Holes in leaves
Holes, notches or missing chunks of leaf, chewed by caterpillars, beetles, slugs or snails.
What you'll see
- Round or ragged holes, notched edges, or leaves eaten down to the veins.
- Droppings on the leaves, or slime trails on and around the plant.
- The damage appears overnight or keeps spreading on young growth.
Why it happens
Chewing insects such as caterpillars and beetles, and slugs and snails, eat the leaves.
How to fix it
- Check the plant at dusk and after dark, and on leaf undersides, to find who is eating it.
- Pick off the pests by hand and remove badly shredded leaves.
- Open the caterpillars or slugs and snails page for the fix once you know the culprit.
Keep it from coming back
- Check plants weekly in the growing season.
- Cover young vegetables with fine insect mesh.
- Clear the debris and boards where slugs and snails hide.
Sources
General guidance, not a diagnosis. For valuable, edible or outdoor crops, check with a local extension service or plant expert. Use any product exactly as its label says, and keep children and pets away while it dries.