Half-inch tall green stubs protruding from the rich garden soil were all that remained.

Tomato plants so carefully placed into the rich garden soil yesterday afternoon have vanished.

What happened to the tomato plants? Were they eaten by wildlife or insects? Were they diseased? Can such devastation be managed or prevented?

Now is the time to put away your garden tools and reach for your detective tools, transforming yourself into a “Garden Detective.”

Respond to the crime scene while the evidence is fresh. Bring your smart phone or camera, clear plastic evidence bags, gloves and a small trowel or bladed garden tool.

Since the plants were in healthy condition the previous day, disease or insects are unlikely causes for the sudden loss of plants.

This thought leads to the hypothesis that wildlife is responsible for the damage. But who?

Inspect the area leading to and from the crime scene. Look for tracks and other evidence of wildlife, such as bird or animal droppings, fur or feathers which may help identify the perpetrator(s) of the crime.

Photograph these tracks from the perspective of determining whether the perpetrator was waddling through the grass or stepping cleanly over the grass.

Note if the grass was dry or wet from dew. Determine whether a low to the ground culprit disturbed the moisture in the grass in a continuous row or made intermittent impacts from their tracks.

If you are unable to identify the droppings or want to verify them, collect a few specimens into the clear plastic bags. You can compare your sample with photographs available in garden books and online nature websites. Feather charts and animal dropping photos are available at https://www.pgc.pa.gov/.

Evaluate the evidence, starting with the tracks.

If you cannot determine the culprit from its tracks, look at the pathway to and from the garden.

Was the grass wet? If so, did the culprit leave a somewhat wide path through the moisture on the grass or did it hop and leave intermittent impacts?

Groundhogs and skunks draw down the moist grass. Rabbits and squirrels hop and leave intermittent tracks.

Still stumped? Browse through free photographs of animal and bird tracks at http://clipart-library.com/animal-footprints.html. The time of day that the plants were eaten also provides a clue to the culprits. Groundhogs feed primarily during daylight hours. Deer and rabbits feed well into the evening and very early morning, with many deer feeding all night.

Based on the tracks and droppings, you determined that multiple, four-legged perpetrators were responsible for the crime. To prevent future crimes, install a fence around the garden. A minimum 6-foot high fence is needed for excluding deer, because they can easily step over a low fence and jump up to 6 feet to clear a 36- or 48-inch fence.

A low fence will exclude rabbits and groundhogs only.

Groundhogs, however, can dig underneath the fence; therefore, bury the edge of metal fencing under the ground. If you are using plastic fencing, use thin concrete cap blocks to secure the bottom of the fence to prevent animals from burrowing under the fence.

The fence is installed, and the tomato plants begin to thrive. One day you notice the plants look wilted.

The “Garden Detective” examines the evidence and begins asking questions. Has rainfall been adequate? Has a crust formed around the plants due to high clay content of the soil?

Wilting plants indicate a problem with water availability to the plant roots. If plants consistently do not receive adequate water to their roots, either from rain or irrigation, the plants may wilt, fruit may split, deform, or develop black spots.

Alternatively, plants may wilt from too much water, because the root fibers are drowning in wet soil.

You feel the soil, and it is parched beneath the moist mulch layer but there is no crust. Turn on the soaker hose to deliver water to the plant roots. If there is a crust present, hoe or cultivate around the plants to break up the crust before watering.

As the weeks pass, the tomato plants become beautiful specimens of lush vegetation devoid of blossoms and fruit.

Again the “Garden Detective” is called to action. What causes green vegetation and no fruit production?

The Garden Detective looks for historical evidence. An early note in the garden journal revealed that a soil sample analysis was adequate. What has changed in the soil since the soil sample was analyzed?

A later journal entry reports that 20 pounds of 30 parts nitrogen fertilizer had been added to the garden several weeks prior. The excess nitrogen resulted in vegetative growth but not fruit production.

The improper fertilization proportion was amended by following the suggestions found at Penn State Extension https://extension.psu.edu/understanding-soil-fertility. The journal’s historical record provided clues to resolve the problem and produce a plentiful harvest of tomatoes later in the season. Mystery solved!

Gardeners play many roles, including that of detective. Develop a hypothesis, evaluate the evidence, and search available resources to solve garden mysteries and prevent future garden mishaps.

If you have questions about vegetable gardening, call the Butler County Master Gardener Garden Hotline at 724-287-4761, Ext. 7, or email the Master Gardeners at butlermg@psu.edu.

Michael Pavelek II is a Penn State Extension Butler County Master Gardener.