Emperor 1 Japanese Maple - Winter Rabbit Pressure - February 2025

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We have three Emperor 1 Japanese Maples in our backyard.  Acer palmatum Emperor 1.  The largest one is back by the firepit with a couple of smaller ones closer to the house.  They all were her during the Cicada swarm of 2024 and all suffered some damage from them.  The largest tree (by the firepit) suffered the most and has been set-back pretty sizeably.  

The 3rd-to-be-planted is also the smallest one.  It is about half-way back on the north side.  It went in the ground in 2024 (Cicada year) and I protected it with some fabric.  That didn't completely protect the tree from the slits from cicadas and the top-part died-back.    

But, that white tulle wasn't the only protection that I set up for this small Japanese Maple.  I also have left-up a ring of Chicken Wire around the tree, in an attempt to keep the (dang!) rabbits away from killing this tree in Winter.  That has...somewhat worked.  But, it hasn't stopped the rabbits from taking what they could.  Can they get to the trunk?  No.  But, any tips that have emerged out of the cage?  Gnawed off.  

Here are a couple of photos below.  If you look closely, you'll see some brighter-colored (light brown) tips on the tree.  That's where the (dang!) rabbits have gnawed off the existing limbs and exposed the interior of the branches. 

Rabbit Pressure on Japanese Maple Trees

Rabbit Pressure on Japanese Maple Trees

Looking at the tree, I'm fairly confident that there is still ENOUGH tree and branches left (with buds) to allow this tree to come back.  But, rabbit pressure continues to be a concern for our entire garden.  

While individual rabbit rings around plants can help, they're not bullet-proof.  And, as they say these days....this is a SYSTEMIC problem.  That needs a SYSTEMIC solution.    I wrote this a few weeks back talking about how the rabbits and a SYSTEMIC solution:

Rabbit pressure continues to be a challenge in my garden. Last year, I thought about installing a perimeter of chicken wire around the base of my fence, but never got around to it. That needs to be on my 2026 to-do list. Or, on my 2026 'priority projects list'.
Mark it down, dude.  Add this to the list. 
Location: Downers Grove, IL, USA

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