Shasta daisies

Question

I planted a shaft a daisy in my garden a couple of weeks ago but within a week it had been stripped of flowers and foliage leaving just ragged stems a few inches tall. Have you any idea what could have done this? I planted two more in another part of the garden and they’re fine.

Answer 1

A hungry woodchuck, aka groundhog, or other critter like rabbit could have done this. Woodchucks are getting used to having humans around and are becoming bolder as a consequence. Normally not a pest except at the edges of cities or woodland borders, they are pushing further in. If you have a free-standing shed in your yard, you have perfect groundhog habitat. Since they climb and dig, like raccoons, fences are of little use. Rabbits live in most areas and can stand tall to reach the upper parts of plants. Rabbits are nocturnal but you might spot one in the early dawn. You might throw a cloche or row cover over the daisies for now. Other options are traps and repellents. For those, you need to know which animal you are dealing with.