Rabbits were a big problem for me last year. Any tips on stopping them from eating my entire garden?
Answer: Rabbits, with their twitching whiskers, oversized ears and cotton-ball tails, may delight some onlookers as they hop endearingly around yards. However, even the cutest of bunnies can quickly turn into a gardener’s worst nightmare as they feast away on plants. Here are a few humane ways of discouraging rabbits from indulging on your plants: Image: Benson Kua Try the
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Diversions and Habitat ModificationIf rabbits are content with the food that is easily accessible to them, they won't be so persistent about getting into your flowers and vegetables. A rabbit favorite you can easily provide is clover. Overseeding your lawn with clover will provide them a ready source of food and it will even feed your lawn since it is a legume and fixes nitrogen. Clover seed is often available next to the grass seed. Modifying your yard to make it less hospitable for rabbits is not practical for most of us. It would involve removing or reducing overgrown areas where the rabbits can find cover. That could be around fencing or along the hedging or other large structures. Rabbits will also seek cover under staircases and porches. Fencing and Other BarriersMany favorite rabbit plants can be found in the vegetable garden. They are particularly fond of tender young shoots and dark, leafy greens. If you have a problem with rabbits, you are going to need to fence in your vegetable garden. Rabbit Fencing Tips:
Protecting Free Standing Trees and ShrubsRabbits will gnaw on woody plants, like blueberries and hydrangeas, especially in the winter. They will also girdle young trees and shrubs, chewing the bark down to the heartwood in a circle near the base of the tree. This opens the tree to disease and insect infestation and can effectively kill a young tree. To protect freestanding plants, encircle them with two- to four-foot-high fencing. You don't have to bury it, but make sure there is no access at ground level. And keep the fencing several inches from the trunk of the plant. Remember that snow cover will allow the rabbits to reach higher up on the plants. If you routinely get several feet of snow, make your fencing higher. Elizabeth W. Kearley / Getty ImagesMost Popular Rabbit PlantsRabbits have wide-ranging tastes and there are many plants they will nibble on. In my yard, pansies, hydrangeas, blueberry stems, pea plants, bean plants, young pepper plants, beet greens and Swiss chard are the most favored plants, besides clover and violets. Rabbit Scram has an extensive list of plants damaged by rabbits, from the plants they eat most often to the ones they visit occasionally. Plants Rabbits Tend to AvoidThis is a tricky one. The University of Illinois Extension has a list of plants least browsed by rabbits and it doesn't include any vegetables. Here are some of the herbs and flowers they list: lobelia, snapdragons, petunias, astilbe, columbine, iris, peony, purple coneflower, basil, chives, oregano, rosemary and sage, buddleia, lantana, lavender, and viburnum. Keep in mind that while the rabbit may not eat your oregano, she may find it's strong fragrance the perfect place to disguise her nest from predators. Of course, animals are unpredictable, so you will have to pay close attention to what happens in your yard and take action accordingly. Click Play to Learn How to Keep Rabbits Out of Your GardenWhat is a natural rabbit repellent?To make this rabbit repellent, first fill a one gallon container, such as a milk jug, with water. Crush 5 garlic cloves and add then to the water. Add a teaspoon of crushed red peppers and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Shake the container very well and then place in outdoors in the direct sun for two days.
What can I spray on my flowers to keep rabbits away?Home gardeners often recommend vinegar or hot chili pepper sprays as bitter substances that will discourage rabbits and other pests.
What to spray on plants to keep rabbits from eating them?Garlic Keeps Rabbits Away
You can use a simple pre-made garlic spray or easily make your own by mixing some with a few raw eggs and pouring the mixture around your plants and garden. It's pretty common to add mint to this concoction to make it even less appealing for rabbits.
What smells will keep rabbits away?Rabbits have a keen sense of smell, and they particularly dislike the smell of egg and garlic. So, you can make a mixture of egg, milk, garlic, tabasco sauce and liquid dishwashing soap to protect your garden from the rabbits.
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