Skip to Left navigation Skip to Main content Skip to Footer

University of Minnesota Extension
www.extension.umn.edu
612-624-1222

Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? > Deciduous > Lilac > Bark or small branches chewed or removed

Print Icon Email Icon Share Icon

Lilac > Stems/branches > Bark or small branches chewed or removed

1 of 3
  • deer1
  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

Deer Browsing

  • Leaves, flowers, buds, and small branches less than an inch in diameter are cut off.
  • Plant parts are torn off leaving ragged edges
  • Feeding occurs from the ground to about 6 feet
2 of 3
  • rabbit1
  • rabbit2
  • rabbit3
  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

Rabbit Feeding

  • Bark from stems is removed to a height of about 2 feet above the ground or the snowline
  • Regular scraping the size of a spoon tip will be present in the damaged wood
  • Smaller stems are typically cut off with a sharp edge at a 45 degree angle
  • Majority of bark feeding occurs in winter and early spring
  • Rabbit droppings (small, round pellets) are often found near the damaged shrubs
3 of 3
  • vole1
  • vole2
  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

Vole damage

  • bark is completely removed from stems or in irregular patches
  • damage occurs in winter and the bark is removed only below the snowline
  • only bark is removed, no branches or small stems are cut off as in rabbit damage
  • wood will show scrapings the size of fork tines

Don't see what you're looking for?