{"id":13817,"date":"2020-09-02T16:06:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-02T06:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/?p=13817"},"modified":"2025-06-11T21:38:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T11:38:10","slug":"what-is-eating-seedlings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/what-is-eating-seedlings\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Eating Your Seedlings?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><div class=\"lazyloadImage\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"912\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/whats-eating-seedlings.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/whats-eating-seedlings.jpg 912w, https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/whats-eating-seedlings-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/whats-eating-seedlings-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/whats-eating-seedlings-360x202.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px\" \/><\/noscript><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">kram-9 \/ Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Growing your own veggies seems like a great idea, at least until you plant the fragile and hard-grown seedlings in the backyard garden. Still vulnerable, small plants can be easily affected by both weather conditions and invisible culprits, day or night. The latter can be quite sneaky, too, feeding on leaves and stems, and sabotaging your work in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So do not hesitate to play a detective for a few days to understand what exactly is happening in your garden. You don\u2019t actually have to catch the intruders in the act to identify them. The damage they leave behind can tell you enough. So take your flashlight and gloves, and start the investigation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"investigte-seedlings\">How to determine what\u2019s eating the seedlings?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Check the leaves<\/strong> &#8211; The size of the damage can tell you a lot about the intruder. Keep in mind, though, that a single check may not be enough in this case. If you want to be absolutely sure, it is best to examine your seedings several days in a row. Pay most attention to the leaves and whether the damage is occurring during the day or night, whether is done over a single night or it takes longer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Assess the damage<\/strong> &#8211; Small holes in the leaves that continue to grow are a sign that you are dealing with caterpillars, earwigs, grasshoppers or other types of insects. Slugs can cause similar damage, as they devour leaves gradually. However, if you notice that big chunks or entire leaves are disappearing within a single night, then an animal is most likely responsible.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"animals-eating-plants\">Which animals feed on plants?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><div class=\"lazyloadImage\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"912\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/possum-eating-plants.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13893\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/possum-eating-plants.jpg 912w, https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/possum-eating-plants-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/possum-eating-plants-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/possum-eating-plants-360x202.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px\" \/><\/noscript><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Immersion Imagery \/ Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There aren\u2019t that many possibilities when it comes to animals eating seedlings. You\u2019ve probably already encountered some of them and know what a pest they can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Possums<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You may find them cute and fuzzy, but these little rascals can be a real nightmare to deal with. Mainly because they are not easy to detect because nighttime is feeding time, they eat a lot, therefore they could cause a lot of damage to your garden and they will stick around once they find a place they like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to make sure that there is a possum attacking your plants, check if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Whole leaves or entire plants are ripped from the ground.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There is visible nibbling on some of the leaves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Only certain types of plants are affected (possums like to eat tomatoes, broccoli, peas, parsley).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are droppings nearby that resemble those of a dog.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t<section class=\"section section--single-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"related-article\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"related-article__title\">You may also like:<\/div> <!-- \/.related-article__title -->\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"related-article__body\">\n\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"related-article__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-possums\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"How to Get Rid of Possums? Make Them Leave in a Natural Way\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lazyloadImage\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/How-to-Get-Rid-of-Possums-Featured-Image-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"How to Get Rid of Possums - Featured Image\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 5120px) 100vw, 5120px\" title=\"How to Get Rid of Possums &#8211; Featured Image\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure> <!-- \/.related-article__image -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"related-article__desc\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"badge-holder\">\n\t<span class=\"badge badge--color-5\">Pest Issues<\/span>\n<\/div>  <!