Could it be very hungry deer? Any chance you can buy a camera and strategically install to solve mystery? Have you checked for foot or pawprints? You can throw some flour and make a path then wait for transgressor to leave a mark to determine if human or animal.

Nice big fence.

Certainly not deer, because nothing is getting eaten. My swamp white oak were laying on the ground whole. The branches from my topped CM were on the ground. Flour is a good idea, as it seems to be getting more frequent. I saved almost all of the plants, and the knockouts are pitifully trying to bloom. If I get the money cameras will be a good idea.

I'm sorry this has happened; it's frustrating. Consider a motion-activated game camera in a not-obvious spot - get photos so you know who is doing it. I'd get rid of the multiflora rose, which is an invasive and will get bird-planted into wild areas, and plant rugosas instead. They sucker fairly vigorously as well as being thorny. You might want to consider plants that cause dermatitis - gas plant (Dictamnus albus) is one that comes to mind. Think about a wire fence - in rural areas an electric fence could be justified, but I don't know if it would work in your area. Perhaps a motion activated sprinkler instead? Or even a motion-activated flood light mounted high enough to discourage removal.

The multiflora rose flowers will be dead-headed. No reason to worry about that. So are you recommending poison oak or maybe trumpet creeper (aka cow itch).

Where do you live? If you live in in the urban area of Charlotte or Durham the problem may be true vandalism. If you live on the edge of Lake Mattamuskeet it may be caused by something entirely different.

Sounds like a groundhog.

Agree w/cecily -- could be a groundhog (giant rat). I have seen deer pull stuff out w/o eating it.

Groundhogs are a possibility, never seen them uproot mature plants or commit crepe murder though. I doubt it would be deer, because my row of giant daylilies have stayed untouched.

Motion sensor we lighting can sometimes deter if people are vandalizing. I would agree with a camera-- game camera may be an option. Any neighboring places seeing same issues?

A neighboring house was robbed last year around this time, with windows broken. My neighbors aren't really into gardening, they could care less. Also, the neighbors have a camera that points almost at the CM and they insist they haven't seen anything.

with the current state of the legal system the way it is, if you knowingly put something that can harm the criminal, the criminal can pursue legal action against you even if its on your own property. Best bet is put motion detection camera/DVR system.

If they step on something that hurts, maybe they shouldn't be trespassing in the first place!

Of course the courts in a correctly functioning democracy aren't going to value property over lives.

I think it's animals. Why, for instance would vandals top a crape myrtle? Unless it's a wigged out neighbor who thinks your plantings are going to get too tall.

My rose bushes and hollies are deadly? Come on.......

Animals cannot use pruning shears, and cannot top crepe myrtles. In all of these instances NOTHING went missing! Why would deer pull up roses and leave them laying? Why would a groundhog commit crepe murder? I just don't think these such things happen from animals, especially since no others in the area or seeing any problems.

A game camera would solve the issue of who or what is causing the damage more effectively than arguing about it. My local PD plus other nearby PDs use them to record nefarious acts in problem spots.

You would not believe what my squirrels have done. There were years when they were pulling everything out of pots, and replacing them with cherry pits.

Then there was the year my neighbor's invisible fence broke, and their dog dug up at least 10 ft of garden in search of ???

Damage that makes no sense is often animal damage since they have a different set of priorities than we do. I, personally, can't imagine eating yew, but try convincing the deer they shouldn't.

I'm sorry you're having sch damage, whaever the cause.

But good suggestions have been made. Stop guessing and crying for long enough to install one or more cameras. If the vandals are 2-legged, the police will respond to your complaints.

And, then, tell us what you found.

I think we now know the obvious answer to who did it:

Seriously though, i would be interested to hear back what you find with a camera. I was ready to blame my husband for "pruning" some of the plants I over wintered including my maple bonsai... then we realized deer probably jumped the fence, or mutant ground hogs. the amount of damage you explained doesn't sound like animals to me, but I agree, put a game camera out, you'll get a clearer answer and then can problem solve from there.

I hope to get cameras within the next year. Thanks for all the help!

The Nine-banded armadillo is expanding its way north into NC now days. They are very bad here. I have to keep wire fence around young trees and small plant to keep the armadillos from uprooting my plants. They really like the insect rich potting soil of a new planting. If it weren't for the topping of the crepe myrtle, I might say it could be armadillo, but it sounds like vandalism. I would put a trail camera up in a hidden spot with infrared flash so they can't see it. Then find lots of thorny black berry stems and jam those into all the plants and also tape them all up the trunks of the trees. If one goes to grab they trunks they will get a painful surprise. You could also set up some perimeter sensors with an alarm.

Yes those thorny plants.....

I am thinking about planting some of the devils walking stick trees as a border. I can't wait until they grab hold of the berberis thunbergii in the front landscaping....

