OK, I have a sizeable Iris patch in the backyard & something is attacking them. It's like they are being cut to be put ion a vase, the stems are cut off super cleanly like a razor cut them just under the flowers. It looks to be too high for a Squirrel or Rabbit to reach without dragging the whole plant down. I know it's not the Iris borers, thank goodness but I can't for the life of me figure this out. Don't think it's a Cutworm, as it's happening at random spots, not in a general area. Cutworms would leave ragged holes in leaves & the stem would be hollowed out. I think it's an animal of some kind, bigger than a Squirrel or Rabbit. I have two yellow exotic Irises that bloom probably once every five years that are ready to pop & I dread the thought of seeing them on the ground.

TIA for your input on this problem...

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John
NJ
USDA zone 7a

W#OW that is a mystery and one I am no help with. The only thing that bothers my iris are the Iris borer.

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6a
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

You might consider one of these cages. I bought some for my clematis and did the trick. Maybe it would help you as well...http://www.bunnyfence.com/

Caro
SE PA, Zone 6b

It just might be a neighbor! I have had one of that kind of pest that just comes by and pulls off/up flowers and plants and picks and throws tomatoes too...

Just try and find a remedy for that pest.......

Patti
Pewaukee, WI
Zone 5A

John, not sure but the rabbits here are pretty big. I've been sticking the dog on them all week. Tonight my slightly overweight Cocker dashed off at the rabbit, and when it took off, he gave up pretty quickly and decided that was the end of that! I need to start walking him more or send him to weight watchers. that face is so hard to deny.



Wow Paula, that is certainly unacceptable!

Pam
Matawan,NJ 7a

First off thanks everyone for trying to help solve this problem...

@Penny...Thank goodness that little nasty hasn't reared it's ugly head in my garden yet! I'll take this problem over that one any day & I'm sorry that you have to deal with it!

@caro...Thanks Caro, that's a great idea & one I've implemented already for some vulnerable plants. I made my own out of heavy gauge wire fence that I cut with bolt cutters & rolled the cut pieces into round 'cages'. A Deer ate one of my Rose Bushes into the ground one year & it keeps trying to come back so I caged it to protect it. Also the Deer like to eat my Toad Lillies & I cage them also. Last year I bought a little Red Mulberry tree off ebay & it was doing OK until a Blue Jay tried to land on it & snapped it in two, leaving about a 4" stump so I caged it also & lo & behold this Spring a shoot has popped out! The problem with the Irises is there's probably over a hundred spread out in three big areas so with the culprit picking random areas to strike I have no idea where to put the cages. I have Deer, Squirrel & Rabbit repellant & have applied it by the specific Irises I want to bloom, so far it seems to be working.

@Patti...I do have a nutcase neighbor but she does not leave her house & I have an impenetrable border between her house & me, she would have to go out in the street to get to my place. I do not believe she would attempt this even if she could come on my property... What is even more crazy is that Pam just called her by name. Yikes!!!

@Pam...LOL @ your tubby Cocker!!
We had a slew of Rabbits last year after a long blight but I think there's a Fox in the woods behind my house that ate them. I know there's a Coyote up at the farm because my farmer friend told me that is why there are eight deer in the woods behind my house now & I am going through Liquid Fence like there's no tomorrow. Maybe the Coyote will follow but he said if he sees it again he will shoot it because of safety concerns.

My cuckoo neighbor's name is Paula?????

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John
NJ
USDA zone 7a

John
I also cage some of my plants using hardware cloth that I cut and form circular cages around the plants. Mine is more to protect young plants from the voles...my other nemesis. Last year voles did go after my copper Iris plants. in one bed. Every morning I came out and found leaves cut off and the rhizomes chewed on

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6a
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Penny,
I've never had any plant root or rhizome problems/damage, so I don't think Voles are present here or they are being held in check by the neighbor's outdoor cats. I know there are Moles here but I've never had them damage anything either. There are Chipmunks also & they like to stuff their cheeks with my Tomatoes...

Now it's the Squirrels, a Fuschia that I just bought in a hanging basket was chewed on & I found the broken branches on the ground beneath it. They also ate half of a Blue Cardinal Flower I planted in my swampy area, drat!

Those Voles you have sound like a formidable opponent & I am glad that I don't have to deal with them...Good luck!

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John
NJ
USDA zone 7a

No it is definitely not voles that you are dealing with and it isn't moles either. Neither one of those would climb up to your fuchsia and bit it off. It must be a crazed squirrel or racoon.

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6a
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39