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Plants that voles don't eat!

FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
in Plants
Evening All!
From the second day of filling the pond it has attracted voles. This is ok as it is a 'wildlife' friendly pond and I can't pick and choose so to speak. I thought it was cute at first, until it demolished all the ornamental grasses that I'd put in, a clematis, the primroses and the bulbs etc as well as running amok creating tunnels in the lawn and the veg garden. I don't mind some damage, but I have limits!

I saw it again this morning, it's not too shy. (and obviously it won't be alone!) Anyway, Ive noticed that one of the grasses Amenanthele, it hasn't touched at all in the last 5 years, even though it was right next to a Carex which was a stump after one day, not has it taken out the yarrow, so there are clearly plants they are less partial too? I'm currently relandscaping and will be planting up a large swathe around the pond next year (leaving it with a thick mulch for this season to try and improve the soil a bit)

Does anyone have any experience with voles and found any plants that have survived their appetite? 

Posts

  • jonathan.colejonathan.cole Posts: 221
    edited February 2021
    We have field voles. They attacked a lot of the young hedging plants we put in, but now they're established they leave them alone. Those were hawthorn, elder, cherry plum and dog rose.
    They don't seem to damage our daffodils or snow drops.
    Our other roses and nasturtiums have been fine I think.
    Some had all the carrots, either as seeds or seedlings. Don't know if that was the voles or birds.
    Dogwood seems untouched.
    Don't know if any of that is any help!
  • FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
    Thank you, yes that is helpful. I was looking at Dogwood as a planting option. It does seem they are more attracted to young, juicier stems as we also have a more mature viburnum and a rose that hasn’t been touched, perhaps as the stems are woodier and there are easier alternatives. 
  • jonathan.colejonathan.cole Posts: 221
    That was our experience mostly. That said, something had a go at the apples at some point in the past before we bought the house.

    Cheap plastic spiral tree guards seemed to work. They only seemed interested in the bottom of the stems so I cut the guards in half making them even cheaper.
  • FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
    Good advice thank you!
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited February 2021
    Is it a watervole or field vole (or indeed a bank vole?)  I suspect they may have different appetites.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
    Field or bank, not water vole.
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    I find that voles like young Apple tree roots and really like any root vegetable, I've pulled to many hollowed out parsnips for my liking. If you get a water vole you will know about it, I lost half a greenhouse of potatoes to one (or more) and ALL of my 8 horseradish plants.
    The dogwoods seems totally untouched by any rodents as do the lilac I have next to them.
  • FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
    Thanks @Skandi. Cornus looks like a winner which is great as they were on my possible planting list. I like Lilac, reminds me of my childhood garden, but not sure it will fit in my scheme... definitely on my reserve list lol!
    Pulmonaria have also come through unscathed here and the honeysuckle.

    I will take this year to throw as much compost, manure etc as I can on the area as the soil is horrific, but it gives me time to plan the plants. 
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