What Keeps Defoliating All Of My Plants?

Question

For the last few months literally anything I put in my backyard with a leaf on it gets immediately defoliated overnight. The only thing it won’t touch for some reason is my lime tree, but the lemon tree right next to it is picked clean as soon as new leaves appear. I tried direct sowing carrots, radishes and cilantro in the garden with a piece of wire mesh over them but the instant a seedling pops up it’s immediately cut back. I left the wire mesh on the ground and eventually weeds started growing under it in a perfect square then as soon as I moved it they were all gone the next morning. I finally had some success with radishes in a bag under a grow light inside my shed but just discovered that whatever it is broke in and chewed them back to the base. What the hell is going on and how can I stop this?! I can’t even grow weeds!

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Answer 1

Do you see any rabbits in your yard? The cut at an angle is common for rabbit damage. If the wire mesh is not buried several inches underground, they can get under that, too. Deer also like foliage, but leave a ragged edge. These articles should help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/animals/nocturnal-pests.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/animals/what-animal-is-eating-my-seedlings.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/rabbit-damage-to-trees.htm

https://animalrangeextension.montana.edu/wildlife/prevention_and_control/organic-rabbit-control.html

https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-protect-gardens-rabbits

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/animals/what-do-groundhogs-eat.htm