What's eating my dahlia 'boom boom white'?

Dahlias attract aphids, earwigs, slugs, and caterpillars, plus deer and rabbits can devastate plants overnight. Earwigs shred petals badly. Control aphids with a strong water jet or insecticidal soap, trap earwigs in rolled newspaper, use slug pellets at soil level, and fence deer/rabbits out.

Clustered soft insects under leaves and on new shoots, causing curled, distorted growth and sticky honeydew. Blast off with a strong hose jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; encourage ladybirds and lacewings.

Ragged, irregular holes in petals and young leaves, especially noticeable on double-flowered blooms; feeding happens at night. Trap in rolls of damp newspaper or cardboard tubes placed near plants overnight; empty traps into soapy water each morning.

Large, irregular holes in leaves and stems near soil level, with silvery slime trails left behind. Apply iron phosphate or ferric phosphate pellets around plants; hand-pick at night; use copper tape around pots.

Whole shoots and flower buds bitten off cleanly, often overnight, leaving stubbed stems. Install chicken-wire or deer fencing; apply commercial repellent sprays to foliage; use physical barriers around tubers.