Rabbits and protecting your plants

15 years ago

Hi,

This is a little off topic but as I have been getting plenty of things done for a new garden this year, I am concerned about whether all my work and planning is going to be eaten once the rabbits in my area make their appearance. I have only been at my new home and property for a year and a half now. Last year we had lots of other work to get done and so only did some minor planting of "shrubby" plants, and things like hostas (some were eaten, some were not) and astilbe which lasted about 3 hours after I planted them before being eaten. I am on just over 2 acres so I can't fence in the whole thing and wonder what other people with similar sized properties in wooded areas do (and it works) to protect their plants once they plant them out? Thanks

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Comments (10)

mnwsgal
15 years ago
Though I don't have a large wooded property I have lots of rabbits. Several years ago I fenced in an area for my vegetables and some favorite perennials that were rabbit favorites as well. Any new tulips go in this area. The rest of my yard is unfenced. Some times I have placed a chicken wire cage over certain plants. Many shrubs get the wire cage treatment for winter or the rabbits will eat the bark off killing the shrub.

The one thing that has consistently worked for me is Liquid Fence. I know it is expensive. I buy the concentrate and mix my own which helps with costs. I don't spray everything, just the plants that rabbits and deer eat. Some plants needed to be sprayed only when the foliage is new and tender. Others need to be sprayed 3/4 times during the season as new growth remains tender. Before using Liquid Fence I had some plants that I never saw bloom.

Good luck with whatever you use.
friesfan1
15 years ago
mnwsgal,

I have rabbit problems myself. Tulips seem to be
a favorite. I made a little cage to put over my
tulips.

Then, strangely enough, last spring, a mother
rabbit had a nest right beside my back door!

So to save the babies from my cats, I used the
same cage to put over the bunnies when I put my
cats outside.

Hammonds,

I have read that putting human or cat hair out
around your plants would deter rabbits. I found that
doing a search of GW. Ask at your nearby salon.

I have actually put some kitty poop from the litter
box out in my garden. YUCK. I was desperate.

Couldn't say that it helped much. I found another
nest of bunnies last summer in my garden. I just
can't win!

Mary
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Step over the shorter wire. For the taller cut the wire next to where the twists end so you have a line of wires sticking out bend these into hooks. Drive a piece of rebar or small board as tall as the fence into the ground. loup the hooks over the rebar. When you want to go into that area apply pressure to unhook the fence. You may want to drive another pole a short distance from the first and tie the fence to it because new wire has a tendency to spring back and you can end up with nasty scratches. All gardeners should be current with their tetnus shots and keep a tube of their favorite scrape stuff handy. The scrape stuff will be used at least once a season so why go shopping for it after you need it. The wire can be taken down when the peas go dormant unless you replant for a fall garden. If you planted snapping peas you may need the 4 ft wire until August if you are lucky and the summer is cool. Snapping peas are wonderful but mine always outgrow and bend over late in the season during a good year. Now that I have given you way too much chit chat have fun gardening. I am curious what are you keeping the foxes out of. Most wait until the tomatoes are ripe before eating anything. Contrary to most childrens tales rabbits won't eat carrot tops unless there is few other food choices. They may bite off one or two of the tops but unless you are growing the tops for butterflies you won't miss their damage. Squirrels now will eat lots of things from your garden or just dig them up and leave the poor plant lying there. Putting out low pans of water for the squirrels and rabbits will help prevent plant damage later in the season. esp tomatoes which squirrels eat for the moisture.
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ajpa
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I wish I had put some kind of repellent on my lovely crocuses -- now they are all gobbled up!
I'm going to try home made sprays (egg + garlic + hot peppers + oil/soap) and dryer sheets and Irish Spring soap and blood meal. (I've heard that it's better to alternate repellents so the evil munchers don't get used to it)
jenfee
15 years ago
Something I'm trying for the first time is putting cloches over the WS babies. I have to take them off when it gets hot, but the rabbits seem to be most active around here in the early morning. This also protects them from slugs and keeps them in an environment a little more like their WS containers. Of course this wouldn't work with things like tulips.
greylady_gardener
15 years ago
Last year, in order to try and deter the bunnies, I got some of the baskets (like fruit--strawberries, etc. ) come in and turned them over some of the tiny seedlings that I planted out.(I asked on freecycle and got a big bag from someone :)) They allow for air so the seedlings don't fry. I pressed them firmly into the soil so that they were kind of anchored. It helped with some of them but others disappeared anyway...slugs!!
gg
quilt_mommy
15 years ago
I have a bunny problem as well - I bought violas from the nursery (needless to say they were not cheap!) that were eaten up within days, and starflowers (campanula) that didn't make it either.

I also have some brave deer who like to eat the heads of my roses and peonies. So far, the hostas have gone untouched, but they've had so many delicious choices I suppose they are last on the list!

I have heard marigolds are supposed to be good to keep pests away. Has anyone tried this? I thought that they are supposed to work more for bugs but maybe it would deter the rabbits at least?
dorisl
15 years ago
marigolds arent perfect tho, slugs and earwigs....
wolala
15 years ago
I have the same problem. I used Deer-Off last year but it was only a short fix. Pansies were eaten to the ground in a matter of days before I had a chance to spray the liquid deterrent. I went out yesterday and brought a Have-A-Heart trap. I will set it up this weekend. Figure cross that it can catch the thief.
ajpa
15 years ago
wolala, I think we have one of those traps -- the small one for voles. My hubby caught several when he used them.
What do you use for rabbit bait?
wolala
15 years ago
ajpa, I will use apple and carrot. This is what the instruction recommend to use as bait food for rabbits. Good to know that it worked for you. It gives me confidence. I will come back to report if this is the answer to the problem.

Rabbits and protecting your plants

Comments (10)

mnwsgal

friesfan1

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