Winter protection of cedar hedges against deer and rabbits
Are your cedar trees at risk of being browsed by deer and rabbits this winter? We offer a professional repellent treatment – pesticide- and poison-free.
Winter is the most critical time for a cedar hedge. When snow covers their usual food source, deer and rabbits turn to the arborvitae, one of their preferred forages. A hedge that has taken years to establish can lose a significant portion of its foliage in just a few weeks. PURcedars offers a professional repellent treatment service to reduce the risk of browsing on your cedars during the cold season, throughout the Greater Montreal area.
Why cedars are a target in winter
The thuja remains green and accessible year-round, unlike many other plants that lose their leaves. When food becomes scarce, deer and rabbits will prey on it.
- Roe deer : browse the foliage high up, up to about 1.8 meters from the ground (higher when accumulated snow gives them momentum). The damage leaves bare branches with jagged tips.
- Rabbits : attack the lower foliage and the bark of young stems.
A heavily grazed hedge does not always regrow evenly, which can leave visible gaps for several seasons.
Our repellent treatment service
PURCedres applies a professional repellent treatment made with food-grade ingredients (animal proteins and plant extracts), without pesticides or poisons. Its mode of action relies on taste and odor, which are unpleasant for deer and rabbits, rather than toxicity. Once dry, the product adheres to the foliage and is highly resistant to rain and snow.
Factors that increase the risk to your hedge
- Proximity to a coniferous forest (fir, spruce, cedar, hemlock): this type of stand forms winter shelter areas – the “wintering grounds” – where white-tailed deer congregate in winter. Hedges located near these areas are subject to more frequent passage.
- Scarcity of usual hardwoods (maple, willow, poplar) in winter: when this food becomes scarce, deer turn to conifers, including thuja.
- Presence of dense cover nearby (bushes, undergrowth, undeveloped land): rabbits tend to concentrate there, which exposes the surrounding hedges more.
- Prolonged snow on the ground: it covers the herbaceous vegetation that rabbits usually feed on, pushing them towards the bark and young shoots, while allowing them to reach branches that are normally out of reach.
- Young or recently established hedges: their softer foliage and bark are generally more vulnerable to browsing, both for deer and rabbits.
Territory served
This service is offered throughout the territory served by PURCèdres: Vaudreuil-Soulanges, North Shore, South Shore, West Island and Laval.
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The steps involved in repellent treatment against deer and rabbits
A simple, natural and effective method to protect your cedar hedge.
ONLINE QUOTE REQUEST
You fill out our online form with your contact information. A member of our team will then contact you to prepare your file: the sections of the hedge to be treated (left, right, back, etc.), whether each section should be treated on one side only or both sides (inside and outside), and whether you wish to protect against deer, rabbits, or both. We will then send you a preliminary quote, including a base fee for travel plus a price per linear foot based on the treatments requested.
INTERVENTION PLANNING
The treatment is applied in late October or early November, once the growing season is over and before the first heavy snowfall. Our teams plan each application according to the weather: the foliage must be dry, without rain or snow at the time of application, with a drying time of approximately 6 hours afterwards.
APPLICATION OF THE TREATMENT
During the visit, our applicator takes official measurements of the area to be treated and adjusts the quote accordingly before proceeding. They then spray the targeted foliage up to approximately 4 feet high for rabbit protection, and up to approximately 8 feet for deer protection. The treatment is composed of food-grade ingredients, without pesticides or poisons – its effectiveness relies on taste and smell rather than toxicity.
PROTECTION FOR THE COLD SEASON
Once dry, the product adheres to the foliage and is highly resistant to rain and snow, reducing the risk of browsing throughout the winter. The protection diminishes over time and with rainfall: a new application is required each autumn as long as the hedge remains exposed to deer and rabbits.
FAQDeer and rabbit repellent for cedar trees
The product used is neither a pesticide nor a poison; it acts through taste and smell rather than toxicity. As with any sprayed product, application is carried out by professional teams following standard safety precautions.
The duration varies depending on precipitation and snow accumulation.
Yes, the same treatment deters both deer and rabbits, which are attracted to the foliage of the thuja in winter.
No. The goal of the treatment is to reduce the risk of grazing, not to eliminate it completely. High animal pressure in certain areas can still lead to damage despite the treatment.
The treatment can still be applied to protect the rest of the foliage, but the parts already grazed will not grow back until spring.
Yes, the treatment must be reapplied every autumn as long as the hedge remains exposed to deer and rabbits.
EXAMPLEOF CEDAR HEDGE DAMAGED BY RODENTS
