Pruning For Shrub Voles and Pruning at the Wrong Time of Year

While pruning too early or too late may not directly kill shrub voles, excess pruning reduces the amount of leaf area. Pruning at the wrong time of year may kill shrub voles, but it does not harm the plant. If you suspect a vole infestation, the next step is to investigate the cause of the voles’ destruction.

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Excessive pruning reduces leaf area

Voles are small rodents that gnaw on the stems of shrubs and trees. They do not hibernate and are active year-round, including when there is snow on the ground.

If you see any feeding damage near the ground, it is likely caused by a vole. Depending on their size, they can cause damage to small trees and individual branches of larger trees. They can also remove bark from around the stems

Pruning can cause a number of problems, including excessive leaf area and reduced plant health. It can also result in poorer quality fruit. Pruning causes fruit to become large and poorly colored, or it can lead to soft and moldy fruits that do not store well. Pruning also causes vegetative growth to compete with fruit for calcium and can cause cork spots.

Pruning should be done in two to three-year intervals. Ideally, pruning should occur when the tree begins to grow in spring. In north Georgia, the best time for pruning is mid-March. In south Georgia, mid-February is better. The timing of pruning is key, as pruning in mid-winter will cause new growth to be injured by the cold.

Pruning at the wrong time of year does not kill plants

Pruning at the wrong time of year will not kill your plants, but it can cause them to look stunted. It is important to prune plants when they are dormant because this allows them to recover better and promote healthy growth in the spring.

For deciduous plants, the best time to prune is early spring, when their foliage has died back. If you want to prune shrubs that have flower buds, wait until new wood has developed.

This will help to stimulate early growth and limit cold weather damage.

Pruning is necessary to maintain the shape and health of most plants. Even though it may seem intimidating, it is one of the most important tasks for gardeners.

While most shrubs, trees, and other plants need to be pruned, it is not always necessary to cut them at the wrong time. There are several factors to consider when pruning, and some mistakes can have devastating effects on your plants.

Pruning too early can kill a shrub vole

If you suspect that your shrub is infested with shrub voles, it’s time to take action. Although the numbers of these pests fluctuate, they’re most active during the spring and fall.

Their diet includes grasses, tubers, bulbs, and herbaceous plants. They also gnaw on plant roots and stems. These pests can destroy landscape plants and fruit trees.

First, you need to identify the animal. Voles are small rodents that feed on the stems of trees and shrubs. Although they don’t hibernate, they are still active under snow.

Look for signs of feeding damage near the ground line. In some cases, voles can kill entire trees, or even just a single branch. They can also gnaw off bark around stems.

Once you’ve identified the pest, it’s time to protect your plants. Meadow voles feed on grasses, tender roots, and the bark of shrubs and trees.

The best thing to do is prevent vole damage by planting groundcovers and plants that can provide cover for the animals. Mid-high blueberry bushes and flowering fothergilla are good choices for groundcover.