Weigela is a common, flowering ornamental shrub prized for its abundant blooms and relatively easy care. A frequent concern is how to protect these investments from local wildlife, particularly rabbits. While rabbits have preferred food sources, they will often target shrubs like Weigela when other forage is scarce.
Palatability and Seasonal Feeding Habits
Rabbits do eat Weigela, but it is not typically a first-choice food when fresh greenery is available. Consumption of this woody plant depends significantly on the season and the availability of alternative food sources. Rabbits are herbivores and turn to woody plants for sustenance when their usual diet of tender grasses and clover is covered by snow or dormant.
The parts of the shrub targeted by rabbits vary throughout the year. During spring and summer, they may nibble on new, tender shoots and soft flower buds. The most destructive feeding occurs in late fall and throughout the winter, when rabbits strip the bark and gnaw on woody stems. This gnawing, known as girdling when it completely encircles the stem, can be damaging to young or thin-barked Weigela plants, potentially leading to death above the point of damage.
Distinguishing Rabbit Damage from Other Pests
Identifying the culprit behind shrub damage is important for choosing the correct protection method. Rabbit feeding leaves distinct characteristics that differentiate it from damage caused by common garden pests like deer or voles. Rabbits possess sharp incisors that result in a clean, angled cut on the ends of stems and twigs, making the damage look neatly clipped or “pruned” at a 45-degree angle.
This damage typically occurs close to the ground, usually within 6 to 18 inches of the soil line or just above the snowpack. In contrast, deer lack upper incisors, causing them to tear or pull foliage, which leaves ragged, frayed edges. Deer browsing damage is also observed much higher, often between one and six feet off the ground. Voles, which are active in winter, cause damage right at the soil surface or beneath the snow by gnawing on the bark and roots near the base of the plant.
Effective Strategies for Protecting Weigela
The most reliable strategy for safeguarding Weigela from rabbit damage is physical exclusion. Creating a barrier around vulnerable plants, especially in winter, prevents rabbits from accessing the stems and bark. Cylinders made from hardware cloth or chicken wire are effective, provided the mesh is small enough to exclude the animal.
The barrier must be secured a few inches away from the shrub to prevent rabbits from reaching through the wire. It should extend at least 24 to 36 inches above the expected snow line. The bottom edge should be buried a couple of inches into the soil or firmly anchored to prevent rabbits from digging underneath. Repellents offer a secondary layer of protection, working by taste or smell, but they require consistent reapplication after rain or snow. Commercial repellents often contain ingredients like putrescent egg solids, which deter rabbits due to the unpleasant odor and taste.