-- \/.badge-holder --> \n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-possums\/\" class=\"short-text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"How to Get Rid of Possums? Make Them Leave in a Natural Way\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to Get Rid of Possums? Make Them Leave in a Natural Way\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- \/.related-article__desc -->\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- \/.related-article__body -->\n\t\t<\/div> <!-- \/.related-article -->\t\n\t<\/section> <!-- \/.section section--single-post -->\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rats and mice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Although it is common knowledge that rats and mice prefer seeds, your young and juicy seedlings can also look appealing to them. The most important thing for rodents is food, so they will stick around the place they can get it fast and risk-free. Pretty soon they may decide to look for it inside your home, so do not underestimate the <a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-mice-rats\/\">presence of rodents<\/a> in your backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It may be hard to distinguish whether a possum, rat or mouse is feeding on your seedlings, but the signs of a rodent intruder usually are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mainly stems, roots and bulbs are affected, as well as fruits close by.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clear signs of nibbling or scratching on the stem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Birds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite keeping your garden pest-free, birds can cause damage, too. They are fond of young plants and consider them a tasty snack. Birds are usually only interested in the leaves, but when the seedlings are not planted deep enough, it is possible to see whole plants pulled from the ground. If you have doubts that birds are causing troubles in your garden, check if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The seedlings\u2019 leaves are ripped.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Only the young and vulnerable seedlings are affected and nothing else.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are bird droppings near the \u201ccrime scene\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are signs of birds nesting close to your garden.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is that birds are normally interested only in the young and tender plants. What your seedlings need is enough time to develop and mature a little bit, and then the birds will leave them alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Snails and slugs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These little guys can be really persistent and they like to get their snack when it\u2019s dark outside. They love moisture, so the chances of snails attaching your seedlings increase significantly when it rains. So, here are some of the common signs of a snail or slug presence:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Strangely shaped leaf holes away from the leaf\u2019s edge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shiny dry trails on the leaves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gradual but persistent damage to the seedlings during the night.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Since nighttime is when they are active, you can do a little investigation in your backyard then. <strong>Check not only the seedlings but also the rest of your garden, as snails can hide under larger leaves, bushes, rocks, mulch, etc. These areas serve as shelters for other pests like earwigs, so make sure they stay clean.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<section class=\"section section--single-post\">\n\t<div class=\"check-price-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"check-price-box__body\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"check-price-box__title\">Need a hand cleaning the garden?<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t<p class=\"check-price-box__desc\">Get a professional gardener you can trust.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"form form--full-width form--check-price dynamic-helper\">\n    <form class=\"default-check-price-form\" action=\"\">\n        <div class=\"form__inner\">\n            <div class=\"form__field the-postfield-wrap\">\n                <span class=\"icon-holder\">\n                    <i class=\"icon-pointer\"><\/i>\n                <\/span>\n\n                <input class=\"field the-postfield\" type=\"text\" name=\"postcode-field\" placeholder=\"Enter your post code\" data-service-category=\"23\"\/>\n                <span class=\"focus-label\"><\/span>\n                <div class=\"field-error-msg\">Add a valid postcode e.g. 3000<\/div> <!-- \/.field-error-msg -->\n            <\/div> <!-- \/.form__field -->\n\n            <div class=\"form__btn submit-wrapper-with-loader active\">\n                <div class=\"load-holder-lds-eclipse\">\n                    <div class=\"load-lds-eclipse\"><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n\n                <input class=\"btn btn--large checkpPricesSubmit\" name=\"check-prices-submit\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Get a quote\" rel=\"nofollow\" disabled\/>\n            <\/div> <!-- \/.form__btn -->\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.form__inner -->\n    <\/form>\n<\/div> <!-- \/.check-price-form -->\t\t<\/div> <!-- \/.card-widget__body -->\n\n\t\t<div class=\"check-price-box__img\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"lazyloadImage\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/fantasticservices-com-blog\/assets\/images\/check-price-box\/gardener.png\" alt=\"Need a hand cleaning the garden?\"\/><\/noscript><\/div>\t\t<\/div> <!-- \/.card-widget__img -->\n\t<\/div> <!-- \/.card-widget card-widget--obf-form -->\n<\/section> <!-- \/.section section--single-post -->\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"insects-eating-plants\">Which insects might be eating your seedlings?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><div class=\"lazyloadImage\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"912\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/insect-eating-plant.