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Showing posts with the label rabbit pressure

Removing Ornamental Grasses - Rabbit Winter Hiding Spot - January 2025

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Yesterday, I posted photos of how the (dang!) rabbits had removed the bark from the ground all the way up about 18" on all eight trunks of the apple (fruit) trees that I planted in 2020 as part of a Belgian Fence espalier .  The removal of bark by rabbits during Winter is called "Girdling" and essentially kills the tree.   I said that it is time to 'play for keeps' with these rabbits and the first step took place today with the removal of - what I think - is their hiding place.  These Miscanthus grasses that are in front of the Belgian Fence. See below for the current state of these grasses: They provide a TON of 'Winter Interest' - so like all the other ornamental grasses, I've left them up.  But, that's also provided a place for the rabbits to shelter during the Winter. Now...pay no attention to the fact that we are a Certified Wildlife Habitat.  In fact....look away, please. Because I'm taking these grasses down to the ground and removing t...

Rabbit Pressure In Winter - Tree Bark Destroyed - Girdled Trees - Belgian Fence Espalier of Apple Trees - January 2025

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I went out back to have a look around at the garden a few days ago and I noticed something odd - that drew my eyes to them as being sort-of...out of place.  I noticed what appeared to be some BRIGHT, UPRIGHT lines along the fence that were easily contrasted from the dark(er) grey of the wood fence behind them.   What the what?   I went over to take a closer look and this is what I saw - in the photo below.   See the bright, upright lines that stand out?   DEEP SIGH..... These are the trunks of the eight fruit apple trees that I planted in 2020 - during the height of COVID lockdowns .  Three Golden Delicious trees.  Five Honeycrisp trees.  They're pollinators of each-other, so they were selected deliberately.   Right after planting, I held my breath...and cut off their heads to limit the trunk height to like 18" tall from the ground . A year later, they had ALREADY put out a bunch of limbs and were climbing the trell...