Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? > Deciduous > Spirea > Bark or small branches chewed or removed
Spirea > Stems/branches > Bark or small branches chewed or removed
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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
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Rabbits
Phytophthera spp.
- 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
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Voles
- 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
- More info on controlling voles