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13894\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/insect-eating-plant.jpg 912w, https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/insect-eating-plant-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/insect-eating-plant-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/insect-eating-plant-360x202.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px\" \/><\/noscript><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">ArtEvent ET \/ Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s look at the other group of possible suspects. It\u2019s true that animals may cause serious damage overnight, but insects can be just as destructive. They just need more time. That\u2019s one of the reasons why their attacks may go unnoticed for some time, leading to a serious garden infestation later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, don\u2019t dismiss the few small holes you saw this morning on some of the leaves. Instead, try to identify who is responsible. And here\u2019s who you should look for!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Caterpillars<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Caterpillars are without a doubt a common garden pest and depending on the season, you can have different types of visitors. Regardless, you can be sure of one thing &#8211; they are all hungry and ready to devour your growing veggie plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spodoptera_picta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lily caterpillars<\/a> to the <a href=\"https:\/\/australian.museum\/learn\/animals\/insects\/cabbage-white-butterfly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cabbage white caterpillars<\/a>, it\u2019s good to know your enemy as these leaf-eating insects leave their own trails behind. Like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Consistently growing holes all over the plants\u2019 leaves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Possible discolouration here or there.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Very small green- or blue-coloured dropping.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, the most telling sign is the caterpillar itself. It\u2019s impossible to miss it, once you start examining the seedlings\u2019 leaves. These hungry leaf-eaters appear as if out of nowhere. In fact, they are planted by moths or butterflies, so it\u2019s good to check for signs of eggs on the inner side of the leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Earwigs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Earwigs can survive on almost anything and transplants are also part of their diet. The good news, however, is that not all kinds of earwigs you encounter in the garden are there to attack your veggies. Most Australian species can even rid your garden of caterpillars and various insect pests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/earwig\/\">The European earwig<\/a>, on the other hand, is the one to look out for. Introduced to Australia, these specific plant-eating insects are known for their shiny fully black or dark brown bodies and long yellow legs. One of the most distinguishable traits is the missing yellow triangle on the body, just behind the head, which is present in other native species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The earwig leaves specific marks in the form of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Destroyed leaf tips or full removal of the top of the plants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Uneven holes on the inner leaves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Only nocturnal attacks on the seedlings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Holes in fruits and flower plants, too.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beetles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Weevils and African black beetles are among the most common soil beetle pests in Australia. You can easily distinguish one from the other, though, as the weevils have a long snout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the adult beetles of both species prefer to nibble on fresh green leaves, <a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/how-to-deal-with-curl-grubs-in-your-garden\/\">the larvae, also known as \u201cwhite grubs\u201d<\/a>, are drawn to the plant\u2019s roots. Since the latter remain hidden in the soil, they can cause a lot of damage and even kill the vulnerable seedlings before revealing themselves. Look for the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Slow growth of the plants and signs of wilting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visible yellowing of the foliage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mainly destroyed edges of the leaves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Damages to the root system of the plants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Severe attack on potato plants, especially the stems and tubers (typical for African black beetle).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"section section--single-post\">\n\t<div class=\"note \">\n\t\t<div class=\"note__icon\">\n\t\t\t<i class=\"icon-tip\"><\/i> <!-- \/.icon- -->\n\t\t<\/div> <!-- \/.note__icon -->\n\n\t\t<div class=\"note__body\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p>These are some of the most common pests known to attack seedlings in particular. There might be others, of course. As you can see a lot of the damages they cause are similar, making it hard to determine exactly what you are up against. If attacks continue, it is better to seek help whether from <a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/garden-maintenance\/\">a gardening specialist<\/a> or another more experienced gardener.<\/p>\t\t<\/div> <!-- \/.note__body -->\n\t<\/div> <!-- \/.note -->\n<\/section> <!-- \/.section section--single-post -->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"protect-seedlings\">How to protect the young plants?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><div class=\"lazyloadImage\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"912\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/protect-seedlings-from-pests.