I need some advice! I completely forgot the damage that rabbits can do to small trees and shrubs in the winter...Anyway, I found the damage too late on my little Chinese Dogwood tree that I planted last year. I have one branch left, but all the others are eaten down past the buds. The bark is pretty scuffed up in places, too. Should I order another or do you think it will live?

Thanks in advance,
Rose

Hi Rose,

Since it doesn't appear that they've stripped the bark I'd say it'll probably be just fine. You might want to cage it in chicken wire if you want to save that last (longer) branch. Rabbits can actually squeeze through even a 2" by 3" fence. It takes them a bit of a struggle, but they can do it.

Thanks for the advice. After a quick walk around the yard, I found rabbits like burning bushes, too! They're pretty tough, so I'm not too worried about them.

Rose

Yup. They've chewed mine down to less than 10 inches, the little devils. Roses, too. I usually bury the roses or wrap them, but it didn't get done this year. They've also stripped the bark off of what's left of my favorite rose.

I've never had trouble with rabbits in the winter, so I didn't know they were so destructive! I used to think they were cute, but not anymore!

I think I'd be willing to get a good rabbit dog and fence the entire yard except for the fact that then I'd have a dog tearing things up to get at the rabbits!

I might try live-trapping them. I don't know if they're dumb enough to go into a cage, but it might be worth the effort. As long as I don't catch a skunk...no plant I have is worth that!

We do have a dog and the yard is fenced in! I put out a live trap but so far no luck...

Wishing you luck, Rose!

My dwarf Euonymus alatus...


...will definitely remain so.


And what's with leaving just one long branch, anyway? They could at least trim it up uniformly!

Rose1656 said:I've never had trouble with rabbits in the winter, so I didn't know they were so destructive! I used to think they were cute, but not anymore!

Try Millorganite. It's an organic, low dose fertilizer and the rabbits hate the smell. Also cats hate it and it will keep them out of the flower beds. Most plants love this fertilizer, especially Hostas!

http://www.lowes.com/pd_97821-...