Impatiens are a popular choice for gardeners seeking to add vibrant color to shady areas. However, a flourishing impatiens bed can quickly turn to frustration when plants are mysteriously eaten. Identifying the animal responsible for the damage is the first step toward protecting these annuals.
Identifying the Culprit: Common Animals That Eat Impatiens
When impatiens plants show signs of damage, the eating pattern often reveals the responsible animal. Deer are frequent culprits, leaving distinct damage. Their eating habits result in ragged, torn stems and leaves, often higher up on the plant, as they lack lower incisors and pull at the foliage. Extensive damage across multiple plants, sometimes with entire plants consumed to the ground, suggests deer activity.
Rabbits, on the other hand, make clean, angled cuts on stems and leaves. This damage is found closer to the ground, within one to two feet of the soil surface, as rabbits are smaller and prefer to feed from lower portions of plants. Gardeners might also find small, round droppings near the affected plants, providing evidence of rabbit presence.
Slugs and snails cause irregular holes in the leaves. These pests prefer to feed in damp, shaded conditions, often at night. A silvery, slimy trail on leaves or surrounding surfaces indicates their activity.
Protecting Your Impatiens
Once the animal causing damage has been identified, several strategies can protect impatiens. Physical barriers offer a solution for larger animals. For deer, a fence at least eight feet tall is recommended, as they can jump surprisingly high. To deter rabbits, a fence of at least two to three feet in height, with the bottom buried six inches into the ground, can prevent them from digging underneath.
Repellents provide another layer of defense against foraging animals. These come in various forms, including scent-based options that animals find unpleasant and taste-based repellents that make the plants unappetizing. Commercial repellents often contain ingredients like putrescent egg solids or capsaicin, while some gardeners use DIY solutions such as hot pepper sprays or strong-smelling bar soaps hung near plants. Reapply repellents regularly, especially after rain or irrigation.
Cultural practices also play a role in deterring pests. Maintaining a tidy garden by removing leaf litter and debris can reduce hiding spots for slugs and snails, making the area less appealing. Avoiding overwatering also creates a drier environment, less favorable for these moisture-loving mollusks. For slugs and snails, shallow traps filled with beer or a yeast solution can be effective, luring them in to drown.