RE: peonies & voles
- To:
- Subject: RE: peonies & voles
- From: d*
- Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 09:53:10 -0500
- Importance: Normal
> Hi all
>
> I am going to plant a row of peonies across the front of my
> foundation shrubs, just waiting for them to arrive in the mail.
> My potential problem is voles. I have lots more of them than my
> lazy cats will catch. Does anyone know if voles will eat peony
> roots? Should I plant them in a 'basket' of hardware cloth like
> I have to do my bulbs?
>
> Julia, Raleigh, Z7
Some peony species are toxic. Some peony species, however, do have somewhat
edible roots, which would make them somewhat attractive to voles (if there
aren't alternate food sources.) Since you have plenty of voles, I hope you
also have plenty of alternate food sources.
I wouldn't put the peonies in a basket/cage, simply because I'd want to
plant the peonies just once and I'd worry about the basket turning into a
barrier hindering proper root development.
You can reduce the chances of vole attack by watering your new plants in
well. That will settle and compact the loose ground around your plants and
lessen its attractiveness as a digging space. If voles aren't really
attracted to the area, they are more likely to miss finding the potential
goodies buried there.
Barb in Southern Indiana Zone 5/6 dorsett@blueriver.net
"It is tacky to tell your spouse that trying to get rid of the witchweed
reminds you a lot of the last time his/her mother came to visit."
- Martha Smith
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