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Controlling and Deterring Rabbits in the GardenCute as they are, rabbits can do a lot of damage in the garden. Since there is always more than one rabbit, trapping is not a practical option. While there are some plants rabbits do not particularly like, they will eat anything if they get hungry enough. To keep rabbits from destroying your garden, you will need a combination of repellents, diversions, and barriers. Rabbit RepellentsIt would be nice if we could just figure out what rabbits avoid and place that throughout our yards. Repellents only work part of the time. If an animal is hungry or even too young to know better, it will munch on anything. However rabbits are somewhat picky, especially about a scent, and repellents can be quite effective. Repellents will need to be applied repeatedly throughout the growing season, especially after a rain or following significant new plant growth. Common rabbit deterrents include home remedies like sprinkling plants with red pepper, garlic and onion powder, or talcum powder. It's always a good idea to alternate repellents so that the rabbits do not get used to any scent or flavor. Rabbits do most of their feeding in the evening and into the night. To be most effective, apply deterrents at the end of the day. Types of Deterrents
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 can you put around flowers to keep rabbits away?Powerful odors will deter rabbits. Garlic, peppers, and strong herbs like ginger and mint tend to keep rabbits away from your yard. A light mixture of water and strong-smelling liquid soap should also do the trick.
What 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.
Will flowers grow back after rabbits eat them?“They will grow new stems to replace the ones that were eaten,” she said. The bad news is that a spring-flowering shrub, such as viburnum, forsythia, or deutzia, likely won't bloom after being sheared by rabbits. The flowers of those shrubs emerge from buds that were formed last year and carried through the winter.
Is it OK for bunnies to eat flowers?The leaves, stems and flowers or roses are safe for rabbits to munch on, in fact they enjoy them a lot. The prickly stems don't deter them either as they will happily eat their way through those too.
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