What Is Eating My Pea Seedlings at Soil Level?

Young pea seedlings that have germinated and are a few centimetres tall, but are then found the following morning snapped at soil level with the tops gone — or noticeably shorter and ragged at the growing tip — are being attacked by either slugs or birds (most likely wood pigeons). Both can destroy an emerging pea row very quickly, and distinguishing between the two helps you apply the right protection immediately rather than treating for the wrong pest.

Slug damage — clean cuts at night

Slugs feed at night and in wet, humid conditions. If the damage appears overnight — seedlings that were fine at dusk are gone at dawn — and there is a silvery slime trail on the soil surface or on the cut stem end, slugs are responsible. The cut end is typically very clean and right at soil level. Slug damage is worst in wet spring weather. Ferric phosphate pellets scattered along the row, combined with nightly torch inspection and hand removal, provides effective control during the vulnerable seedling stage.

Pigeon damage — in daylight, top shoots removed

Pigeons feed during the day and typically pull or peck off the growing shoot at the tip rather than cutting at soil level. Pea seedlings attacked by pigeons are typically left as short stalks with the shoot removed; the remaining stalks may be pulled completely out of the ground. Damage occurs during daylight and is rapid — a flock can strip a young pea row in minutes. Install pigeon netting or horizontal bird wire over the row immediately. Humming line (nylon line that vibrates in the wind) deters pigeons temporarily but is not reliable long-term.

Netting covers both threats

Fine mesh netting (Enviromesh, 1.25 mm or smaller) supported on hoops over the pea row prevents both slugs (which cannot climb over a net secured at the edges) and birds from accessing the seedlings. This is the most reliable combined protection for the early seedling stage. Once peas are 15–20 cm tall, slug vulnerability reduces significantly and pigeon damage to established pea plants, while still possible, is less severe than the destruction of seedlings.