|
| I haven't posted here at GW in awhile as I've been on self-imposed exile. My wife told me I was turning into a plant addict and gardening forums weren't helping. :-) However, I've an issue that I've never dealt withh before and could use some advice.
We have two dwarf burning bushes that we planted in our back yard 5 years ago that are currently ~4 feet tall. A few years ago we noticed these cute, fluffy bunnies out there at night in the winter. I'd seen them out there early in the morning nibbling on the branches two winters in a row and come spring our burning bushes were neatly pruned courtesy of our furry visitors. The bushes came back in spring and all was well. I was looking out there a couple of days ago and for the noticed something was different. It seems that this year the cute, fluffy bunnies turned into cute, fluffy *insert expletive here*, as they've completely eaten the bark off the bottom 12-18 inches of both bushes. I walked out there(Around 50 feet away) to confirm it. Bare naked branches from almost to the ground up. I know burning bushes are generally pretty tough but will this do them in? |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| Potentially, if the bark is removed 3/4 or more going around a particular stem, considered it cashed. Burning bushes do not take a liking to pruning in my experience. Burning bushes get demolished around here by rabbits. They love love love burning bushes. I cringed when my neighbor selected a burning bush to act as a screen...thing looks like a disaster right now....not only did the rabbits eat all the reachable/bitable stems they chewed all the bark off on the lower/larger stems...I hope the thing dies and they plant an evergreen of some sort there. |
|
| Thank you, whaas. Well these are goners then, which is pretty much what I expected. I didn't do a thorough inspection but it looked as though every stem had the bark chewed away pretty much clear around. I didn't know that about rabbits and burning bushes and the "pruning" they did in winters past had never seemed to hold them back once spring came. They leafed out and grew fine which is why I didn't see a cause for alarm before. Our neighbor has a 10' standard BB in their front yard and the rabbits never seemed to have bothered it, even though I've seen them out there many times. Learn something new every day, I guess. Well, time to plan for that area in a month so then. |
|
| I think it depends on when/if the population surges. My neighbor has another 7' burning bush and I just noticed the rabbits gnawing at the bark. Sometimes they do come back quite well...mine was one of those cases. My father n' law on the other hand had several that are hanging by a thread...he starting caging them this year. |
|
| I think burning bushes are pretty resilient. And of course they have turned into a pest plant in some areas. Even if they die out above the nibbles, I would not be surprised to have them sprout back from the roots. |
|
- Posted by isabella__ma z5_MA (My Page) on Mon, Feb 22, 10 at 7:12
| Here in Massachusetts BB is considered an invasive, so it's nice to see that the indigenous population is responding to this "threat" by using it as a food source. Maybe I should plant some as a sacrificial anode (so to speak) to protect my hydrangea and crocus bulbs! |
|
| I've had them handle pruning pretty good, and you might have a chance at saving them if you cut the top of the bushes off before spring. I've had good(?) luck with them re-sprouting from the roots once you do this.... which is a problem if you want to get rid of them... If you leave the tops on, the roots will use up their energy trying to get the top to leaf out... but without the bark to carry food back down to the roots the whole plant will die. but..... the bushes are eaisier to yank out with the tops attached.... and think of all the more interesting things you could replace them with. small magnolia, ornamental grasses, one of the newer pg hydrangeas... |
|
| Sorry I haven't been back to this thread. If there was a chance they could be saved I'd like to try. I bought them for my wife's and my mother to plant in our yard 5 years ago so there's some symbolism/sentiment attached, especially since my mother passed away quite recently. Here is a picture of one of them. They're about 3.5'-4' tall and the damage is to about 1.5'.
|
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Shrubs Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.