I had major problem with rabbits and yard rats (squirrels). That was in 2011. Now - 95% control. Here is what I did. Plantskyddî Repellent && Repels All -- I purchased my first bag of Plantskydd in late 2011 and swore off the stuff because it did not seem to work. I then did extensive research on squirrel and rabbit behavior and learned that when the garden is actively growing is not the time to start the repellant use. In 2012 I started applying the Plantskydd in mid-February -- a very light dusting around the perimeter of my garden. The label says the stuff lasts for months but I decided to dust the garden area every 2-3 weeks until April. In April I put a heavy dusting all around the garden. We have a 6 foot privacy fence with a 4x4 post every 8 feet and on top of each post I put a tablespoon of the Plantskydd. I also put down the Repels-All the week after the Plantskydd each time. In 2012 I had ONE ""rogue"" squirrel. That monster was resistant to everything except red pepper and garlic. I mixed 50% red pepper powder and 50% garlic powder in a kitchen squirt bottle with mineral oil and put it on the ground around the little "rogue's" favorite spots to dig. Since it was just garlic and pepper I also put this around the top of each container. By the time my tomatoes and sweet peppers began to color and get ripe I had just about 95% control over these little monsters. I grow exclusively in EarthBox (25+), Containers (15 +/-) and raised beds. I keep all of my containers and EB's on wood pallets to keep them off the ground. I sprinkle the Plantskydd and the Repels-All on the ground around the containers and not on the soil inside the EB's or containers. From my research I have learned that using the same repellant each time is not wise. For my garden a fence was not possible. Plantskydd is expensive and not readily available so this year I have used Organic Blood Meal after the Plantskydd ran out. I alternate it with the Repels-All and so far so good. Not 100% but 95% is OK by me. We love stewed rabbit but in the city we are not allowed to shoot the little buggers. Cheers, DL Disclaimer:: I am not in anyway affiliated with Plantskydd or Repels-All. I only report what works for me.

Kim said... >My original obsession was outrageously out of hand and I loved it. [...] I'm keeping to the level area as much as possible. Weeding that slope is offensive enough without having to traipse up and down, sliding on every other step, to maintain anything down there. I know I will resent the ones which go on the slope and will eventually allow them to go the way of the Dodo, so I'm choosing to rid myself of them, instead. That's a LOT of roses, quite a few of which are seedlings either generated through my obsession or those shared with me by other "obsessives", but that is what it is going to take to keep this "fun", doable and prevent the water requirements from eating me out of house, home and desire. Weeding through them to maintain those which are just happier to be here with me and those which are endangered, has been a real chore. Now, if there was a ton of level land with high ground water. Hi Kim, Back in the Dark Ages we lived in California in just the sort of spot you are conjuring up as a high ground water fix. But native trees really like spots like that too... and our house had lots of shade, too much shade for most roses. Still, we wouldn't have dreamed of cutting down a tree. We didn't own the house, we like trees, and anyway, removing a tree was illegal without a good reason for a permit where we lived (a Monarch Butterfly preserve). Anyway, we were relative youngsters at the time and didn't know just how wet that property was until our vegetable garden was swimming in water during the winter months. It was fine, fine black silty sand that held on to the water pretty well too. Your post made me think about what we'd do if confronted with your lack of water problems back in California again. What you're doing makes a lot of sense. But I also am wondering whether a bank full of Renaes rambling around might not survive and also keep the weeds down once they proliferated and established themselves? They might take over the other remaining roses, but if you weren't still trying hard to keep those... A bunch of Renaes might not require so much watering once established? I don't think a big crowd of them would look bad at all, depending on personal tastes, of course. In fact, I prefer that kind of look. We've done that crowded thing in a pretty good sized area with azaleas and rhododendrons here; they all grow together and if there's a weed under there somewhere, well, you can't easily penetrate to find or see it. Once in awhile there's a tree sneaking in that will have to be pulled up, but basically it's too shady under all the plant thickness for most weeds to grow. And I adore the looks of those crowded plants! No, we don't have big problems with fungal diseases, even with the crowd. Maybe fewer than average problems, though phytopthera wilt sometimes does require some cutting back of rhododendron limbs. You know a big problem with azaleas and rhododendrons is that they aren't drought tolerant. Well, we have lost huge numbers since our drought problems began big time here around 2001. It's been wonderfully rainy most of the time during the last couple of years, but the next drought period is probably just around the corner... and if we lose some more azaleas and rhododendrons then, well, I'm thinking of trying to establish some Renaes and Annie Laurie McDowells in their place in the relatively sunnier spots... along with some more camellias, which are drought tolerant after the first year. (Though blooming is less than ideal if August and September are dry.) We lost our Annie Laurie McDowell to Rose Rosette Disease last year, but I am figuring that if it's anything like our Renae here, well, it's as no-care, no-worry a plant as any other plant of any kind we've ever had in our yard. Not a touch of blackspot or any other disease here thus far (though that may well change just a bit as we get more shade as the sun angle changes during the fall). Anyway, I'm hoping for another Annie Laurie McDowell eventually too. Ours is a no-spray all-organic yard for everything we grow and Renae fits well into that way of doing things. I think Annie Laurie McDowell will too. I know it hurts to cut back some on what you are able to continue doing, Kim. But I keep thinking mostly about your achievements and how much you have helped so many others in what you have already contributed. Thank you! Best wishes, Mary

