Seedlings uprooted? Still intact, just pulled out of the ground!

10 years ago

I am quickly coming to the conclusion that I have undertaken wayyyyyy too much in deciding to plant anything, anything at all. This is my first "real" garden, and one thing after the other keeps happening, and as I combat each problem, another one pops up, or is already in the works. Mildew and bugs, the dogs and the chickens, Moles, rabbits--now this! And I was worried about the deer--who haven't even discovered my little treasures yet. I want to cry! How do all you gardeners do this every year!?

Today, I have found my seedlings pulled clean out of the dirt, some still intact, some with just the leaves missing. There is no evidence of digging, no tracks of any kind, just neat, tidy little holes where the still single root used to be, and the intact seedlings tossed this way and that. Any ideas what it could be, or how to stop it? These were supposed to be my wedding flowers, so I am devastated, as it is too late at this point to hope any seeds I plant now will bloom in time--I was already pushing it. I am hoping that the ones I salvaged and replanted won't be in too much shock and will keep growing... sigh...

I have other questions, but i think I will post them separately, with pictures. So as not to over do it in one post...? Thank you for any suggestions!

Featured Answer

Rebecca Cherry Kelso

last year

My husband set up a camera and we caught the culprit……a mouse who loves chives Lol

Comments (8)

jean001a
10 years ago
Birds?

Plant again,but immediately cover with row cover.
Nubbins
Original Author
10 years ago
I wondered about birds, and after I posted this, I went up to look around again, and scared a little chickadee out of the bed. So, do birds eat the leaves off? Little stinkers! I had replanted some that looked salvageable, but the little farts had pulled them all back up again! This time, the leaves were gone. :( After seeing the bird, I did put some bird netting over the top, I just hope if that's what it is, that I don't inadvertently catch anything that can't get out of it...
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tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
10 years ago
You planted them on worm holes and the worms pushed them out.

Just kidding, it was birds. Squirrels and chipmunk will do similar things as they like digging in disturbed soil, but they leave much bigger holes behind. That will be the next thing for you to watch out for.

tj
Nubbins
Original Author
10 years ago
LOL, it does look strangely like the worms had something to do with it, doesn't it? :D I've already run the gamut: dogs, chickens, bunnies, moles... what's one more garden guest, really...? I'm pretty much counting on the likelihood that if ANY of these little baby plants survive and grow, they will get to a point where I start having hope, and then the deer will come to visit. Sigh... Next year, I am building a maximum security prison around my garden before I ever bring the first seed or plant in...
Rebecca Cherry Kelso
last year
Same here Also my chives were gone and holes in their place but these are all in seedling pots under lights inside my house!!!
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
Rebecca, look under the pots to check you don’t have a slug lurking underneath.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
9 years late.. but birds pulled out new seedlings.. because they had no root system to resist such ... birds wont pull out more established plants.. 'established' defined as have a mature root mass ...

havent seen jean i a long while.. hope all is well ..

rebecca.. welcome to the forums ...start your own post.. add some pix.. and a lot more facts.. growing seed indoors really has little to do with the topic of plants disappearing outside.. as i presume you have no birds in your house ..

ken