Slugs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#8_Rabbits\" title=\"8. Rabbits\">8. Rabbits<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#9_Squirrels\" title=\"9. Squirrels\">9. Squirrels<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#10_Deer\" title=\"10. Deer\">10. Deer<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#What_to_do_about_Petunia_Pests\" title=\"What to do about Petunia Pests?\">What to do about Petunia Pests?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions_About_What_is_Eating_my_Petunias\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions About What is Eating my Petunias\">Frequently Asked Questions About What is Eating my Petunias<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#Are_Petunias_Poisonous\" title=\"Are Petunias Poisonous?\">Are Petunias Poisonous?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/#Should_Petunias_Be_Pinched_Back\" title=\"Should Petunias Be Pinched Back?\">Should Petunias Be Pinched Back?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_Eating_My_Petunias\"><\/span><strong>What&#8217;s Eating My Petunias?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Petunias are a target for both bugs and mammals. Pests that eat your petunias are snails, cutworms, squirrels, and deer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/What-is-Eating-My-Petunias-683x1024.png\" alt=\"What is Eating My Petunias?\" class=\"wp-image-34477\" width=\"910\" height=\"1364\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/What-is-Eating-My-Petunias-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/What-is-Eating-My-Petunias-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/What-is-Eating-My-Petunias-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/What-is-Eating-My-Petunias.png 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 910px) 100vw, 910px\" \/><figcaption>What is Eating My Petunias?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Petunia_Eating_Pests\"><\/span><strong>Petunia Eating Pests<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;ve spotted signs of damage on your petunias, you should try to identify the pest so that you can deal with the infestation effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Knowing more about these pests will help you, the more you can do to fight back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Aphids\"><\/span><strong>1. Aphids<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Aphids are tiny sap-sucking insects that can terrorize gardens. Petunias, for example, are deprived of vital nutrients, which finally causes the plant to wilt and die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When a plant is being attacked by aphids, its leaves will start to yellow and wilt. Since aphids often attack plants as a colony, you may also be able to spot them as they feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Aphids-are-a-tiny-sap-sucking-insect-that-can-terrorize-gardens.png\" alt=\"Aphids are a tiny sap-sucking insect that can terrorize gardens\" class=\"wp-image-34478\" width=\"911\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Aphids-are-a-tiny-sap-sucking-insect-that-can-terrorize-gardens.png 800w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Aphids-are-a-tiny-sap-sucking-insect-that-can-terrorize-gardens-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Aphids-are-a-tiny-sap-sucking-insect-that-can-terrorize-gardens-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px\" \/><figcaption>Aphids are a tiny sap-sucking insect that can terrorize gardens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Mealybugs\"><\/span><strong>2. Mealybugs<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/are-mealybugs-harmful-to-humans-1-best-answer\/\">Mealybugs<\/a> are a kind of scale insect that feeds on plants all around the world. Like aphids, the bug&#8217;s primary source of food is a plant&#8217;s sap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These bugs are covered in a white, powdery substance. When they feed off a plant, they&#8217;ll leave some of that powder behind on its leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Mealy-bugs-are-a-type-of-scale-insect-that-feeds-on-plants-all-over-the-world.png\" alt=\"Mealy bugs are a type of scale insect that feeds on plants all over the world\" class=\"wp-image-34479\" width=\"911\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Mealy-bugs-are-a-type-of-scale-insect-that-feeds-on-plants-all-over-the-world.png 800w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Mealy-bugs-are-a-type-of-scale-insect-that-feeds-on-plants-all-over-the-world-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Mealy-bugs-are-a-type-of-scale-insect-that-feeds-on-plants-all-over-the-world-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px\" \/><figcaption>Mealy bugs are a type of scale insect that feeds on plants all over the world<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Budworms\"><\/span><strong>3.