What Animals Eat Petunias? A Complete Guide

Petunias are popular garden flowers known for their colorful blooms. But like any plant in your garden, petunias can fall victim to hungry critters. If your petunias have holes in their leaves or disappearing blooms, you likely have some hungry animals snacking on your flowers.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Common petunia munchers include rabbits, groundhogs, deer, voles, and snails/slugs.

Rabbits

Voracious Appetites

Rabbits are notorious for their ravenous appetites when it comes to garden plants, especially petunias. Their powerful front teeth allow them to quickly sheer through tender stems and leaves, devouring flowers in no time.

As herbivores, rabbits need to constantly graze to keep their digestive systems working properly. This means they will return again and again to snack on any accessible petunias.

Petunias are like candy to rabbits – the tender greens and colorful blooms prove irresistible. In fact, petunias are one of the first plants rabbits go for when they invade a flower bed or garden. Their keen sense of smell allows them to easily locate the sweet, enticing fragrance of petunias.

Favorite Petunia Parts

While rabbits will munch on all parts of petunias, they tend to favor certain parts over others:

• Flowers – Rabbits relish the soft, sweet petals of petunia blooms. They will deftly nip off the flowers, leaving behind bare, ragged stems.
• Leaves – The tender green leaves of petunias provide moisture and nutrients for rabbits. They will rapidly devour the foliage.
• Stems – Rabbits will chew through the slender stems to reach the tastier flowers and leaves. Damaged stems prevent additional flowering.
• Roots – If given the chance, rabbits may dig up and eat petunia roots as well, destroying the entire plant.

Petunias are most vulnerable to rabbit damage when first planted outside in spring. The young shoots and leaves offer rabbits an appetizing salad bar after a long winter eating twigs and bark. Established petunia plants with an abundance of foliage and flowers also attract foraging bunnies.

Deterring Rabbits

Protecting petunias from ravenous rabbits requires diligence and patience. Here are some tactics to try:

• Fencing – A fence installed around the garden provides the best defense against rabbits. Use small mesh fencing that extends at least 2 feet high and is buried several inches underground to prevent digging.
• Repellents – Certain commercial repellents use smell or taste to deter rabbits from nibbling plants. Look for pet-safe, organic options and reapply frequently.
• Scare tactics – Fake predators like owls or snakes may frighten away rabbits initially but they often adapt. Dogs or cats patrolling the garden offer better rabbit repulsion.
• Alternate feeding – Provide rabbits an alternate food source, like fresh hay, away from the garden to distract them.
• Redirection – Surround vulnerable plants with sacrificial offerings like lettuce and carrots to divert rabbit attention.

A combination of strategies is usually needed to outwit wily rabbits. Check regularly for any damage and be prepared to take action quickly to prevent total destruction. With persistence, it’s possible to enjoy petunias and rabbits too.

Groundhogs

Burrowing and Feeding Habits

Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are medium-sized rodents that belong to the squirrel family. They are well known for their burrowing abilities and have intricate underground tunnel systems. Groundhogs dig burrows that can be up to 30 feet long and go as deep as 5 feet underground!

The burrows have multiple entrances and chambers used for nesting, storing food, and hibernating.

Groundhogs are herbivores and their diet consists mostly of grasses, leaves, roots, flowers, vegetables, and fruits. They especially love snacking on alfalfa, clover, and dandelions. Groundhogs can cause frustration for gardeners due to their voracious plant and vegetable consumption.

Favorite groundhog delicacies from home gardens include peas, beans, squash, melons, sweet corn, and tomatoes.

These burrowing rodents are most active during the daytime hours. They will emerge from their dens in early morning to feast on plants and veggies. Groundhogs are efficient foragers and use their dexterous front paws to grasp and shovel food into their mouths.

After filling their bellies, they retreat to their burrows for an afternoon siesta. More grazing commences in late afternoon before they call it a day and bunk down for the night.

Groundhog-Resistant Flowers

Gardeners plagued by groundhog nibbling can opt for planting flowers and plants less appealing to the furry beasts. Here are some of the top groundhog-resistant flowers to consider:

• Marigolds – The pungent odor deters groundhogs.
• Lavender – Smells too strong for groundhog taste buds.
• Daffodils – Toxic bulbs make them unpalatable.
• Iris – Distasteful and even poisonous to groundhogs.
• Snapdragon – Bitter tasting foliage.

Other plants that groundhogs tend to avoid include foxglove, oleander, cleome, vinca, geraniums, petunias, and begonias. Choosing these over tasty veggies and herbs can help divert groundhogs to dine elsewhere.

Repelling Groundhogs

Here are some effective tactics for repelling bothersome groundhogs from the garden:

• Install fencing – A 3-foot tall mesh or chicken wire fence secured at the base will block groundhogs.
• Use repellents – Castor oil, garlic, hot pepper spray or granules can deter groundhogs.
• Scare devices – Motion activated sprinklers or critter frightening predators can scare them away.
• Predator urine – Applying coyote, fox or bobcat urine around plants create the scent of predators.
• Remove food sources – Eliminate tempting vegetable gardens and cut back weedy areas.

Persistence is key when trying to outwit wily groundhogs. Using multiple deterrents and being vigilant about removing outdoor food buffets are the best ways to safeguard gardens. Once groundhogs associate a yard with unpleasant sights, sounds and smells, they will look elsewhere to dine.

Deer

Deer-Resistant Petunias

Petunias are popular flowering plants grown in home gardens for their colorful and abundant blooms. However, deer can be a nuisance to gardeners, as they enjoy munching on petunias and other ornamental plants (1).

