I am genuinely sorry for your sad garden news. I have been there, with tremendous losses of perennials. And sad to say, when they are gone, they are gone. I tried everything and my best success was with Mole Tox poured down the holes at regular time intervals. For further info, try the "Search" function at the bottom of the forum page. Type in "vole" or "voles" for both this forum and all of GW. There is a ton of information as this is a widespread problem.

If it was me, I would try to salvage them. Definitely take some cuttings just in case. Ask over on the propagation forum, those folks are great.

I remember we were at the Comstock/Ferry store in Connecticut and they said you can put in sharp things in the soil when you plant bulbs(some kind of stone/gravel product)when you plant. It would be like broken glass. The voles bleed to death if they get scratched - they can't stop the bleeding. We were thinking of trying to incorporate smashed sea shells when we plant our Dahlias.

If there is total devastation, think about coming down to the CT swap (see exchanges).

Bill

Oh, that is really sad, I'm so sorry for your losses.

Take some cuttings of the roses before they wilt.

And, it's so early in the season that if a plant still has some roots, it might make it if replanted promptly. Provide shade and protection from the wind for anything you are trying to salvage, too.

I've had just a little damage from voles in the past, having read your post I think now it's time to get serious and get some repellant. Aren't oyster shells supposed to help? Oops, I'd better do a search, as ginny suggested.

Whitegarden, I'm so sorry. I had the same experience last year, with the loss of over three-quarters of a large garden. The only thing the voles left were some irises and a stand of daisies.

I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give a try to saving some of the plants. I'm still waging my battle against voles, and now I plant everything with a very generous handful of crushed oyster shells. I also have tried MoleMax, which seemed to be of some help last year. I put down another spreading of it this spring, hoping for a bit of prevention.

Best of luck to you.
:)
Dee

Wow, I'm really sorry for all your losses. From what I hear around the forums, you're not alone. I've had what I think are voles running around here for years but have never lost a plant. Does this mean what I really have are shrews? The next time the dogs kill one I'll have to take a picture and see if I can identify it. It sounds like you may have to start planting vole favorites in wire cages.

Sue

I am sorry for your loss. I had the same experience last year. Replanted many of my bulbs and was advised to use step 2 patio mix as the underplanting. My DH and I dug out 2 of the gardens and layed the mix in, so far I have seen no holes and the plants are beginning to peek up. Good luck
Fireliz

Well, today I am feeling much better. All of your suggestions and sympathy made a big difference last night! Today, after chewing and dropping and entire jumbo pack of juicy fruit gum, I took stock of the damage and not all has been lost. The greatest loss is the 6 climbing roses which were three years old and ready to make their first big show this year. Oh well, I am thinking of going with clematis instead. Fewer problems and I have two white clematis already that seem to thrive in my garden.

Time to regroup, replant and think more about thorough fall clean-up and EARLIER spring clean-up from now on!

Lesson learned (the hard way)

Thank you to all of you. I think I will stick around this year.

WG

I have had some success with Sweeney's Poison Peanuts from Walmarts. It is supposed to be for moles, but I use it for voles. I look for their tunnels which are often under evergreens, ground covers, mulch etc. and put the bait in the holes.

Some years ago, as the now elderly cats began to show less and less interest in "the hunt" I experienced vole damage, too. I was horrified at what they did to a Rodgersia that was just getting to prime, blooming size. They did quite a number on Astilbe, too, and chewed the roots right out from under a plump Hosta.

All plants recovered, but I was "johnny on the spot" that fall and removed leaves. I also add 3 new "rodent control units". They made their first kill in early November at about 15 weeks old; while they were outdoors with Mummy and Daddy. I even have a picture of it! and there is some sort of rodent on the deck nearly every day.

TIA.... so sorry, too, about your vole problem. As a former garden center worker in S. CT, our two biggest customer complaints were deer and moles/voles. You have to get rid of the mole tunnels that the voles use in their search for food. Since moles eat grubs ( Jap. beettle) and J. beetles love flowers, most of the grubs begin life in flower gardens. The moles travel there to eat the grubs and the voles follow to feast on all our plantings. Think of them like a tag team.

Unless you get ride of the moles and their tunnels, the voles will think that the "deli" is still open. I recall finding tulips, still attached to the stems, hanging out of mole holes. Must have lost 200 tulips that season!

Sad...sad, but don't give up. Remember the movie Caddy Shack?

Molie