<\/strong> <strong>Budworms<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Budworms are a type of moth caterpillar that can do serious damage to plants like petunias. They chew on the buds of flowers, destroying them before they have a chance to bloom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can spot budworms by looking for holes in your petunia&#8217;s buds and flowers. Budworms may also leave behind tiny black droppings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Budworms-are-a-type-of-moth-caterpillar-that-can-do-serious-damage-to-plants-like-petunias.png\" alt=\"Budworms are a type of moth caterpillar that can do serious damage to plants like petunias\" class=\"wp-image-34480\" width=\"912\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Budworms-are-a-type-of-moth-caterpillar-that-can-do-serious-damage-to-plants-like-petunias.png 800w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Budworms-are-a-type-of-moth-caterpillar-that-can-do-serious-damage-to-plants-like-petunias-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Budworms-are-a-type-of-moth-caterpillar-that-can-do-serious-damage-to-plants-like-petunias-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px\" \/><figcaption>Budworms are a type of moth caterpillar that can do serious damage to plants like petunias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Spider_Mites\"><\/span><strong>4. Spider Mites<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These tiny <a href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/can-spider-mites-live-on-humans\/\">spider mites<\/a> insects can be as small as 1\/25 of an inch. They feed off the leaves of many garden plants by puncturing tiny <a href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-holes-in-my-tomatoes\/\">holes<\/a> in the plant&#8217;s cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You won&#8217;t always be able to see the miniscule holes that these mites leave behind, but you will be able to see their webs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The webs can usually be found on the bottoms of leaves and resemble silk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Spider-Mites-feed-off-the-leaves-of-many-garden-plants-by-puncturing-tiny-holes.png\" alt=\"Spider Mites feed off the leaves of many garden plants by puncturing tiny holes\" class=\"wp-image-34481\" width=\"911\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Spider-Mites-feed-off-the-leaves-of-many-garden-plants-by-puncturing-tiny-holes.png 800w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Spider-Mites-feed-off-the-leaves-of-many-garden-plants-by-puncturing-tiny-holes-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Spider-Mites-feed-off-the-leaves-of-many-garden-plants-by-puncturing-tiny-holes-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px\" \/><figcaption>Spider Mites feed off the leaves of many garden plants by puncturing tiny holes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Cutworms\"><\/span><strong>5. Cutworms<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These moth larvae lurk beneath the soil during the day, waiting until <a href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-tomatoes-at-night\/\">night<\/a> to feed off the stem of plants. Eventually, this will cut down the plant, which is where the larvae get their name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If there are petunias in your garden that have topped over, or if the stems of some of your plants have been partially cut through, you&#8217;re probably dealing with cutworms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also usually find cutworms by moving around the surface of the soil around your plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Cutworms-moth-larvae-lurk-beneath-the-soil-during-the-day-waiting-until-night-to-feed-off-the-stem-of-plants.png\" alt=\"Cutworms moth larvae lurk beneath the soil during the day, waiting until night to feed off the stem of plants\" class=\"wp-image-34482\" width=\"911\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Cutworms-moth-larvae-lurk-beneath-the-soil-during-the-day-waiting-until-night-to-feed-off-the-stem-of-plants.png 800w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Cutworms-moth-larvae-lurk-beneath-the-soil-during-the-day-waiting-until-night-to-feed-off-the-stem-of-plants-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Cutworms-moth-larvae-lurk-beneath-the-soil-during-the-day-waiting-until-night-to-feed-off-the-stem-of-plants-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px\" \/><figcaption>Cutworms during the day, waiting until night to feed off the stem of plants<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Snails\"><\/span><strong>6. Snails<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Snails are happy to eat just about any plant in your garden. Your petunias are most likely to be targeted by snails as they&#8217;re starting to bloom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you can see slime trails on your petunias, it&#8217;s safe to assume that your garden has been infested by slugs or snails. When snails feed, they also leave behind holes in a plant&#8217;s leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Your-petunias-are-most-likely-to-be-targeted-by-snails-as-they-are-starting-to-bloom.png\" alt=\"Your petunias are most likely to be targeted by snails as they are starting to bloom\" class=\"wp-image-34483\" width=\"912\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Your-petunias-are-most-likely-to-be-targeted-by-snails-as-they-are-starting-to-bloom.png 800w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Your-petunias-are-most-likely-to-be-targeted-by-snails-as-they-are-starting-to-bloom-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Your-petunias-are-most-likely-to-be-targeted-by-snails-as-they-are-starting-to-bloom-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px\" \/><figcaption>Your petunias are most likely to be targeted by snails as they are starting to bloom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Slugs\"><\/span><strong>7. Slugs<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/why-does-salt-kill-slugs\/\">Slugs<\/a> love to feed on the leaves of the plants, even plants that are wilting or dying. Since snails have a large appetite, they can kill plants if their feeding isn&#8217;t stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned above, slime is a tell-tale sign of slugs. Not only can you find these slime trails on the leaves of your plants, but you&#8217;ll also see them on the soil below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Slugs-love-to-feed-on-the-leaves-of-the-plants-even-plants-that-are-wilting-or-dying.png\" alt=\"Slugs