Gardening

Botany

(70,784 posts)

13. That looks like insect damage not chickadee damage. The birds are more than likely eating the insects

Sun May 5, 2024, 06:16 PM

May 5

….that are on the leaves. Cut the old beaten up leaves off the plant, keep the plant watered,
and spray the new leaves with a deer or rabbit repellent or a very very dilute insecticide…. The plant
will push new leaves. If you watch the plant closely you’ll more than likely to see some kind of
caterpillar or worm on it. The damage from what I can tell is cosmetic. Spraying the plant with
H2O might knock some of the critters off of it.

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When my sunflowers reach about two or three feet, they get attacked. [View all] Ptah Apr 25 OP

Chickadees go for the seeds in the flower head, not leaves. apcalc Apr 25 #1

Since I have seen Chickadees eating the leaves, Ptah Apr 25 #3

Evidence: Ptah May 9 #15

cloaking device? Tetrachloride Apr 25 #2

Does Amazon offer a good deal? Ptah Apr 25 #4

Plant more? Dear_Prudence Apr 25 #5

You need a great big bird feeder usonian Apr 25 #6

Hot peppers codfisherman Apr 26 #7

I'm pretty sure most birds don't react to capsicum like mammals do. sl8 Apr 26 #8

Interesting Kali Apr 26 #9

I like your idea of shiny things. Ptah Apr 28 #10

ha! Kali Apr 28 #11

Maybe a scarecrow to deter birds? Emile May 1 #12

That looks like insect damage not chickadee damage. The birds are more than likely eating the insects Botany May 5 #13

From an informative post about Goldfinches vs sunflowers. Ptah May 9 #14

Thisltle socks codfisherman May 9 #16