What's eating my dahlia?

Dahlia merckii, a delicate species dahlia with small lavender blooms, attracts the same core dahlia pests. Slugs are the dominant early-season threat to its finer stems. Earwigs damage the dainty flowers. Aphid pressure is common on shoot tips. Its compact habit makes it slightly less attractive to deer than large-flowered hybrids, but rabbits still browse readily.

Hollow out or sever the slender emerging stems, often before any leaves are visible above soil; silvery slime trails are the tell-tale sign Ferric phosphate pellets around planting sites from day one; gritty mulch or copper rings around individual stems; evening patrols for hand-removal

Shred the delicate petals of the small species flowers overnight, leaving irregular holes and torn edges — damage can ruin the display completely Damp-straw-filled upturned pot traps on stakes; remove debris near the plants; pyrethrin spray as a last resort

Colonies on shoot tips and developing buds cause leaf curl and stunted new growth; heavy infestations stunt this already small plant significantly Insecticidal soap spray; attract aphid predators with neighbouring flowers; pinch out and discard heavily infested shoot tips