Adding to my own list: Hebe pimeleoides- blackish stems with small greyish/bluish/silverish leaves that creeps along the ground at about 1 foot tall. Excellent for textural contrast and unique appeal, best against large rocks and contrasting foliage of other plants. Hebe "McKean"- dwarf 1 foot tall and wide dome of bright green/yellow scaly leaves, similar in appearance to a common heather plant (although in my opinion much more exciting and beautiful). Excellent near large rocks and contrasting foliage and colors. Most Hebes like very well drained soil with moderate moisture. See link for more info Cotula hispidula- feathery fluffy soft grey/silver foliage, low creeping, with interesting yellow button-like flowers on thin stems. Likes good drainage, full to part sun, and moderate moisture. Excellent between rocks, with gravel mulch under plant crown and stems to keep the feathery leaves clean and reduce chance of rot. Here is a link that might be useful: Hebe Society

These are all great responces, please keep it up. Magick, If it wasn't for my "somedays" I'd have a very sparce yard. I moved from NC with half of a 24' Penske truck devoted to my "somedays". Believe it or not I had to make two more 5hr trips with a trailer LOADED to bring the rest, and I still left perennials and some trees and shrubs behind! I am happy to now have about an acre open for my experiments. Tamelask, I think Jap maples can't help but be centerstage. This creates problems for those collectors, like me, who have 8 trees all vying for attention. Ncdirtdigger, That's very interesting about the golf course, and what a great story as to how you became a gardener. I challenge anyone who sees the spring display of azeleas and dogwoods throughout our area to not fall in love with their brilliance. Rosebush, It seems that one can never have enough time for all the plans to be fulfilled. We spend all winter itching to get our hands dirty and put our plans into action, once the weather warms, only to stop and look up in July and wonder where the fair weather has gone! Alicia, The property I have moved onto was once a horse pasture. My non-gardening friends all laugh when they call and I tell them I'm gathering manure. I am excited to see how well the compost helps enliven the sandy soil here. Sally, I love all those that you mentioned. I love my daylilies and cannas especially. Which are your supreme varieties? I have two "Tropicana" and a slew of "Indian shot". I find it ammusing that the hummingbirds will come and visit the indian shots every morning, but seem only mildly interested in the new, large flowered varieties. Do you grow "Canna iridiflora 'Ehemanni Shelly's Pink'? I was thinking about giving it a try. Jqpublic, I think of the lawn as air. That is, I don't think about it unless it isn't there. Gardens need to breathe like animals do, and if a person's yard is SO overplanted that it becomes suffocating I find my self disoriented and eager for "negative space." ---Keith