Yard And Garden: Staying Clear Of Tree And Shrub Damage In Winter

 

Trees and shrubs should not be ignored during the cold season. Winter brings food scarcity, which makes the home landscape a target for rabbits.

 

Rabbits can severely damage trees and shrubs unless homeowners are protective and take the right steps before winter even arrives. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists offer tips on how to protect trees and shrubs from rabbits this winter. To have additional questions answered, contact ISU Hortline at 515-294-3108 or hortline@iastate.edu.

 

 

 

 

The most effective way to prevent rabbit damage to trees and shrubs in the home landscape is to place chicken wire fencing or hardware cloth around vulnerable plants. To adequately protect plants, the fencing material needs to be high enough that rabbits won’t be able to climb or reach over the fence after a heavy snow. In most cases, a fence that stands 24 to 36 inches tall should be sufficient. Small deciduous trees can also be protected by placing white plastic tree guards around their trunks. 

 

Since Iowa’s fall weather is unpredictable, it’s best to have the protective materials in place by early to mid-November. After a heavy snow, check protected plants to make sure rabbits aren’t able to reach or climb over the fencing. If necessary, remove some of the snow to keep rabbits from reaching the trees or shrubs. 

 

Damage may also be reduced by removing brush, junk piles and other places where rabbits live and hide. Repellents are another option. Repellents discourage rabbit browsing because of their unpleasant taste or smell. Unfortunately, repellents aren’t always effective and may need to be reapplied after a heavy rain or snow. 

 

Small trees with smooth, thin bark are most vulnerable to rabbit damage. Apple, pear, cherry, plum, crabapple, honey locust and serviceberry are frequent targets of rabbits. Other frequently damaged plants include the winged euonymus or burning bush, flowering quince, dogwoods, viburnums, cotoneasters, roses and raspberries. Small evergreens, especially pines, are also vulnerable. However, nearly all small trees and shrubs are susceptible to damage when food sources are scarce and rabbit populations are high. 

 

In the home landscape, rabbits feed on herbaceous plants: annuals, perennials, vegetables and grasses during the growing season. Trees and shrubs become food sources in late fall and winter, December through March. Damage to trees and shrubs is most severe in winters with extended periods of snow cover.

 

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.