Rabbits Eating My Hostas!

16 years ago

Hi everyone,

Quick question for you: I think rabbits are eating my hostas. I'm not completely sure it's a rabbit (we do have rabbits around, so I'm assuming), but in a matter of just a day or two, the leaves were all completely ruined (either torn off and laying by the plant itself or just completely missing). How do I deter the rabbits?? Thanks!

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Comments (16)

donrawson
16 years ago
That depends on how many hostas you have and how many rabbits you have. If you have only one rabbit, you can make cottontail mulligan. That should take care of it. The other option is to buy a bag of moth balls and break them up a little with a hammer. Sprinkle them among your hostas. You'll have to repeat this procedure periodically, especially if you have several hard rains. Of course, you can buy any of the products designed for this purpose also. Don
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lindac
16 years ago
Buy a bag of blood meal. Toss it around....repeat after a rain or after a week or so. The rabbit will think something has been killed and avoid the garden...and the blood meal will give a little organic boost to your hosta.
Linda C
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karen02481
16 years ago
Those pesky rabbits!! I've had quite a few little cotton tails around my gardens this year....and I had that problem last year too. I use an organic hot pepper spray which I bought at my local nursery. Its not harmful to the rabbits (or my kids and dogs), but they don't like the taste. It usually takes a few applications, but they get the idea and look for lunch elsewhere. I reapply after rain or after we water...or otherwise every few days in the beginning...and then just occasionally after that.

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sheltieche
16 years ago
Get a cat, good hunter. The only damage from rabbits I get is in middle of February when it is too cold to hunt and food is scarce, so rabbits start chewing down roses and young shrubs.
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drcristy22
16 years ago
I use coyote urine. The only draw-back is that my cat freaks out when I spray it. And yes, i still have a rabbit problem even with a hunter cat. They are more aggressive at the end of winter when other food is scarce. They seem to go after my tupils and pansies at that time. Drcristy
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aka_margo
16 years ago
Rabbits suddenly have been eating my hostas too. I think it's because the heat is killing everything else off. They love to do the bite a leaf off and leave it lay trick! They also seem to be very fond of flower scapes. I have a bunny that is living under my Grand Master hosta, and everytime I go outside he hops out and just hangs out with me. Not afraid of me or the dog, who is too old to chase rabbits. I am too nice to do anything to him, so I just have to remember to liquid fence anything new I put in the yard. The rabbits always seem to like my gold colored hostas the best.
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lindac
16 years ago
Owls help....a lot!We have a family of barred owls nearby. Such a pleasure to hear them Hoo-hooing at night...and know they feed baby rabbits to their babies.
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kingfats
16 years ago
Hi
Found some large bite holes in my Hostas,not sure what it was to i caught him one morning.Took a quick pic before he hopped off!
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aka_margo
16 years ago
OMG that is hillarious!!
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lindac
16 years ago
AWWW! What a cute bunny nose....I would let it be....he can't eat too much.
Linda C
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country459
Original Author
16 years ago
I wish that the bunnies attacking my hostas were that cute! (The one in the picture looks easy to catch.) Shortly after I posted this in August, the leaves started growing back on my hostas, so I forgot about it and checked on them periodically (and didn't notice any problems). Not a good idea - last night, something ate through all of them again, right down to the stems, so I'm back where I was a few months ago. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try them this time!
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esther_opal
16 years ago
I have found what I think is rabbit damage on newly planted hosta.

A few leaves chewed off at about 1 inch and NOT eaten then no more damage. I reason that they are checking out the new plants that moved into there house.

I don't think rabbits are a problem, now I live on 20 acres with my nearest neighbor 1/4 mile in any direction with deer, coyote, coons, skunks, voles and moles you name it. I've heard an argument that there is a difference between urban and rural animals such as deer that have never bothered my hosta because they are acustomed to their normal diet and don't consider hosta part of their menu. Now, I've heard of many problems with deer living in cities.

Back to rabbits, I've watched rabbits walk all over my place and never seen them touch a hosta except for my BELIEF about the newly planted hosta.
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country459
Original Author
16 years ago
These are newly planted hostas (planted in late May), so that might explain it.
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hostamanfred
16 years ago
'Now, my dears,' said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, 'you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.'
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iowa_flower_nut
16 years ago
Rabbits have eaten every single hosta I've planted this summer, right down to stubs. Last week they ate a good sized Inniswood. They also munch on hostas that have been there for several years. Some they never touch. I wish more people in this neighborhood would take up gardening so they had more places to lunch!
Heck, I've seen the brave little devils sitting in the garden just a few feet from my (118lb) lab when he's laying in the backyard.
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sunkist121215_sbcglobal_net
15 years ago
I transplanted some of my hostas from our old house and bought some new one's also last year when we moved to go in my new flower beds..Now these are in different beds, all of them are died not one of them are still alive, could it be the millions of rabbits or slugs? HELP
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