• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
Animals-Eating-Oakleaf-Hydrangea.jpg

Animals Eating Oakleaf Hydrangea

Looking out my front window yesterday I noticed that rabbits had recently done considerable damage to my oakleaf hydrangeas chewing the branches down to approximately a universal one-foot length. Will they survive? Last year we planted a serviceberry tree, lacecap hydrangea, rose of Sharon and blue muffin arrowwood viburnum. Do I have to worry about the rabbits also feasting on these?

Your oakleaf hydrangea will survive. Just check the base of the plants as the snow melts. Voles may also be enjoying a tasty meal in the landscape. If the plant is eaten to the ground it should send up new growth but won’t flower this season. Oakleaf and lace cap hydrangeas bloom on growth arising from old wood. Even without flowers the beautiful bark, lovely leaves and great fall color make oakleaf hydrangea a nice addition to the landscape. Keep an eye on your other plants – the rabbits and voles have been known to eat these as well. And with cold temperatures and snow cover they may expand their feeding area yet this winter. Consider spraying the plants with an animal repellent and adding clanging pans or other scare tactics to protect your landscape. Next fall consider encircling these and other new plantings with 4 feet tall cylinder of hardware cloth. Sink the bottom few inches into the soil to keep voles and rabbits from feeding on the base of the plants.

Related

Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars


March 27, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

How to Start a Garden for Beginners
Register now

April 3, 2024
Garden Trends 

Franklin Public Library, Franklin, WI

April 10, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

Container Gardening Throughout the Year
Register now

April 11, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

7 Steps to Managing Water Where it Falls in Your Yard
Register now

April 17, 2024
Landscaping for Birds: 
A Gardener’s Perspective

Glendale, WI 

April 18, 2024
Be a Waterwise Gardener
Golden Rondelle Theater, Racine, WI
Register now

April 20, 2024
Pruning Hydrangeas and Other Shrubs 
Pasquesi Home & Gardens, Lake Bluff, IL

April 27, 2024
Ridges & Rivers Book Festival
Viroqua, WI

April 28, 2024
Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI

May 1, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables
Register now

May 9, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

How to Plant Your Rain Garden
Register now

WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to Win The Birds & Blooms' Ultimate Gardening Guide !

ENTER NOW