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Feb 18, 2013 12:15 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Dog Lover Cottage Gardener
Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Here are just a few samples. I did no pruning...this was all done by rabbits.


Before...


After...
Thumb of 2013-02-18/chelle/427827


Alchymist
Thumb of 2013-02-18/chelle/c18b8d

Bobby James
Thumb of 2013-02-18/chelle/223c4a

Pierre De Ronsard
Thumb of 2013-02-18/chelle/715764

Pink Parfait
Thumb of 2013-02-18/chelle/8fe9cd

Chloris
Thumb of 2013-02-18/chelle/b1bbad

Not the smallest remainder, but still sad. This is all that's left of Johann Strauss.
Thumb of 2013-02-18/chelle/d2f9f6


Is there anything I can do now to help these roses? Or do I just leave them be and hope for the best? It's pretty disheartening when almost the entire rose garden looks like this. Sad Can they survive this much bark removal?

Thumb of 2013-02-18/chelle/2c2b79

With few exceptions, the only roses in the garden proper that don't have a lot of damage are the OGR with heavy coverings of prickers on their canes.
Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens


Avatar for porkpal
Feb 18, 2013 12:38 PM CST
Name: Porkpal
Richmond, TX (Zone 9a)
Cat Lover Charter ATP Member Keeper of Poultry I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Keeps Horses
Roses Plant Identifier Farmer Raises cows Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Lets hear it for thorns!

I've never had any experience with this sort of damage to roses. I don't know whether they will survive. If the bark is missing all the way around a cane (which does not seem to be the case) it will die. Even so the plant may grow back from the base. In my usual fashion, I would wait and see...
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Feb 18, 2013 12:40 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Zuzu
Northern California (Zone 9a)
Region: Ukraine Charter ATP Member Region: California Cat Lover Roses Clematis
Irises Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant Identifier Garden Sages Plant Database Moderator Garden Ideas: Master Level
I have no advice on rabbit deterrence, but I just want to express my sympathies. This is heartbreaking! Crying
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Feb 18, 2013 1:07 PM CST
Name: Toni
Denver Metro (Zone 5a)
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level Salvias Garden Procrastinator Irises I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Charter ATP Member Xeriscape Region: Colorado Roses Cat Lover The WITWIT Badge
I had bunny problems when I first put in some roses. What the rosarian I spoke to locally suggested was to trim all the way down to the dirt & hope for the best. Worked on both Mardi Gras & JFK. George Burns just didn't survive the winter that year, so I can't blame bunnies. Bunny net/fence doesn't really work, they just burrow under it. Dog hair can be a good deterrent for bunnies, along with fox urine if you can find it (some sporting good stores sell it for hunters as a way to mask human scent from deer). Or just get a dog & let the dog chase the bunnies (that's inadvertently what I did... my golden used to chase bunnies all the way down the block. Never caught one though! But he's been gone for 2 years this Mother's Day & my other two dogs.. one doesn't really care for chasing bunnies & the other I can't trust off leash.)

Poor roses! Too bad you can encourage falcons/hawks to roost nearby.. I have prairie falcons that scan our skies regularly for bunnies/squirrels on the ground.
Roses are one of my passions! Just opened, my Etsy shop (to fund my rose hobby)! http://www.etsy.com/shop/Tweet...
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Feb 18, 2013 2:21 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Dog Lover Cottage Gardener
Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
I had been wrapping my rose canes with burlap for the winter, but now that most of them are well established I just let it slide this year. My mistake.

I have at least one *resident* hawk who visits daily throughout the winter but it doesn't want the rabbits, it just wants my song birds. We also have coyote running along the property line at night too, but they must not catch the yard bunnies.

I doubt I'll shear back the climbers since they just now have grown to the top of their arbor, but I'll likely cut back the stumps of the shrub roses and see what happens. If I see good signs of healing in the meantime, I may just leave them be. I'm hoping that these kinds of wounds might heal over just like a pruning cut would? Shrug! As long as they can do so before insects or disease gets in them, perhaps they'll be okay.

