Do Rabbits Eat Dogwood Shrubs

Rabbits do eat dogwood shrubs, and they can cause serious damage when they do.

If you’ve noticed chewed branches, stripped bark, or nibbled twigs on your dogwoods, a rabbit is likely the culprit.
 
Rabbit damage on dogwood shrubs is most common in winter when food is scarce, but it can happen any time of year.
 
These hungry little foragers will munch on the tender bark, new shoots, and even the buds of young dogwood shrubs.
 
In this post, we’ll dig into why rabbits eat dogwood shrubs, what the damage looks like, and how you can protect your plants from becoming a rabbit snack.
 
Let’s jump right in.
 

Why Rabbits Eat Dogwood Shrubs

Rabbits eat dogwood shrubs because these plants are a tasty and accessible food source, especially in colder months.
 
And the reasons go beyond just hunger.
 

1. Dogwood Shrubs Offer Tender Bark and Twigs

Rabbits love munching on the soft, thin bark of young dogwood shrubs.
 
This bark is easy to chew and packed with nutrients that rabbits need.
 
During winter, when green vegetation is buried under snow, rabbits will turn to woody plants like dogwood shrubs for survival.
 
New twigs and branches are especially appealing because they’re softer and more palatable than older, woodier growth.
 

2. Dogwood Shrubs Provide Shelter and Food in One Spot

Rabbits are creatures of habit, and they love areas where they can hide and eat without traveling far.
 
Dogwood shrubs often grow in clusters, offering dense cover from predators.
 
So a rabbit can hide under the shrub and nibble on its branches at the same time.
 
This is why rabbits eat dogwood shrubs more than other plants that grow in open, exposed spots.
 

3. Winter Is Prime Time for Rabbit Damage to Dogwood Shrubs

Rabbits eat dogwood shrubs most aggressively in late fall and winter.
 
That’s when their usual food sources like grasses and clover die back or freeze.
 
With little else available, rabbits will eat the bark and buds of dogwood shrubs to stay alive.
 
This is also when the damage is most severe because rabbits can girdle a shrub by eating the bark all the way around the trunk.
 

4. Young Dogwood Shrubs Are Most Vulnerable

A mature dogwood shrub has thicker bark that rabbits find harder to chew.
 
But young dogwood shrubs are like a buffet for rabbits.
 
The thin, smooth bark on younger plants is much easier for a rabbit’s teeth to penetrate.
 
If you’ve just planted new dogwood shrubs, they’re at the highest risk of rabbit damage.
 

Signs That Rabbits Are Eating Your Dogwood Shrubs

How can you tell if rabbits eat dogwood shrubs in your yard and not another animal?
 
The evidence is pretty clear if you know what to look for.
 

1. Clean, Sharp Cuts on Branches

Rabbits have sharp incisors that leave behind a clean, angled cut on twigs and branches.
 
It almost looks like the branch was snipped with pruning shears.
 
This is a classic sign that rabbits eat dogwood shrubs in your garden.
 

2. Stripped Bark Near the Base

In winter, rabbits often eat dogwood shrubs by gnawing on the bark near the ground.
 
They’ll chew the bark in a ring around the trunk, which is called girdling.
 
If you see ragged, stripped patches of bark low on the shrub, rabbits are the likely offenders.
 

3. Droppings and Tracks Nearby

Rabbits leave small, round droppings that look like little chocolate pellets scattered around the base of the shrub.
 
You might also spot their tracks in the snow or soft soil.
 
Finding these signs alongside chewed branches is a surefire way to confirm that rabbits eat dogwood shrubs.
 

How to Protect Dogwood Shrubs from Rabbits

The good news is that you can stop rabbits from eating dogwood shrubs with a few simple strategies.
 
You don’t have to give up your beautiful shrubs to these hungry critters.
 

1. Install a Physical Barrier

The most effective way to keep rabbits from eating dogwood shrubs is to wrap the trunk and lower branches with hardware cloth or chicken wire.
 
Use a wire mesh with openings no larger than one inch.
 
Make sure the barrier is at least two feet tall, and bury the bottom edge a few inches into the soil.
 
Rabbits can dig, so this extra step is crucial for stopping them from burrowing underneath.
 

2. Use Repellents Around Your Dogwood Shrubs

There are many commercial rabbit repellents on the market that you can spray on your dogwood shrubs.
 
Look for products with ingredients like putrescent egg solids or capsaicin.
 
These taste awful to rabbits, so they’ll move on to easier food sources.
 
Just remember to reapply after rain or heavy snow, because the repellent washes off over time.
 

3. Remove Rabbit Hiding Spots

Rabbits eat dogwood shrubs when they feel safe doing so.
 
Clear away brush piles, tall weeds, and rock piles near your shrubs.
 
These are the perfect hiding spots for rabbits to launch their attacks from.
 
A clean, open yard makes rabbits feel exposed, and they’ll be less likely to come around.
 

4. Plant Rabbit-Resistant Companions

While you’re protecting your existing dogwood shrubs, consider planting rabbit-resistant companions nearby.
 
Plants like marigolds, lavender, or alliums have strong scents that rabbits dislike.
 
These can act as a natural deterrent, helping to keep rabbits away from your dogwood shrubs.
 

So, Do Rabbits Eat Dogwood Shrubs?

Rabbits eat dogwood shrubs, and they can cause real harm if you don’t take action.
 
But you can stop them with barriers, repellents, and a tidy landscape.
 
Rabbits eat dogwood shrubs because they’re tasty and easy to access, but that doesn’t mean your shrubs have to be lost.
 
With the tips we’ve covered, you can keep your dogwood shrubs safe and healthy all year long.
 
So keep an eye out for those telltale signs, and act fast before the rabbits turn your shrubs into their favorite snack spot.
 
Your dogwood shrubs will thank you.