PestOther
Deer and rabbit damage
Deer and rabbits browse leaves, buds and bark, causing ragged stems, missing shoots and girdled trunks.
Also known as: Browsing damage
Symptoms and identification
Deer leave torn, ragged stems at waist height or higher; rabbits leave clean, angled cuts low down and gnaw bark at the base of young trees. Droppings nearby confirm the culprit.
Causes
Browsing increases in winter and spring when wild food is scarce, and in gardens near woodland or farmland.
Organic treatment
Use odour- or taste-based repellents, rotating products, and protect young plants with netting.
Prevention
Use fencing (around 2.4 m / 8 ft for deer; buried mesh for rabbits), tree guards, and deer-resistant plants such as lavender, catmint, foxglove and daffodils.
Chemical treatment (use with care)
Not applicable; rely on barriers and repellents.