Gardeners often face frustration when their carefully planted flowers disappear overnight, leading to questions about which common garden pest is responsible. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are large rodents that become nuisances in residential areas due to their burrowing and feeding habits. They are active herbivores whose diet consists of a wide variety of plants found in lawns and gardens throughout the spring and summer months. Their extensive plant consumption makes them a primary suspect when ornamental plantings suffer damage.
The Direct Answer: Groundhogs and Petunias
Groundhogs definitively eat petunias, as these popular flowering annuals are frequently consumed by the animals. Groundhogs are opportunistic feeders who prefer succulent, broad-leaved vegetation, making the soft stems and foliage of petunias highly palatable. The plants are often targeted early in the growing season when groundhogs emerge from hibernation and the available food supply is less diverse. This consumption can quickly devastate garden beds or hanging baskets, since an adult groundhog can consume a substantial amount of vegetation daily.
Identifying Groundhog Damage vs. Other Pests
Bite Marks and Plant Damage
Determining the specific animal responsible for plant loss requires careful observation of the remaining damage. Groundhogs typically leave large, irregular bite marks or ragged edges on stems and leaves due to their powerful incisors. This contrasts with the clean, sharp, 45-degree cuts left by rabbits, which sever tender stems close to the ground. Damage caused by deer is often torn or shredded and occurs higher up on the plant, as deer must rip off foliage.
Physical Evidence of Groundhogs
The most telling evidence of groundhog activity is the presence of a burrow entrance. This is usually a large hole, approximately 10 to 12 inches wide, with a visible mound of excavated dirt nearby. The animals also create flattened trails in the grass or garden beds that connect their burrows to their feeding locations.
Methods for Protecting Vulnerable Plants
Physical Barriers
Physical exclusion remains the most reliable strategy for protecting petunias and other vulnerable plants from groundhogs. A permanent fence made of heavy-gauge wire mesh is highly effective, but it must account for both climbing and burrowing behaviors. The fence should stand at least three feet high above the soil line to deter climbing, with the top section bent outward at a 45-degree angle. Crucially, the mesh must be buried at least one foot deep into the ground. The bottom six inches of the wire should be bent outward to form an L-shape beneath the soil, preventing the groundhog from digging beneath the barrier.
Other Deterrents
Motion-activated sprinklers can serve as a temporary deterrent, startling the animals with a sudden burst of water when they enter the garden. Certain aromatic plants, such as lavender, catmint, or strong-scented herbs, may be planted around petunias to create a sensory barrier. However, the efficacy of this cultural method can vary based on the groundhog’s hunger level.