I'll definitely plan on wrapping any survivors next year.

I'm especially bummed about Chloris. After waiting two years, I fully expected to see the first blooms on it this year.

Thanks for all of the input!
Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens


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Feb 18, 2013 2:35 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Suzanne/Sue
Sebastopol, CA (Zone 9a)
Sunset Zone 15
Plant Database Moderator Region: California Cottage Gardener Garden Photography Roses Clematis
Daylilies Houseplants Foliage Fan Birds Butterflies Bee Lover
Oh my goodness, I am soooo glad for my fences! Sad
My gardening Blog!
Handmade quilts, new & vintage fabrics in my Etsy store. Summer Song Cottage
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Feb 18, 2013 2:49 PM CST
Name: Toni
Denver Metro (Zone 5a)
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level Salvias Garden Procrastinator Irises I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Charter ATP Member Xeriscape Region: Colorado Roses Cat Lover The WITWIT Badge
Roses are one of my passions! Just opened, my Etsy shop (to fund my rose hobby)! http://www.etsy.com/shop/Tweet...
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Feb 18, 2013 3:02 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Dog Lover Cottage Gardener
Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Skiekitty said:http://allrecipes.com/recipe/hasenpfeffer-rabbit-stew/


It may soon come to that, Toni.

It was bad enough when it was a matter of beans, or no beans; but to then destroy the roses...argh! I have 2" x 3" rabbit proof (not!) fence around the veggie garden. I've actually watched them turn their heads sideways and force themselves through it.
Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens


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Feb 18, 2013 4:34 PM CST
Name: Toni
Denver Metro (Zone 5a)
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level Salvias Garden Procrastinator Irises I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Charter ATP Member Xeriscape Region: Colorado Roses Cat Lover The WITWIT Badge
Chelle - Can you go to a feed store & buy a bale or two of timothy or alfalfa hay? Spread it around on the outside of the fence so they don't have a reason to come through the fence? Might run you $15-$30, but it's a lot better than losing roses!
Roses are one of my passions! Just opened, my Etsy shop (to fund my rose hobby)! http://www.etsy.com/shop/Tweet...
Avatar for porkpal
Feb 18, 2013 6:07 PM CST
Name: Porkpal
Richmond, TX (Zone 9a)
Cat Lover Charter ATP Member Keeper of Poultry I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Keeps Horses
Roses Plant Identifier Farmer Raises cows Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Feed the enemy?
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Feb 18, 2013 6:10 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Dog Lover Cottage Gardener
Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Skiekitty said:Chelle - Can you go to a feed store & buy a bale or two of timothy or alfalfa hay? Spread it around on the outside of the fence so they don't have a reason to come through the fence? Might run you $15-$30, but it's a lot better than losing roses!


There's hay here already for the horse. The rabbits don't seem to eat it. In fact, there's a whole field of alfalfa, timothy and clover hay growing out back behind the barn, and another field of it 20 feet from the chewed roses. I'm thinking these yard rabbits just feel safer close to the house. Shrug! The roses farther from the house, out around the lake, haven't been damaged.
Last winter I even used flakes of alfalfa as mulch. I never saw a rabbit nibbling that hay either. Wretched critters.
Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens


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Feb 18, 2013 10:10 PM CST
Name: Toni
Denver Metro (Zone 5a)
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level Salvias Garden Procrastinator Irises I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Charter ATP Member Xeriscape Region: Colorado Roses Cat Lover The WITWIT Badge
porkpal said:Feed the enemy?


