Primroses

Hello,

I would be most grateful to anyone who could please give me a clue as to why the heads on the beautiful primroses, planted in the front garden two weeks ago, have all fallen off. They appear to have been very cleanly 'nipped' immediately below the flower-head. I can see no snail-trails, can discount jealous neighbours(!) and am down to blaming the birds!! The yellow ones went first, then the red ones and finally the lilac ones. Will more flowers appear or will I have to wait until next spring? Incidentally, those I planted in the back garden - together with others that have been in for many years - are all perfectly OK!!

Can anyone please tell me where I went wrong?

Thank you in advance, Eileen.

 

I can't help but I have a similar thing with mine, some plants have every petal of every flower apparently nibbled round the edges and others are left completely untouched. I've been blaming the birds it could be that some smell more than others which attracts more insects and the bird gets the petal as well but that's a complete guess.

 

Hi

Most likely to be snails or slugs. damp weather disguising trails. Could also be vine weevils, in which case have a hunt for them and squish any you find - about 1cm long, brown and striated wing cases. Grubs about 2cm, white, curled into "c" shape and in soil around plants. Squish 'em. nematodes can be watered on when the weather is warmer. Don't think it's birds - unless they're on the hunt for insects to feed to young. Hope that helps.

Bayleaf

 

Dear Helen and Bayleaf,

Thank you very much for your replies. I'll have a good look around this morning; it's a lovely day and I feel like some fresh air and some weevil hunting! Watch this space...

Regards, Eileen.

 

I had a vole in my garden last year and it did the same thing to my little allium flowers. It nipped the heads off and tried to drag them down into its house in a drystane dyke. Dont know if its the same or even if voles are awake yet. Sorry not much help really :D

Cloudy

 

I think its sparrows, they do the same to yellow crocus aswell