love to feed on the leaves of the plants, even plants that are wilting or dying\" class=\"wp-image-34484\" width=\"912\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Slugs-love-to-feed-on-the-leaves-of-the-plants-even-plants-that-are-wilting-or-dying.png 800w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Slugs-love-to-feed-on-the-leaves-of-the-plants-even-plants-that-are-wilting-or-dying-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Slugs-love-to-feed-on-the-leaves-of-the-plants-even-plants-that-are-wilting-or-dying-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px\" \/><figcaption>Slugs love to feed on the leaves of the plants, even plants that are wilting or dying<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Rabbits\"><\/span><strong>8. Rabbits<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rabbits are known for <a href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/which-animal-is-eating-my-plants-at-night\/\">eating<\/a> produce, but many people don&#8217;t know that they like to eat flowers as well. In addition to petunias, they&#8217;ll chomp on pansies and marigolds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When rabbits feed on plants, they usually eat the entire leaf, which means they won&#8217;t leave any holes behind. However, they will leave behind pellet-like droppings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Rabbits-are-known-for-eating-produce-but-many-people-dont-know-that-they-like-to-eat-flowers-as-well.png\" alt=\"Rabbits are known for eating produce, but many people don't know that they like to eat flowers as well\" class=\"wp-image-34486\" width=\"911\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Rabbits-are-known-for-eating-produce-but-many-people-dont-know-that-they-like-to-eat-flowers-as-well.png 800w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Rabbits-are-known-for-eating-produce-but-many-people-dont-know-that-they-like-to-eat-flowers-as-well-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Rabbits-are-known-for-eating-produce-but-many-people-dont-know-that-they-like-to-eat-flowers-as-well-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px\" \/><figcaption>Rabbits are known for eating produce, but they like to eat flowers as well<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Squirrels\"><\/span><strong>9. Squirrels<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/blog\/squirrel-teeth-everything-you-need-to-know\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A squirrel&#8217;s teeth will continue to grow for its entire life<\/a>. In order to keep their teeth from getting too long, squirrels chew on plants like petunias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a <a href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/will-mothballs-keep-squirrels-away\/\">squirrel<\/a> has been gnawing on your petunias, there&#8217;s a good chance that it will leave bite marks behind. Squirrels also have a habit of digging holes in garden beds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Squirrels-teeth-will-continue-to-grow-for-its-entire-life-to-prevent-its-teeth-from-growing-too-long.png\" alt=\"Squirrel's teeth will continue to grow for its entire life, to prevent its teeth from growing too long\" class=\"wp-image-34487\" width=\"913\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Squirrels-teeth-will-continue-to-grow-for-its-entire-life-to-prevent-its-teeth-from-growing-too-long.png 800w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Squirrels-teeth-will-continue-to-grow-for-its-entire-life-to-prevent-its-teeth-from-growing-too-long-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Squirrels-teeth-will-continue-to-grow-for-its-entire-life-to-prevent-its-teeth-from-growing-too-long-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 913px) 100vw, 913px\" \/><figcaption>Squirrels chew on plants like petunias to keep their teeth from getting too long.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Deer\"><\/span><strong>10. Deer<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Deer love to feed on flowers, especially when they&#8217;ve been fertilized. While many garden pests are active during the summer, deer are more likely to feed on plants during the fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Typically, deer feed around dawn, which can make it hard to spot them in your garden. However, deer do leave behind tracks and large droppings after they feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Deer-love-to-feed-on-flowers-especially-when-theyve-been-fertilized.png\" alt=\"Deer love to feed on flowers, especially when they've been fertilized\" class=\"wp-image-34488\" width=\"911\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Deer-love-to-feed-on-flowers-especially-when-theyve-been-fertilized.png 800w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Deer-love-to-feed-on-flowers-especially-when-theyve-been-fertilized-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Deer-love-to-feed-on-flowers-especially-when-theyve-been-fertilized-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px\" \/><figcaption>Deer love to feed on flowers, especially when they&#8217;ve been fertilized<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_do_about_Petunia_Pests\"><\/span><strong>What to do about Petunia Pests?