Was thinking that if easy food was accessible, they'd leave her roses alone. But I guess that roses taste better than alfalfa. I know that roses are higher in Vit C than timothy or alfalfa... maybe the bunnies know this too? Besides, fatten 'em up & then definitely have some bunny stew!
Roses are one of my passions! Just opened, my Etsy shop (to fund my rose hobby)! http://www.etsy.com/shop/Tweet...
Avatar for porkpal
Feb 18, 2013 10:24 PM CST
Name: Porkpal
Richmond, TX (Zone 9a)
Cat Lover Charter ATP Member Keeper of Poultry I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Keeps Horses
Roses Plant Identifier Farmer Raises cows Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Perhaps if you bought them some rabbit food and put it out - maybe in your neighbor's yard?

Seriously, though, sad as they look right now, I am betting on those roses to recover.
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Feb 27, 2013 1:17 AM CST
Name: Greg Colucci
Seattle WA (Zone 8b)
Sempervivums Sedums Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener Garden Ideas: Level 1
Garden Art Birds Dog Lover Cat Lover Region: Pacific Northwest Hummingbirder
Sorry to hear this Thumbs down
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Feb 27, 2013 6:40 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Dog Lover Cottage Gardener
Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Thanks, Greg. Smiling

I'm pretty optimistic at this point. What's done is done, but I'll surely take my usual precautions next winter for any survivors. Skunks are coming out of hibernation now, so they'll soon be digging things up...with the raccoons and groundhogs to follow. Rolling my eyes. Never a dull moment. Hilarious!
Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens


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Feb 27, 2013 1:09 PM CST
Name: Greg Colucci
Seattle WA (Zone 8b)
Sempervivums Sedums Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener Garden Ideas: Level 1
Garden Art Birds Dog Lover Cat Lover Region: Pacific Northwest Hummingbirder
Sometimes urban gardening is easier! We have crows though, and when they're nesting in nearby trees one gets dive bombed when trying to work in the yard! And not just with the birds flying near - they let loose and actually drop bombs! Hilarious! I figure its good for the plants! :rofl:
I do have a question, isn't there some sort of covering you can wrap around the damaged stems? Something that would protect them and help them heal? I was thinking like a long, plastic tube that was slightly larger than the diameter of the stem? I'm just thinking aloud - plastic would probably mold Sad hmmm.
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May 1, 2013 3:44 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Dog Lover Cottage Gardener
Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
I'm definitely going to lose a lot of canes this year. Sad It's sad because I'd just last year attained good height on my climbers. I think my dream of a rose-covered arbor will have to wait a bit longer. Bad rabbits!

Another bloom-less year for Cloris for sure, and probably for Pierre de Ronsard as well. Most of the rest of the damaged roses will likely recover and bloom this year, but I might lose my best scented rose, Nahema, all-together. I see no shoots whatsoever. I think I'm going to cut it back and see if that will help.
Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens


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May 1, 2013 3:46 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Zuzu
Northern California (Zone 9a)
Region: Ukraine Charter ATP Member Region: California Cat Lover Roses Clematis
Irises Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant Identifier Garden Sages Plant Database Moderator Garden Ideas: Master Level
Oh, how sad! I hope your Nahema springs back. It's such a wonderful rose.
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May 1, 2013 3:53 PM CST
Name: Toni
Denver Metro (Zone 5a)
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level Salvias Garden Procrastinator Irises I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Charter ATP Member Xeriscape Region: Colorado Roses Cat Lover The WITWIT Badge
Chelle - I lose about 2/3-3/4 every year on my climbers due to winterkill & by the end of the season they're back to gawd-awfully tall again. You just gotta have faith!! But rabbit cacciatore sounds pretty good too.... Whistling Whistling Whistling
Roses are one of my passions! Just opened, my Etsy shop (to fund my rose hobby)! http://www.etsy.com/shop/Tweet...
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May 1, 2013 5:27 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Dog Lover Cottage Gardener
Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Thanks for the commiseration and the reminder of hope. Thumbs up

I'll trim the rest of the worst back and see what happens. Luckily, all, or most of these are own root plants, so the real deal will at least have a chance of coming back, right? Smiling

This is the only example image I've taken so far. Here's how Armide's leafing out.

Thumb of 2013-05-01/chelle/152853
Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens


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