Something was eating my marigolds. I assumed it was deer so I put cages around them. They are still being eaten. Any idea what it is? I'm thinking either chipmunks or bugs. I don't know what to do. I don't live there full time. This weekend I'm going to put a game camera on them to see if I can catch the culprit in the act.

Hello jcotrel1,
Welcome to the National Gardening Association and to these forums. The game camera is an excellent idea. I am making a mental note to buy one for my own use.

Since you haven't already seen the culprit(s) in action, there is a fair chance that their activity is nocturnal, and the guilty creature is a slug or snail. If your game camera isn't night-time capable, take a flashlight out at night and do an inspection of your caged marigolds. If slugs or snails are the problem, a product called Sluggo is a safe-to-use and effective bait to kill them. I guess you could also hand pick them, but I would want to use some kind of tool to do that.

Maybe just gloves would be sufficient. Keep us posted on what your game camera reveals.

ZM

So I went up this weekend. My plants are completely gone. I planted new marigolds and zinnias. I set up my game camera, changed the card..........and forgot to turn the camera on when i left:(

It would take some kind of critter or bug to completely defoliate a marigold, their leaves are very aromatic and would be off putting to many bags and animals.... I have few few pest problems, either insect or animals with mine. I have noticed leaf miners on occasion. If the plants are completely gone, most likely that indicates some kind of browsing animal.... possibly deer, although I've not heard of deer eating marigolds before.

I think it's probably slugs. Came up last night and found 2 on the marigolds. Planted zinnias last time up. The leaves are eaten too. Not from an animal. A bug are likely the slugs. I will see if I can find Sluggo and see if that works.

Diatemaceous earth works well, too.

Lowe's had Slug and Snail Bait by Garden Safe. Let's see if it works. I hope the plants I have left aren't too far gone. I'm going to plant Fox Gloves today too.

Good luck! I was just outside deadheading, and I looked closely at my marigolds. I didn't see any damage.

Make hot pepper tea. This tea is enough to keep rabbits, deer, squirrels or even bears away from your garden. When the animal tastes it, it will burn and will not approach it again.
Cut 4 hot pepper lengthwise, discard the green stems. Then chop and put in a bowl and add 1 cup of hot water, half a glass of white vinegar. Cover the container tightly and leave for 4 days. After 4 days, strain the mixture into a bottle. Add 1 teaspoon of dish soap and 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Shake the bottle and spray it on plants or leaves.
Also you can use modern scarecrow with the ability to move, spraying water away from the animal that is hiding in your garden, repellents that can sound an awful sound or alarm when they detect motion.

Source : https://evvebahcenasil.com/bah...

I've used this for rabbits when they were eating my dahlias and it works very well. I don't think it works against bugs, though.

Marmots, perhaps? I've witnessed hundreds of marigold plants in some city park ornamental beds all get chewed down to the ground
in a matter of days after being set out, by the local marmot population.

Okay, so this probably isn't your what is going on with yours, but I brought some of my marigolds indoors, and after awhile I saw these tiny blue bugs all over them. I'm not sure what they were and should probably look it up. Anyways, i guess this is a possibility, but probably not if they ate the whole thing.