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Lots of pests like to target petunias, but that doesn&#8217;t mean you have to give up on growing this flower in your garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many natural pesticides you can use to keep bugs away, including d<em>i<\/em>atomaceous earth and neem <a href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/essential-oils-to-keep-birds-building-nests\/\">oil<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another way to deal with bugs is to add predator insects to your yard. You can purchase helpful insects like ladybugs and praying mantises at many garden stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/natural-pesticides-you-can-use-to-keep-bugs-away-including-diatomaceous-earth-and-neem-oil.png\" alt=\"natural pesticides you can use to keep bugs away, including diatomaceous earth and neem oil\" class=\"wp-image-34489\" width=\"911\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/natural-pesticides-you-can-use-to-keep-bugs-away-including-diatomaceous-earth-and-neem-oil.png 800w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/natural-pesticides-you-can-use-to-keep-bugs-away-including-diatomaceous-earth-and-neem-oil-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/natural-pesticides-you-can-use-to-keep-bugs-away-including-diatomaceous-earth-and-neem-oil-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px\" \/><figcaption>Natural pesticides you can use to keep bugs away, diatomaceous earth and neem oil<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re dealing with slugs or snails, try setting a trap! You can catch these pests by leaving out a shallow container of flat beer or setting out grapefruit rinds in your garden overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Slugs and snails are also a food source for birds. Try adding a birdbath to your garden, and it won&#8217;t be long before these pests disappear from your yard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most mammals that feed on petunias have a very strong sense of <a href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-does-wisteria-smell-like\/\">smell<\/a>, which means you can deter them with odors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Numerous species of animals are deterred by garlic, and you can even try spraying predator urine on your flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Garlic-is-a-deterrent-for-many-types-of-wildlife.png\" alt=\"Garlic is a deterrent for many types of wildlife\" class=\"wp-image-34490\" width=\"911\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Garlic-is-a-deterrent-for-many-types-of-wildlife.png 800w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Garlic-is-a-deterrent-for-many-types-of-wildlife-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Garlic-is-a-deterrent-for-many-types-of-wildlife-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px\" \/><figcaption>Numerous species of animals are deterred by garlic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions_About_What_is_Eating_my_Petunias\"><\/span><strong>Frequently Asked Questions About What is Eating my Petunias<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_Petunias_Poisonous\"><\/span><strong>Are Petunias Poisonous?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though petunias are a part of the nightshade family, they&#8217;re not toxic or poisonous. While this is one of the reason they&#8217;re a food source for pests, it also means they&#8217;re safe to grow if you have cats or dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_Petunias_Be_Pinched_Back\"><\/span><strong>Should Petunias Be Pinched Back?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Pinching back flowers could help to revive a petunia plant. Squeeze the stem&#8217;s tip between your thumb and fingers to extract a flower.<\/p>\n\n\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\"><br \/>\n{<br \/>\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",<br \/>\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",<br \/>\n  \"mainEntity\": [<br \/>\n    {<br \/>\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",<br \/>\n      \"name\": \"Are Petunias Poisonous?\",<br \/>\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {<br \/>\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",<br \/>\n        \"text\": \"Even though petunias are a part of the nightshade family, they're not toxic or poisonous. While this is one of the reason they're a food source for pests, it also means they're safe to grow if you have cats or dogs.\"<br \/>\n      }<br \/>\n    },<br \/>\n    {<br \/>\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",<br \/>\n      \"name\": \"Should Petunias Be Pinched Back?\",<br \/>\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {<br \/>\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",<br \/>\n        \"text\": \"Pinching back flowers could help to revive a petunia plant. To remove a blossom, squeeze the tip of the stem between your thumb and forefinger.\"<br \/>\n      }<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n  ]<br \/>\n}<br \/>\n<\/script><br>\n<!--FAQPage Code Generated by https:\/\/saijogeorge.com\/json-ld-schema-generator\/faq\/--><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Petunias are a colorful plant that&#8217;s a member of the nightshade family. Not only are petunias lovely to look at, but they&#8217;re also known for having an appealing scent. People are drawn to petunias, but so are many garden pests. In fact, there are many pests that will feed on petunias and destroy these beautiful &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/what-is-eating-my-petunias\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">What is Eating my Petunias? These Are The 10 Worst Pests<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34485,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[80,84],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34391"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34391"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34391\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34557,"href":"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34391\/revisions\/34557"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackhillsgarden.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}