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13895\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/protect-seedlings-from-pests.jpg 912w, https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/protect-seedlings-from-pests-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/protect-seedlings-from-pests-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/protect-seedlings-from-pests-360x202.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px\" \/><\/noscript><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vadym Zaitsev \/ Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Considering the number of threats, securing the transplants\u2019 safe growth may seem like a tough job. Even so, there are a lot of things you can try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Remove pests as you see them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This one works just for insects, of course. It may sound tedious, but we can assure you that hand picking is effective. Just arm yourself with patience and keep a close eye not just on both sides of the leaves, but also on the stems and soil around the plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some pests know how to stay hidden. Green caterpillars have the best camouflage, but they are still fairly easy to spot. Beetles, however, tend to fall to the ground and stay hidden, which is why you have to be extra careful and look all the way to the soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Collect snails, slugs, caterpillars, earwigs and beetles (preferably with gloves!) and then put them in a bucket with salty or soapy water.<\/strong> This will make them stop eating your seedlings for good. If you don\u2019t feel like killing them, then you can release them in the wild, but this needs to be as far away from urban areas as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use repellents, baits and traps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you go to the store you will definitely find all kinds of pest control products for the garden. Some of them can simply repel, while others directly kill the intruders. Whichever you decide to use, make sure you read the label carefully first. <strong>While the majority of products will not affect the plants, the chemicals could be toxic for your pets and yourself, too. So, proceed with caution.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Repellents are easy to apply, as they usually come in a spray bottle. Many gardeners prefer to make their own eco-friendly version, including ingredients like white vinegar, dishwashing liquid, garlic, etc. They can help keep pests like caterpillars, snails and others off the plants and in some cases even kill them. Adding popular repelling plants can also help. You just have to learn what\u2019s deterring each specific pest. Possums, for instance, can\u2019t tolerate spiny grevilleas, mint, and geraniums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like the repellents, any bait you decide to use needs to be to the pest\u2019s liking and also non-toxic for other species. <strong>Read and follow instructions every time, as some products need to be reapplied to give results. Such is the case with rodent baits, which have to be ingested over the course of several days until they can affect the rat or mice.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As for traps, they require a bit more time and patience but can be an effective pest control method. Usually, they need to be located as close to the affected plants as possible so they can trap the culprits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t<section class=\"section section--single-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"related-article\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"related-article__title\">You may also like:<\/div> <!-- \/.related-article__title -->\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"related-article__body\">\n\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"related-article__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/how-to-improve-soil-quality\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"How to Improve the Quality of Your Soil\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lazyloadImage\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/how-to-improve-soil-featured-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"How to Improve the Quality of Your Soil - Featured Image\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 5120px) 100vw, 5120px\" title=\"How to Improve the Quality of Your Soil &#8211; Featured Image\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure> <!-- \/.related-article__image -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"related-article__desc\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"badge-holder\">\n\t<span class=\"badge badge--color-2\">Soil Quality &amp; Fertilising<\/span>\n<\/div>  <!-- \/.badge-holder --> \n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/how-to-improve-soil-quality\/\" class=\"short-text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"How to Improve the Quality of Your Soil\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to Improve the Quality of Your Soil\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- \/.related-article__desc -->\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- \/.related-article__body -->\n\t\t<\/div> <!-- \/.related-article -->\t\n\t<\/section> <!-- \/.section section--single-post -->\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cover the plants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is one of the best ways to hide your seedlings from the hungry pests while protecting them from harsh weather conditions. That\u2019s very important because young plants are easily susceptible to the natural elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>All-purpose row covers will be enough to protect your seedlings. Made from polypropylene, this garden fabric is very thin, allowing enough light and air to penetrate to the plants. At the same time, the garden fabric provides shelter from the wind, keeps pests out and even helps the plants mature faster.