The good news is that there are certain species and varieties of petunias that are less appealing to deer.

Some petunias that deer tend to avoid include (2,3):

• Supertunia Vista Bubblegum petunias – These have a strong fragrance that deters deer.
• Daddy Series petunias – The fuzzy texture of these flowers makes them unappealing to deer.
• Wave Series petunias – These have a naturally spreading habit, making access for deer difficult.
• Wild Series petunias – The unique colors and patterns of these flowers seem to deter deer.

In general, deer tend to avoid plants with strong fragrances, unpleasant tastes, prickly textures, or very low-growing spreading habits (4). Hybrid petunias and those with novel colors like lime green, burgundy, or striped patterns also seem less appetizing to deer.

Deterring Deer From Your Garden

Aside from planting deer-resistant petunias, there are other strategies to deter deer from feasting on ornamental plants (5):

• Fencing – Installing tall fencing around the garden is very effective at keeping deer out. Barricade fencing and woven wire fencing work well and should be 8 feet tall.
• Repellents – Spraying commercial deer repellents made with putrid scents like rotten eggs can deter deer. Reapply after rain.
• Motion-activated sprinklers – These devices spray water when they detect movement, frightening deer away.
• Scare tactics – Strategically placed decoys like plastic owls or reflective tape can startle deer and make them avoid the area.

Gardeners should also refrain from feeding deer near their property, as this encourages the animals to frequently visit. Keeping pets like dogs in the yard can also scare deer away. With multiple deterrent strategies, beautiful petunias can be enjoyed without fear of deer damage.

Voles

Identifying Vole Damage

Voles, also known as meadow mice or field mice, are small rodents that can cause significant damage to gardens and landscapes. Here are some tips for identifying vole damage:

• Look for small, surface tunnels between 1-2 inches wide in lawns, flowerbeds, and around trees and shrubs. These are runways that voles create.
• Inspect the base of plants for gnaw marks or clipped vegetation. Voles will gnaw the stems and roots of plants.
• Check for small, burrow-like holes in the ground, around 1-2 inches in diameter. These lead to underground nesting areas.
• Look for distinct hole patterns where bulbs or tubers have been eaten. Voles will eat the insides and leave behind the outer shell.

Some of the most common plants damaged by voles include tulips, crocuses, hostas, apples, and carrots. They are especially attracted to petunias, eating the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds. You may notice wilted, chewed petunias or ones that have had their roots exposed.

Vole Control Methods

Controlling vole populations and preventing further damage requires diligence. Here are some effective vole control techniques:

• Remove hiding spots like tall grass, brush piles, and mulch from around plants. This eliminates cover.
• Use traps that are specially designed for voles. Common options include snap traps, live traps, and repeating mousetraps.
• Set out bait stations using food mixed with rodenticides. Be sure to keep bait in tamper-resistant stations.
• Install physical barriers such as hardware cloth, wire mesh, or gravel. These prevent voles from burrowing to plants.
• Introduce predators like cats, dogs, owls, and hawks that hunt voles. This can help control populations naturally.
• Use fumigants or smoke bombs in vole burrows and runways. However, this usually provides temporary control.

An integrated approach combining sanitation, exclusion, and population reduction is most effective. Be persistent, as voles are prolific breeders and populations can rebound quickly. With diligent monitoring and control, it is possible to protect petunias and other valued plants from vole damage.

Snails and Slugs

Slugs and Snails Love Petunias

The beautiful flowers and tender leaves of the petunia plant make it a magnet for snails and slugs(University of Minnesota). These slimy gastropods find petunias simply irresistible and can rapidly chew their way through entire flower beds or garden rows if given the chance.

Both snails and slugs are primarily nocturnal, meaning they move about and feed under the cover of darkness. This can make their detection and control more challenging for the average gardener.

There are various species of snail and slug that will feed on petunias (Petunia × atkinsiana), but some of the most common garden pests include the gray garden slug (Deroceras reticulatum), banded slug (Lehmannia valentiana), and brown garden snail (Cornu aspersum) (Penn State Extension).

It is not just the flowers that slugs and snails target though. These slimy pests also love to munch and make ragged holes on the petunia leaves.

The key reason snails and slugs are so drawn to petunias comes down to the texture and nutrient content. The soft, succulent leaves and flowers are moist and easy for snails and slugs to bite into and feed on (SFGate Home Guides).

In addition, petunias provide the snails and slugs with necessary carbohydrates to fuel their metabolisms and support energy and growth.

Preventing Slugs and Snails

There are a number of strategies gardeners can employ to stop petunia petals from becoming all-you-can-eat salad bars for voracious snails and slugs. Physical barriers and traps, repellents, natural predators, and garden maintenance practices can all help protect petunias.

A combination approach utilizing multiple snail and slug control measures often proves most effective. For example, applying a garlic spray repellent while also removing potential slug shelters like boards or debris.

Consistency is key, as snails and slugs seem to have a sixth sense for freshly planted petunias.

With proactive steps, petunia lovers can enjoy the vibrant colors and sweet fragrances of their flowers rather than providing an all-night escargot feast for the slugs and snails!

Conclusion

As you can see, petunias have their fair share of hungry admirers. But don’t let pesky critters scare you away from growing these beautiful blooms. With some planning and defensive gardening, you can still enjoy petunias’ vibrant colors and trumpet-shaped flowers.

The best defense is a good offense when protecting petunias. Focus on proactively deterring wildlife from nibbling in the first place. Use fencing, repellents, and wildlife-resistant plant varieties. Check frequently for signs of damage and address issues quickly.

With diligence, your petunias can thrive despite their wild fans.