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bjames
- Newly Registered
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:07 am
- Location: Philadelphia, Pa. Zone 5
animal "eatage" !!!
I have groundhogs that attack my echinaceas and some other perennials. They wait until the plant has many buds, and then eat them right off leaving just a stem!! Will these plants form more flower buds this year? Will it react the same as if I had just "deadheaded" the plant? Or, do the flowers have to be spent before deadheading?
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rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b
Oh yes, those little chewed off stems sticking up! I'm very familiar with them 
I recognize my woodchuck's handiwork when ever I see that. Yes your plant will keep trying for awhile, and keep putting out new stems and buds. But no, it is not just like deadheading. If your groundHOG is like mine, she chews the stems pretty far down. It is harder on the plant. Eventually if she keeps chewing them off, the plant will get a bit stunted. When the groundHOG is around, I may never get any blooms from my black-eyed susans (one of the things she really likes).
I recognize my woodchuck's handiwork when ever I see that. Yes your plant will keep trying for awhile, and keep putting out new stems and buds. But no, it is not just like deadheading. If your groundHOG is like mine, she chews the stems pretty far down. It is harder on the plant. Eventually if she keeps chewing them off, the plant will get a bit stunted. When the groundHOG is around, I may never get any blooms from my black-eyed susans (one of the things she really likes).