Submitted 07/25/08 20:54:54 by Janine from Concord, NC.

Q I am a novice gardener. I planted black eyed susans for the 1st time this year, and they are starting to bloom. Something is eating the petals off of them. I haven't seen any bugs on them, except for a green flying bug that I shooed away. I've got a lot more that are getting ready to bloom and I don't want them eaten as soon as they bloom. What should I do?

Answered 07/25/08 23:09:56 by Nancy Brachey

A: It could be slugs feeding on the tender petals. I suggest you put out a shallow saucer of beer and see if that attracts any slugs. If so you can continue to use the beer trap or use one of the commercial slug baits. Was the green flying bug (a dark metallic green) a Japanese beetle? If so, they are pretty much gone by now. If it is not a slug problem, consider spraying the plants with a garden insecticide that will kill chewing insects.