Never had this problem before... I can only describe it as the 'bark' being stripped at the base of the stem. It is only on my biggest and toughest lilies that critters have never bothered ~ Silk Road, Honeymoon, henryi, etc.. I had to repair 5 lilies which are holding up well, so far. The pics here are of the mildest damage (I was too PO'd to even think about taking pics of the others). The more damaged stems had a hole chewed part way through near ground level, then several strips of stem peeled up.

It is really distressing to find a 4-5 foot stem laying flat on the ground. What the heck is going on here??

Rabbits would be my guess.

I would think a larger animal like a groundhog. I've had rabbit problems for years and they have never attacked large stems like that. They have eaten smaller stems and all the leaves but never a large thick stem.

I've had rabbit issues for years and my experiences are the same as yours. I was thinking along the lines of a larger type rodent too, though never had a problem with gophers or groundhogs. Have not seen tunnels of any sort. The leaves aren't eaten on these stems, nor do they eat the buds once the lily is felled.

Another weird thing is that we've seen several of these hourglass- shaped spots in the yard in the last few weeks. Likely from urine; burned, but the grass isn't killed.


No Diann, it's not Harvey.

I had a possum strip one side of a robina stem[shortly before budding], as he sat on the barbeque and watched the world go bye,.,...Then the robina kept growing, with a 'step' in its stem,.,.,.,and another wierd thing, that urine burn on the grass, looks like a map of australia,.,.[ have you had any kangaroos escape from any local zoos]

Oh no! Do you think they're secret codes for each other?

You need to set up an hunting camera and see what is messing with your lilies..

I'm thinking groundhog, too. I have one that does a lot of damage. If it was a rabbit you'd see a lot of pellets around. Apparently groundhogs can hold it longer.

I had the exact same thing three years ago. I blamed it on a lone woodchuck that wanted to take up residence under my garden shed. Seemed he ripped more than he actually ate. Luckily tho, mine weren't peeled all the way around and they performed well again the following year. The woodchucks stay was short!

I have repeatedly chased a crazy squirrel out of the garden. I suspect he is after the stray beans from the soybean mulch that I put down this Spring.

Yesterday I found a few lilies that had all the buds eaten. Still standing tall at about 2 feet, leaves intact. It is one tall critter or something with hands. It's going to have a really short life span if I ever come across it.

You need The Garden Scarecrow. It's really the best thing I ever purchased for the garden. Wonderful for all four legged critters and birds.

Sounds like you've got a party going on out there at night, Moby. Take your night vision goggles and join up.

If I had ultra vision night goggles, I'd never get any sleep.

Well, maybe sneak up on them with your headlamp.

Man, Who mentioned the night vision goggles I wouldnt sleep either,,.too many lunar-tics to watch

I'd say I've been pretty lucky so far this season. I had deer chomp off two Red Alerts in a group of six when they were about an inch and a half--and they kept growing and have high bud count just like the rest of them today. They got three El Condors in another group the same night but they didn't recover and look like an octopus today. Other than that, a little baby bunny found a spot big enough by the gate of my rabbit fence to squeeze under but he was too young to know the flavor of lilies I guess. It was a bit of a task chasing him back out tho.

Now what?! What the heck is tearing up irises too?

Teeth marks I assume, as the bottom along with the roots is completely chewed up

Wow, that looks pretty narly. Check in with the iris forum; they are pretty familiar with all the adversities of growing irises!

When it gets dry and hot, rodents will go after just about anything for moisture. Chipmunks and gophers are the usual culprit. Watch you lilies because they go after mine when water gets scarce.

Awfull thing to happen Moby!
You definatly have a pest.Do you think its the same critter?

I just found a Martagon bulb half out of th ground.T5he mart had turned yellow and definatly was dying. I dug the bulb the rest of the way and it was teaming with ants. The little ones are all over the back yard and in the gardens.