A couple of house back, we had a Sweet Bay Magnolia. There were never more that a couple of leaves at the very top. I could never figure out what was going on, until one year when I watched a squirrel go to the tree, cut of a branch and take it to her nest. That year she took about 8 to ten branches for the brood. We live in the south and squirrels have multiple broods per year.

sober up.. and quit sleep walking ...

if you refuse.. at least go after all the non-recommended varieties ...

lol

ken

treeguy, we finally hired a wildlife removal company a couple of weeks ago because the 'dillos were doing so much damage to the yard. They constructed quite a contraption of planks to lead the animal to the live trap.

We've caught three!

They really are bad, they are like a mini boar rooting everything up, and they can also be carriers of Leprosy. I first started noticing them in the late 1990s here. I've probably got rid of several dozen over the last decade. At one point the population around the house got pretty low, but over the last few years they started coming back rampant since they multiply quickly and being polyembryony they typically give birth to four identical twins.

I researched the 9-banded armadillos. If I can catch them, I will probably go the cheaper route and chop their heads off with an axe.

Cameras, Dillos are not able to climb to the tops of trees or bushes ...lol

Have you offended anyone who lives near you, Logan?

Perhaps (misguided) revenge from someone whose property is now overrun with invasive plants purchased from Caldwell Home and Garden.

Logan, stop buying plants and buy the cameras so you can save what you have already bought.

No, on really good terms with the neighbors. Even gave out free 'Carolina Beauty' CMs and Native Redbuds to replace bradford pears with. Not to mention free nandina, plaited and regular forsythia, burning bush, hearts-a-bustin, dogwoods,etc.

Well, then, work on the 4 legged vandal theory. If you have freecycle you can ask there for a camera. People give away amazing stuff.

No freecycle, we do have goodwill. I don't think the leader was removed on my redbud by an animal, otherwise I would assume it to be animals. Cameras seem like the best idea at this point.

Logan, it's been a couple years now but Night Owl DVR could be a good option. I used to install these in book stores to meet credit card PCI compliance requirements. They were the cheapest option at the time and available on newegg.com and amazon. Complete with night vision, email alerts (don't use that though) and may hours of recording. You could probably record non-stop till something gets vandalized and then have it caught on tape....errrr hard drive. This might be cheaper than the replacement cost of the plants your losing.

I will check on those. Newegg tends to have decent prices.

Yeah I've always been pleased with them. Hope you find that helpful. One note different manufacturers optimize their cameras for either wider display or farther viewing. I'm pretty sure we found that night owl was optimized for distance but that was a couple years ago. We didn't get out door camera's either so I can't speak to that, we did indoor. But if it's near a window you still may be able to get a good shot of the vandals.

Good Luck. I hope you catch them and put an end to this!

Thanks Daniel! I usually just use newegg to order computer parts (I am a very technological advanced person). I just caught a weirdo cutting across my front yard while I was talking to the neighbors. Maybe they are scouting out the garden..... They acted rather calm when I said something to them.

I would be furious over what you have been experiencing! So sorry you are having to deal with it.

heres a suggestion if you have a smart phone or iPad. Blink Battery Operated Security Camera

a friend of mine has these in his home and in his retail store. He can see what's going on at both place anytime, anywhere on his devices. Might be an option for you.

good luck!

Unfortunately I really hate touchscreen and only have 4 laptops and a desktop pc. I am going to make some no trespassing signs.

It's either an animal or some sick, demented person that really has it out for you. These days you can offend someone without even realizing it. Maybe you pulled out in front of someone and they followed you home without your knowing....

I tend to believe its an animal, but I'm astonished you didn't have cameras out after the first time it happened.....I'd want to know who my foe was ASAP, so I could make sure it never happened again.

The reason I don't have cameras is money. If I wasn't low on funds I would certainly have cameras out this very moment. I will probably get some next year.

Yep that's understandable. Any chance you have a friend who would load you a DVR for a while. You just need it till you catch someone on camera right?

Preferably permanent. I am going to look around some goodwill and salvation army stores and see what I find.

playing 'got'cha!, logan:

4 laptops and a pc pretty much says you are not as young as some of us thought (not a teenager, anyway)

Which has nothing to do with your plant losses. I can begin to imagine your frustration. I was furious and yelling when I saw some creature had taken a bite out of least 10 tomatoes and just left them there on the vine or ground. It wasn't even satisfied with the ripe ones; the green ones were chawed at too.

The netting just arrived today. God, I hope it was chipmunks and not the rats we've been chasing out of here.

Anyway, if it is an animal I hope it is literate

Catepillars like to tunnel through my tomatoes (usually the green ones). I spray them periodically with diluted dawn dish soap. It keeps them off and is safe to spray on something you will eat (you must still rinse them of course).

Not Caterpillars! Hunks not tunneling . Off topic & my fault.