Hi URGLers

SWMBO planted 4 new 20" high Acers (2 different types in pairs) last week.

Yesterday morning all were fine and looking good.

When I cam home from work one of the Acers looked decidedly twig like and
only 3" tall...with what appears to be teeth marks around what is left.
There are NO remains anywhere.
So...
It's either Mr Rattus Rattus of A.N.Other predator.

*DO* Rats eat Acers?

or do I have a predatory invisible Acer thief that only likes the leafy
bits?

Have Googled without success thus far

On 9/5/07 06:53, in article , "R"
wrote:

Hi URGLers

SWMBO planted 4 new 20" high Acers (2 different types in pairs) last week.

Yesterday morning all were fine and looking good.

When I cam home from work one of the Acers looked decidedly twig like and
only 3" tall...with what appears to be teeth marks around what is left.
There are NO remains anywhere.
So...
It's either Mr Rattus Rattus of A.N.Other predator.

*DO* Rats eat Acers?

or do I have a predatory invisible Acer thief that only likes the leafy
bits?

Have Googled without success thus far


Rabbits possibly. Might be a good idea to get some of spiral plastic tree
guards.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
(remove weeds from address)
Devon County Show 17-19 May
http://www.devoncountyshow.co.uk/

Rabbits love young acer, though the ones that ate mine left a little more than that.

"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
Rabbits possibly. Might be a good idea to get some of spiral plastic
tree
guards.

Seconded.

On 9 May, 08:05, Sacha wrote:
On 9/5/07 06:53, in article , "R"



wrote:
Hi URGLers

SWMBO planted 4 new 20" high Acers (2 different types in pairs) last week.

Yesterday morning all were fine and looking good.

When I cam home from work one of the Acers looked decidedly twig like and
only 3" tall...with what appears to be teeth marks around what is left.
There are NO remains anywhere.
So...
It's either Mr Rattus Rattus of A.N.Other predator.

*DO* Rats eat Acers?

or do I have a predatory invisible Acer thief that only likes the leafy
bits?

Have Googled without success thus far

Rabbits possibly. Might be a good idea to get some of spiral plastic tree
guards.

--
Sachahttp://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
(remove weeds from address)
Devon County Show 17-19 Mayhttp://www.devoncountyshow.co.uk/

Otherwise cut the top and bottom off 2 litre pop bottles then split
them up the length, they will spiral in and make a free tree guard,
though not as long as the commercial ones.
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

If it is the kind of acer that has low and pendulous branches, the rabbits can eat all the leaves and lower branches off, leaving just the leafless stem, even if the trunk is so protected. I have used several defences: in one case I took a a piece of chickenwire about 10 ft by 3ft and make it into a circle to protect the whole tree. In another case I used canes to train the pendulous branches higher. In another case I moved the tree very close to the house so the rabbits wouldn't dare come so close.

"Dave Hill" wrote in message
ups.com...
On 9 May, 08:05, Sacha wrote:
On 9/5/07 06:53, in article , "R"



wrote:
Hi URGLers

SWMBO planted 4 new 20" high Acers (2 different types in pairs) last
week.

Yesterday morning all were fine and looking good.

When I cam home from work one of the Acers looked decidedly twig like
and
only 3" tall...with what appears to be teeth marks around what is left.
There are NO remains anywhere.
So...
It's either Mr Rattus Rattus of A.N.Other predator.

*DO* Rats eat Acers?

or do I have a predatory invisible Acer thief that only likes the leafy
bits?

Have Googled without success thus far

Rabbits possibly. Might be a good idea to get some of spiral plastic
tree
guards.

--
Sachahttp://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
(remove weeds from address)
Devon County Show 17-19 Mayhttp://www.devoncountyshow.co.uk/

Otherwise cut the top and bottom off 2 litre pop bottles then split
them up the length, they will spiral in and make a free tree guard,
though not as long as the commercial ones.
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries


Thanks for that idea....
goes in search of plastic bottles

Otherwise cut the top and bottom off 2 litre pop bottles then split
them up the length, they will spiral in and make a free tree guard,
though not as long as the commercial ones.
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries


Thanks for that idea....
goes in search of plastic bottles

I too use old plastic bottles, but found that strong wind has a tendency to
blow them off over Winter. Instead of splitting them in a straight line top
to bottom I found it better to cut them in a spiral - so the resulting guard
looks more like a spring. These seem to cling on to the trees better. On the
downside they contract more (less high), so I'm toying with the idea of
using two or three and using a stapler to join the ends of the spirals
together. Anyone else tried that?

--
David
.... Email address on website http://www.avisoft.co.uk