we planted our bulbs three weeks ago. they were up within ten days. as of yesterday the new shoots were a mere 1 inch tall. today I got home and two of the three of them were chewed down level with the soil!! arrgg!!

Deer? Slugs? Rascals? Well, I guess rascals wouldn't chew them.

not sure. im going to assume slugs are the culprits. we had record warm temps this past winter and this spring has been wet and very warm, so the slug population is in a boom right now! the dahlias were doing good for about a week. managed to reach an inch tall without anything getting to them. then last night it all went south...

Ooh - thats depressing. They should re grow, but you might want to give them some protection - I'm a big fan of Sluggo plus.

Same here, mandolls. When I go out to plant dahlias the Sluggo is always with me. The peace of mind is worth it.

Do squirrels eat dahlias? My newly planted are coming up too. Yesterday found a hole where one was......felt around and no tuber! It is totally gone. No rot or mush ....just not there at all. I do have a squirel that likes to burry nuts in my yard, did he think this was his???

Squirrels don't eat them here and I hope they don't start!

Lilydaydreamer said:Do squirrels eat dahlias? My newly planted are coming up too. Yesterday found a hole where one was......felt around and no tuber! It is totally gone. No rot or mush ....just not there at all. I do have a squirel that likes to burry nuts in my yard, did he think this was his???

My favorite squirrel family is digging up every potted plant ISO their precious walnuts that I've dug and potted. They don't eat or take their (non walnut) finds. Only two trees are MIA....today. My house might be the only safe haven for the other tree seedlings now that they're digging in pots here. I had 11 walnut tree seedlings yesterday, goal is one walnut tree, standing count is 9 seedlings...

We seem to be down to mice for predators. And they live under the deck. I put out sticky traps and got two. Then brought out the big guns (5 gallons bucket, 3" of water, peanut butter around inside rim 2" down.) And higher and the little buggers hang on with their tails and claws and can reach down to lick the PB. I put a little piece of lathe for a ramp to the top. I hate to kill anything and they are a cute little grey vole looking thing. But they do damage and D says we have to do it. But even he felt badly when two that were still alive on the sticky pad struggled to keep their heads above water when he put them in the bucket. He had to push the pad down to mercifully drown the quickly. We are both becoming very sentimental in our old age.

apparently im NOT quite as sentimental yet...