What Is Eating My Strawberry Plants?

Types

• Root weevils and slugs feed on strawberry plants. Root weevils feed along leaf edges while slugs chew holes in both the leaves and the fruit. Birds and squirrels eat the strawberries themselves, while deer and rabbits dine on the foliage.

Effects

• Root weevils seldom cause serious damage. Large numbers of slugs make plant establishment difficult and leave holes in strawberries that result in disease and spoilage. Birds and squirrels may eat almost all the strawberries growing in a garden. Deer and rabbits damage strawberry plants in both the spring and fall, when other green foliage becomes limited, often eating plants right down to the ground.

Prevention/Solution

• Pyrethroid insecticides control large root weevil populations, while traps, abrasive materials and eliminating damp hiding places in the landscape work well on slugs. A combination of netting, fencing and various repellents work to keep strawberry plants safe from birds, deer and small animals.