Will my plants recover if the roots are chewed?

If the damage is minor, the plant may recover with extra care, but significant root loss usually leads to plant death.

Are squirrels or voles more likely to be the problem?

Voles typically tunnel and eat roots underground, while squirrels are more likely to dig up bulbs or chew on stems above ground.

Rodents

Symptoms by part

Roots

Missing root sections, tunnels leading directly to the base of the plant, or the plant suddenly leaning or pulling out of the soil with no resistance.

Stems

Chew marks near the soil line, or complete girdling where the bark is stripped away in a ring around the base of the stem.

Causes

Presence of tall grass or heavy mulch near the base of plants providing cover.
Availability of food sources during lean times.
Proximity to woodpiles or dense brush that offers nesting sites.

Could be confused with

Root rot · Root rot causes mushy, discolored roots and a foul smell, whereas rodent damage shows clean, mechanical bite marks.
Cutworms · Cutworms sever stems at the soil line with a clean cut, but they do not tunnel or eat large portions of the root system like rodents.

Treatment

Install physical barriers like hardware cloth cages around the root zones of vulnerable bulbs or young trees.
Clear away all mulch, debris, and tall weeds from a 1 foot radius around the base of the plant to remove hiding spots.
Place protective wire mesh collars around the base of stems to prevent gnawing.
Use mechanical traps designed for small rodents in areas where tunnels are active.

Without chemicals

Use hardware cloth or wire mesh buried 6 to 12 inches deep around planting beds.
Maintain a clear zone around the base of plants to discourage nesting.
Install motion activated sprinklers to deter animals from approaching the area.

Chemical options

Ferric phosphate, apply as a bait in tamper resistant stations according to the label.

Preventing it

Keep garden areas tidy by removing piles of wood, stones, or dense brush.
Regularly inspect the soil around plants for signs of tunneling or burrowing.
Use gravel or sharp stone mulch around the base of plants to make digging uncomfortable for rodents.

Season

The warm growing season and through the winter when other food sources are scarce.

Spread risk

Moderate

Severity

High

When to act

Act immediately upon seeing tunnels or chew marks to save the plant. If the main stem is fully girdled, the plant will likely not recover and should be removed.

Think it's Rodents?

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Questions people ask

Will my plants recover if the roots are chewed?: If the damage is minor, the plant may recover with extra care, but significant root loss usually leads to plant death.
Are squirrels or voles more likely to be the problem?: Voles typically tunnel and eat roots underground, while squirrels are more likely to dig up bulbs or chew on stems above ground.

Plants it affects

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This guide was generated with AI and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.