Mice are eating my Carex (sedges)! What can I do?

I have a large urban garden in a NYC park where I serve as a volunteer gardener. I have 4 carex plants all in semi-shady bed areas that have thrived - until this year late fall, when it looks like rodents (mice? rat?) may have taken a liking to them and have chewed the leaves almost all the way to the crown in most cases. I certainly didn't cut them back. I've never had a rodent problem with my carex plantings before, but this past year we had a mouse epidemic. Could that explain how the apparent tearing of the leaves (they were not cut with scissors, that's for sure) might have happened? Do mice have an affinity for carex? I probably need to find something less tasty to rodents to replace these gnawed carexes with. Any info or comments would be helpful. Thanks. The location of my garden is Hell's Kitchen Park in Manhattan midtown west (Hell's Kitchen).

Answer

Mice eating your Carex, not fun. Bottom line is to use a safe rodent repellent, or a trap, if you prefer. 

Interesting information: Some insects that feed on sedges include various aphids, leafhoppers, larvae of leaf-mining moths and other moths, caterpillars of skippers, and caterpillars of butterflies. The foliage of upland sedges in open areas is especially likely to be consumed by various grasshoppers. Among vertebrate animals, the seeds of such sedges are eaten by various upland game birds and granivorous songbirds. This includes such species as the Wild Turkey, Greater Prairie Chicken, Ring-necked Pheasant, Mourning Dove, Horned Lark, and Savannah Sparrow. 

 

Culture

Easily grown in organically rich, consistently moist to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Plants need consistent moisture in full sun locations. Avoid deep shade. Plants will grow in very shallow water. Cut foliage to the ground in late winter. Plants slowly naturalize by rhizomes and self-seeding in optimum growing conditions.

 

For tips on a variety of gardening topics, see our Plant Information Guides.
- Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service

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  • Last Updated Feb 16, 2021
  • Views 870
  • Answered By Anita Finkle

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