What animal has destroyed my hedge?

[Robin2020]

I planted this hedge with my late father. Today I found most of the hornbeam bitten off at the base and left to die. Gutted. The hedge has really struggled as below a road so very dry. What do we think did this? Deer? Badger? Rabbits?
And what to do to save the remainder...

 

[Wisconsonian]

I'll guess rabbits. Deer strip the bark but don't eat as much wood that I've seen. Badgers won't eat that for food, and their teeth would leave different marks.

One way to deter rabbits is rotten egg smell, a leftover mayonaise jar not cleaned out, but set in a warm place for several weeks, then mixed with water and sprayed will keep them away, but not for very long if it rains, or they're already in the habit of eating your plants.

 

[Forkdriver]

If it's hares they tend to chew off the top. Agree with rabbits as above.

 

[tractorsandcows]

I planted this hedge with my late father. Today I found most of the hornbeam bitten off at the base and left to die. Gutted. The hedge has really struggled as below a road so very dry. What do we think did this? Deer? Badger? Rabbits?
And what to do to save the remainder...

2 beacon fendt with maize trailer

 

[Robin2020]

Ahhhh I so need a gun but can't get one until the house is built. I'll see if I can get someone to help..

 

[Dry Rot]

Damage recognition - Wild Deer Best Practice Guidance

Aim Woodlands may be susceptible to a number of damaging agents. Identifying the cause of damage an early stage is important, before the impacts become an expensive/ecological problem. The aim of this guide is to provide information to help with the identification process. key: effects of damage...

bestpracticeguides.org.uk

 

[yellow belly]

I have heard that voles chew trees off in Side the tree guards
could be voles
the solution in trees to cut the grass between the trees so the owls and kestrel can predate the voles

 

[martian]

Mulching the saplings with woodchips will keep the voles away and swamp weeds at the same time as keeping the soil damp. Win/win/win

 

[devonbeef]

long grass around freshly planted trees /hedges is a voles dream, really need to keep long grass down, or vole guard, lost a lot of stuff through voles.

 

[Nick.]

I’ve heard of mice chewing saplings off at ground level.

 

[Wisconsonian]

The bestpracticeguide is the best way to tell what did it. The size of the teeth marks will narrow it down. None of the usual suspects typically eat it all the way off like that, they all strip the bark mostly. Unless it was a beaver, but that would look like it was cut with a garden shears on a stem that size.

Those will probably grow back, right? so not a total loss at least.

 

[solo]

Quickest and cheapest way to protect those is using spiral tree guards, and canes if needed. This will protect against rabbits and hares. Rabbit fencing would also do the same. It depends on how long the hedge is along with access etc. if it was deer you would surely see the cloven hoof prints nearby.

 

[fudge]

We lost quite a number to mice inside tree guards. Probably smaller plants than the one in the photo but similar damage.

I’ve heard of mice chewing saplings off at ground level.

I would not have believed but I found the little feckers in the tree guards. I went round and pushed the guards into the ground a couple of inches, not scientific proof but the damage stopped.

 

[renewablejohn]

Any beavers in the area

 

[crashbox]

Shame to see.

Did you have guards on the whips?

 

[organicguy]

I have had mice nest inside tree guards and chew off the 3 year old trees.

 

[Bury the Trash]

That's most likely Rabbits. they will even dig down to get deeper succulent roots , especially in winter

Mulching will not stop them ,they will pull that back away as they dig. infact mulching seems to encourage a badger when conditions are hard like in a cold dry wind spell late winter / early spring ,
because they will dig in under the mulch in the moisty soil for worms.


small mesh chicken wire is the only answer really and dug in (slip in a single furrow plough furrow. and fold back ) although a low electric wire or 2 close togerther might deter them and will keep badgers off as will a high one or 3 Deer.

 

[kernow1]

Ahhhh I so need a gun but can't get one until the house is built. I'll see if I can get someone to help..

Where about are you?

 

[Robin2020]

Mulching the saplings with woodchips will keep the voles away and swamp weeds at the same time as keeping the soil damp. Win/win/win

I like this idea. It's so dry up there mulch would really help. Just need to hack down some trees and get mulching!

 

[Robin2020]

Where about are you?

Stroud Gloucestershire