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Installing row covers is not that difficult, too. Most people prefer to use PVC hoops, but pipes or anything else that you can easily bend will do for the structure. You can also build a frame using wood or metal, as well as buy a whole kit with all necessary if you don\u2019t feel like investing time in a DIY project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"section section--single-post\">\n\t<div class=\"note \">\n\t\t<div class=\"note__icon\">\n\t\t\t<i class=\"icon-tip\"><\/i> <!-- \/.icon- -->\n\t\t<\/div> <!-- \/.note__icon -->\n\n\t\t<div class=\"note__body\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p>In order to block the pests from getting to the seedlings, make sure the fabric is firmly attached to the ground.<\/p>\t\t<\/div> <!-- \/.note__body -->\n\t<\/div> <!-- \/.note -->\n<\/section> <!-- \/.section section--single-post -->\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Install sprinklers and lights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This one is mainly for the animals which dare to trespass on your property. Possums and rodents in particular, which like sneaking into gardens and houses at night looking for free snacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Triggered by the motion, the sprinklers and lights will alert the intruders that they are not welcome. While light may only startle them, the water will certainly get them moving out of your property and away from your plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Let natural predators do the dirty work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You have one strong ally in the fight against the pests that you can use at any time. Birds like kookaburras and starlings, for example, like to feed on snails and slugs. Various others prefer caterpillars or beetles. Find out which are the natural predators of the pest you are trying to eradicate and what you can do to attract the helpers to your garden. <strong>Be careful, though, as we mentioned before birds can also attack tender seedlings.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transfer the seedlings into a garden bed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many gardeners think of raised garden beds as a more suitable environment for young plants because the constriction provides a barrier, it makes supervising easier and the limited space allows for more effective pest control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This doesn\u2019t mean, though, that pests won\u2019t find a way to sneak in there. Especially weevils. Although it may be a bit easier to control the plants in the garden beds, continue to examine them regularly for signs of infestation and turn the soil once in a while. This will expose grubs or beetles, which you can then collect or leave for birds to feed on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<section class=\"section section--single-post\">\n\t<div class=\"check-price-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"check-price-box__body\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"check-price-box__title\">Need help with the gardening duties?<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t<p class=\"check-price-box__desc\">We can help with the garden maintenance!<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"form form--full-width form--check-price dynamic-helper\">\n    <form class=\"default-check-price-form\" action=\"\">\n        <div class=\"form__inner\">\n            <div class=\"form__field the-postfield-wrap\">\n                <span class=\"icon-holder\">\n                    <i class=\"icon-pointer\"><\/i>\n                <\/span>\n\n                <input class=\"field the-postfield\" type=\"text\" name=\"postcode-field\" placeholder=\"Enter your post code\" data-service-category=\"23\"\/>\n                <span class=\"focus-label\"><\/span>\n                <div class=\"field-error-msg\">Add a valid postcode e.g. 3000<\/div> <!-- \/.field-error-msg -->\n            <\/div> <!-- \/.form__field -->\n\n            <div class=\"form__btn submit-wrapper-with-loader active\">\n                <div class=\"load-holder-lds-eclipse\">\n                    <div class=\"load-lds-eclipse\"><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n\n                <input class=\"btn btn--large checkpPricesSubmit\" name=\"check-prices-submit\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Get a quote\" rel=\"nofollow\" disabled\/>\n            <\/div> <!-- \/.form__btn -->\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.form__inner -->\n    <\/form>\n<\/div> <!-- \/.check-price-form -->\t\t<\/div> <!-- \/.card-widget__body -->\n\n\t\t<div class=\"check-price-box__img\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"lazyloadImage\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fantasticservicesgroup.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/fantasticservices-com-blog\/assets\/images\/check-price-box\/gardener.png\" alt=\"Need help with the gardening duties?\"\/><\/noscript><\/div>\t\t<\/div> <!-- \/.card-widget__img -->\n\t<\/div> <!-- \/.card-widget card-widget--obf-form -->\n<\/section> <!-- \/.section section--single-post -->\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Are any of these pests tormenting your seedlings? Did you see others? What effective pest control methods do you use? Share with us in the comments below!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Growing your own veggies seems like a great idea, at least until you plant the fragile and hard-grown seedlings in the backyard garden. Still vulnerable, small plants can be easily affected by both weather conditions and invisible culprits, day or night. The latter can be quite sneaky, too, feeding on leaves and stems, and sabotaging [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[972,966,1003],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-articles","category-gardening-advice","category-planting-and-flowerbeds"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Is Eating Your Seedlings? Find a Solution for Your Garden<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wondering what is eating your plants&#039; leaves late at night? 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