How much money do you want to spend? Isn't that usually the real question.

Something I've seen around here that doesn't look too bad, is regular split rail backed up with chicken wire. The local hardware store recommends using a 3 rail fence, and has sold a lot of it to contain small dogs. I've also seen rustic lattice cedar fencing with the chicken wire, but expect that would be considerably more expensive.

Beyond that, there's the traditional white picket fencing, decorative iron fencing... The only limit is your imagination and your purse.

Hi MG.
Good question. I haven't dealt with the reality of money yet, as I am still trying to envision what I want to look at! I really would like something not too eye-catching...something that blends into the surrounding landscape. Woven twigs or rushes or branches -- something natural -- backed up by chicken wire to give it some teeth? Anyone know how to make such a fence or where to buy it or what to call it?
Maybe I'll put boxwoods around the perimeter of that? The area is an 18' circle, with 4 raised square beds in a cross shape, and eventually a birdbath in the middle.
I wonder how tall it needs to be...and whether it needs to be sunk in the soil to prevent burrowing.
Thx for your thots,
ML

You mean something like this bamboo fencing? My neighbors put it in as a privacy screen. It fades to a nice non-descript gray, and seems to be holding up fairly well. I would want some sort of reinforcement near the ground, though.

We fenced in our vegetable garden because of deer. I'm not sure what has to be done to keep rabbits out. Ours is 4 ft turkey fencing (heavier than chicken wire), and if I do say so myself, really ugly. I think the deer don't jump over it because of the trellises and other obstacles in a relatively small space.

It is truly amazing how little space a bunny needs to get into a garden! Last spring I added these neat iron gates I got at lowes, and I thought the squares at the bottom were small enough to keep out the bunnies - wrong! I ended up cutting chicken wire for the bottom of the gates AND had to tighten up the green coated 24" fencing against the poles of the gates - another entry point.

I like the green coated fencing and the green metal posts. Just be sure to really jam it down into the soil so no space for bunny to crawl under.......of course the deer love just reaching over the small fence, or just popping over it. Sigh. Good luck!

If you have even one deer in the area, you need to totally rethink your project.

mayalena,
I don't grow veggies but I have too many bunnies and they do major damage to my landscaping. One of the things they do that unlike deer pruning will take a while to notice is they shred the bark off usually close to the base of everything from heather to magnolia. I can hear the gasps already but I did buy a hava heart trap hoping to relocate some of my ever growing population and I tried everything the web site suggests but my bunnies are of superior intelligence and were always able to enjoy the bait but never got trapped. I now plant 1/3 for the bunnies, 1/3 for the deer, 1/3 for insects and disease. kt

mayalena,
I thought of you when I saw this Garden Girl video, it was put together as a new gardening show demo to pitch to the powers that be on tv. I love how she used her bunnies (domestic) to fertilize her raised beds. After watching this you may want to fence your bunnies in rather than out!! kt

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Girl Promo

Hi MG.
I posted a response to you a couple of days ago, but the internet ate it. I think I said that your thots had really helped me to clarify mine. I followed your link, and then moved on to willow fences, and then wattle fences. I wonder if I could actually make my own? But...then KT's link makes me think she's onto something. I've been wanting an outdoor rabbit run for our buns to play in sometimes -- so maybe I should combine the bed for their food...with their run...and that way, I won't have to feed them! Unless they eat it all on their first visit....?
Thanks for the input, all.

Help! I'm getting ready to plant and the bunnies are already in my yard and hungrily looking for edibles. Can anyone give me directions on erecting a chicken wire fence? How tall should it be? How deep should I bury it? I have a raised garden. thanks to all

Sprout,
I am afraid I don't have any construction advise for you but I have same problem and thought I would share with you that our problem is going to be much larger in the next few weeks as we will certainly see the new members of early spring litters(?), licking their little bunny lips at the edge of our gardens. I am planning on using plastic netting 3' high as a barrier as I have noticed winter bunny damage in my landscape extends to about 2 1/5' tall. Good Luck! kt

I used rabbit fencing 3 ft. tall, but I watch our feral bunnies (oxymoron alert!) jump no higher than 1 ft. So you might be able to use something lower, that doesn't blight the view. As long as it is set firmly down into the dirt below it. Those rodents-with-ears can get into any low small openings, especially the babies. Chicken wire is ideal, if you can securely pin down the bottom edge.

I have bunnies in my yard for the first time this year - the yard is fenced and we have a dog, but I guess the sprawling holly hedge is just too inviting and sheltered so they've moved right in. This may be the year I finally build my raised beds for the few veggies I grow (lettuce, basil, parsley and tomatoes).

On a tour at a clematis garden last spring, the manager explained to us that he plans for the bunnies to "trim" (to the ground) certain plants - he can't fight them, so he just decided these would be bushy, late-blooming plants instead of tall, early ones. This doesn't work with most types of plants, but it's a strategy that apparently works in some specific cases.