Sunflower leaves being eaten - help please?

[Buel]

Hi, please can someone help with my daughters' sunflowers - the leaves appear to be eaten?

 

[harish]

Hi, please can someone help with my daughters' sunflowers - the leaves appear to be eaten?


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It sounds like your daughter's sunflowers are being attacked by pests. Several common garden pests could be eating the leaves of your sunflowers. Here are some common culprits and what you can do to address the problem:

Common Pests That Eat Sunflower Leaves​

1. Caterpillars:
   • Identification: Look for small, green or brown larvae on the underside of leaves.
   • Solution: Hand-pick caterpillars off the plants or use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a natural bacterial pesticide.
2. Slugs and Snails:
   • Identification: Look for slime trails and holes in the leaves.
   • Solution: Use iron phosphate slug pellets, create barriers with crushed eggshells, or set up beer traps to attract and drown slugs and snails.
3. Aphids:
   • Identification: Look for small, green or black insects clustered on new growth and the underside of leaves.
   • Solution: Spray with a mixture of water and mild soap, or use insecticidal soap or neem oil.
4. Grasshoppers:
   • Identification: Look for large, hopping insects and ragged leaf edges.