What's eating my scarlet dahlia?

Scarlet dahlia (Dahlia coccinea) faces the same major garden pests as other dahlias. Slugs and snails are the top threat, demolishing young growth overnight. Earwigs shred blooms. Aphids and capsid bugs distort shoot tips. Deer and rabbits browse stems. Starting slug control at planting time and checking under foliage nightly through summer prevents most damage.

Chew large irregular holes in leaves and devour emerging shoots entirely, often killing young plants before they establish; slime trails confirm presence Apply ferric phosphate pellets immediately after planting; use wool pellet mulch around stems; hand-collect at dusk; water in the morning not evening

Feed nocturnally on petals and young leaves, leaving ragged-edged holes and shredded blooms — worst damage appears in the flowers themselves Set traps of upturned pots filled with damp straw on stakes near plants; shake earwigs into soapy water each morning; clear debris that provides daytime refuge

Dense colonies on shoot tips and buds cause distorted, curled growth; sticky honeydew attracts sooty mould, reducing photosynthesis Blast off with a strong water jet; insecticidal soap spray; encourage ladybirds and hoverflies with nearby companion flowers

Deer browse flower buds and upper stems; rabbits gnaw lower stems and leaves, sometimes clipping stems flush to the ground Deer repellent sprays; bury wire mesh 6 in. at bed perimeter for rabbits; tall fencing (at least 5 ft) for deer exclusion