Metal fences can have gates. But, if you don't like fences, then maybe a fierce dog? You can try scaring them with audio or with funny smells, but for urban pests, at least, I don't think that works. These guys are street-wise. My possums and coons just laugh at predator urine, garlic, and cinnamon.

Shoot the rabbits :-)

We do have a small 1/4 acre in suburban/urban neighborhood. I have tried Cayenne powder and it works sometimes but not consistently and sometimes it burns the leaves if you apply it directly. We have a dog, but the dog can't be out there all the time and really it's a small dog that clearly is never going to catch a rabbit. [g]

So maybe some kind of metal fencing around the bed is the only way.

We definitely have a zillion. Oddly there are coyotes not far from our neighborhood. I have only seen one once in the middle of the night under a street lamp. So I don't understand why they don't hold the population down lower. I just saw 3 juvenile rabbits playing in the next yard last week. Found a dead rabbit in the yard in March. We've had them build nests in the yard too. *sigh* I've stopped thinking I can keep them out of the yard, at least I'd like to keep them away from veggies/lilies/hostas.

24" rabbit guard fence around your bed is the most obvious option if you don't want to become the predator. as jack suggested. What will you do about the squirrels when the peas ripen?

You could invest in a large live trap and try catching the rabbits, and later in the season for the squirrels giving them a long ride (or swim) if you'd like. Another option is a low electric fence, (don't laugh), a small charger and a little electric fence ribbon isn't expensive and less than a live trap. You just need to keep the grass (weeds) cut to keep the ribbon from shorting out, but the squirrels will figure it out in little time so would only work for the rabbits.

I spend a bundle (thousands) on fencing to keep out deer and rabbits from my gardens but can't do a thing about the squirrels except lethal liquidation. Owls and hawks do a good job on the rabbits but don't get them all, so maybe train some watch hawks?

Thanks for sharing your experiences, Kevin. Not that I wish rabbits or anything else on a fellow gardener but it's always feels better to know you're not alone in the fox hole. lol

I've been considering building cages to slip over what I'm trying to protect the most. I have some leftover cattle panels, that I could shape into a rectangular shape. The holes are too large, but I also have a roll of hardware cloth that I thought I could attach to the cattle panel rectangle.

I should think of the electric fence, but we have a 12 pound dog that loves the yard and spends a lot of time out there exploring. Loves to climb up into the raised veggie beds too. So, I'd rather not put her through the training necessary to keep her from getting hurt by that.

I'd suggest a solar powered electrical fence. You can rearrange it for horizontal or vertical protection.

My peas also have a trellis for support. I plant the peas on both sides of the trellis and lean some extra fencing over the plants (while still young) for protection. It keeps the deer at bay too. Rabbits aren't much of a pea problem here so the ends of the fencing are open but could be closed if needed.

I like the Messina "Stopper" products -- Deer Stopper, Animal Stopper, etc. They're all pretty much the same thing with a bit of variation between the essential oils they use. They come in a granular version, I'd sprinkle some of the granules along the perimeter of the planting. Once the peas get tall the rabbits can't reach them.

To protect my tomatoes from possums, I got this wire fencing to surround the area and cut up some wire hangers to make staples and pegged it to the ground, so they couldn't nose their way under.

GARDEN CRAFT 50-ft 2.3-ft Gray Steel Welded Wire Rolled Fencing with Mesh Size 2-in x 4-in
I did notice the price more has than doubled since my purchase - I think I paid $15.

You don't say how long your bed of peas is, but, if they are taller, you could try wrapping the bottom part in Aluminum foil... like stretching it across the whole perhaps.

I grow mine in pots and I put a paper tube over each when small so no one eats them as babies; they just grow up through the tube and are OK.

My row of peas is about 20ft long. OH wow....Kate - that's quite an idea - like a paper towel tube.I just have so many peas coming up - 2 full packets.I wouldn't be able to put a tube over every one, how do you do it? The rabbits don't push the aluminum foil aside to get to the peas?

Otcay - I would like to consider an electric fence, epecially a solar powered one. If it weren’t for the dog I’d give it serious thought. She is only 12 lbs and in and out of the yard a lot all day. I could try to shut if off when she was out there because the rabbits are not going to bother anything with her sitting there but I can see myself forgetting to turn it off or on. [g]

I do have an area out front that I might be able to install a small one. She doesn’t go out in the front.

Vgkg - I have photos of the rabbits sitting in my raised beds and then getting up on their hind legs to eat the peas as far as they can reach.

I like the way you have the rows of peas inside the support. Mine are on one cattle panel and planted on both sides of it so they are very exposed. I may have to rethink how I plant them and add another trellis or fencing for support.

Mxk3 - Thanks, I’ll check those out.

Carol - That is interesting looking and I like the way you used hangers to make staples. Good idea!

Everything has gone so high in price. Gardening has become so expensive, but lots of things have I guess.

I just went out and saw two rabbits in the yard. And the peas are about 1 inch high. So I took rectangular milk crates and leaned them up against the trellis on both sides and then placed a square milk crate at the end to block getting under them. I'll see how that does in the morning. I'm not sure the peas are high enough for them to be interested yet either. But I guess I have to make doing something a priority this week.