Do Rabbits Eat Green Giant Arborvitae

Yes, rabbits do eat green giant arborvitae, and this can be a real concern for gardeners and homeowners.
 
If you’ve planted green giant arborvitae as a privacy screen or hedge, you might have noticed damage during colder months.
 
Rabbits will eat green giant arborvitae when other food sources become scarce, especially in winter.
 
The tender bark and young shoots of green giant arborvitae are particularly attractive to hungry rabbits.
 
In this post, we’ll explore why rabbits eat green giant arborvitae, how they damage the plants, and how to protect your shrubs.
 
Let’s dig into everything you need to know about rabbits and green giant arborvitae.
 

Why Rabbits Eat Green Giant Arborvitae

Understanding why rabbits eat green giant arborvitae helps you prevent problems before they start.
 
Here are the main reasons rabbits target these evergreens:

1. Winter Food Scarcity Drives Rabbits to Green Giant Arborvitae

During winter, green vegetation disappears and rabbits struggle to find fresh food.
 
Green giant arborvitae stays green year-round, making it an obvious target for hungry rabbits.
 
Rabbits eat green giant arborvitae bark and needles when snow covers the ground.
 
This is why damage often appears in late winter or early spring after snow has melted.
 
Rabbits will travel to available green giant arborvitae even if other plants are nearby.
 

2. Green Giant Arborvitae Offers Tender Bark and Shoots

Rabbits prefer to eat soft, young plant tissue over tough, woody stems.
 
The new growth on green giant arborvitae is especially appealing because it’s easy to chew.
 
Rabbits eat green giant arborvitae branches low to the ground where they can reach them.
 
This is why you’ll often see damage on the lower 18 to 24 inches of the plant.
 
Rabbits also eat the thin bark of young green giant arborvitae, which can girdle the stem.
 

3. Green Giant Arborvitae Provides Cover for Rabbits

Rabbits feel safe near dense evergreens like green giant arborvitae.
 
When rabbits eat green giant arborvitae, they also use the thick foliage as shelter from predators.
 
This creates a cycle: rabbits hide in the arborvitae, then nibble on its tender parts.
 
So if you have a large planting of green giant arborvitae, rabbits may decide to make it their home.
 
Then they’ll continue to eat your green giant arborvitae throughout the winter.
 

How Rabbits Damage Green Giant Arborvitae

Rabbits can cause serious harm to green giant arborvitae, especially young plants.
 
Here’s how the damage happens:

1. Girdling the Trunk

When rabbits eat green giant arborvitae bark around the entire circumference of the trunk, it’s called girdling.
 
Girdling cuts off the flow of water and nutrients between roots and leaves.
 
If rabbits eat green giant arborvitae bark in a complete ring, the plant above that point will die.
 
Young green giant arborvitae are most vulnerable because their trunks are thin and easy to chew.
 
Once girdled, the arborvitae may not survive the spring.
 

2. Chewing Off Lower Branches

Rabbits also eat green giant arborvitae by snipping off small branches near the ground.
 
This removes foliage and can make the shrub look lopsided or bare at the base.
 
While the plant may recover, repeated browsing weakens it over time.
 
Rabbits eat green giant arborvitae branches that are within about 2 feet of the soil.
 
Heavy damage can stunt growth and ruin the symmetrical shape of your hedge.
 

3. Exposing the Plant to Disease and Stress

After rabbits eat green giant arborvitae, the wounds invite pests and diseases.
 
Open bark can attract insects or allow fungal infections to enter.
 
Stress from rabbit damage also makes green giant arborvitae less tolerant of drought or extreme cold.
 
Rabbits eat green giant arborvitae repeatedly, and each feeding session adds more stress.
 
Over time, the shrub may decline and eventually die if not protected.
 

How to Protect Green Giant Arborvitae From Rabbits

Prevention is the best approach when it comes to rabbits and green giant arborvitae.
 
Here are effective methods to keep rabbits away:

1. Physical Barriers Like Fencing

The most reliable way to stop rabbits from eating green giant arborvitae is to block their access.
 
Install a wire mesh fence around young plants, burying the bottom 4 inches in the soil.
 
The fence should be at least 2 feet high to prevent rabbits from jumping over.
 
Rabbits cannot bite through hardware cloth or chicken wire, so your green giant arborvitae stays safe.
 
Make sure the mesh reaches above the expected snow line, as rabbits can climb on packed snow.
 

2. Repellents and Deterrents

You can use scent or taste repellents to discourage rabbits from eating green giant arborvitae.
 
Commercial products containing putrescent egg solids or garlic work well.
 
Apply repellents in late fall and reapply after heavy rain or snow.
 
Rabbits may still eat green giant arborvitae if they are very hungry, but repellents help.
 
Also try motion-activated sprinklers or noise devices to scare rabbits away.
 

3. Plant Guards and Trunk Wraps

For individual green giant arborvitae, use rigid plastic tree guards or spiral wraps.
 
These create a physical barrier around the trunk that rabbits cannot chew through.
 
Wrap the trunk from the base up to about 2 feet high.
 
Rabbits eat green giant arborvitae bark, so trunk wraps are especially important in winter.
 
Remove wraps in spring to prevent moisture buildup and allow the bark to breathe.
 

4. Habitat Modification

Reduce rabbit hiding spots near your green giant arborvitae.
 
Clear away brush piles, tall grass, and debris where rabbits might shelter.
 
Rabbits eat green giant arborvitae more readily if they feel safe nearby.
 
By removing cover, you make your garden less inviting to them.
 
Also consider planting rabbit‑resistant species alongside your arborvitae.
 

So, Do Rabbits Eat Green Giant Arborvitae?

Yes, rabbits do eat green giant arborvitae, especially during winter when food is scarce.
 
Rabbits eat green giant arborvitae bark, shoots, and low branches, which can seriously damage or kill young plants.
 
But with the right protection—fencing, repellents, and trunk guards—you can keep your green giant arborvitae safe.
 
Understanding why rabbits eat green giant arborvitae helps you act before damage occurs.
 
If you have green giant arborvitae in your landscape, take preventive steps now to avoid losing them.
 
Happy gardening, and may your green giant arborvitae thrive without rabbit trouble.