The best method to deter rabbits, wild turkeys, deer, or many other of the wild and domestic animals from your garden is with a good, tight fence. I have fences around most all of my flower beds now because nothing else will stop entry by these critters. Sprays can get to be really expensive over time while a fence, initially a bit pricey, is there almost forever once put in and does not cost anything after the first year.
The sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, it is brown knees.
Posts: 5969 | Location: Twin Lake, MI USA | Registered: Aug 19, 2004
I have used 4 different things to deter rabbits, bloodmeal, pepper spray, dog hair and a stockade made of bamboo skewers broken in half with the pointy ends up. In extreme cases I have used all 4 at the same time. The bunnies haven't bothered me much the last 2-3 yrs, but now they are eating my red dianthus border plants down to the nub. I noticed the plants are starting to grow back, so before we left the lake house today I sprayed each plant with hot pepper wax spray. We'll be going back on Fri. and I hope the plants will not be nibbled again. If so, I'll be forced to combine elements and see if that helps. The above poster is right to say that many plants will be left alone if you can just shield them until they get bigger. One year I planted black-eyed susans 3 times before the bunnies got the message. I've yet to see a fence that will keep out a determined rabbit, lol. Any fence high and solid enough to be a possibility would hide or detract from the flowers. That might be OK for a veg garden not on public display.
Grma Jane, Here are some products you might want to try for your rabbit problem. SHOT-GUN Animal Repellent, whose main ingredient is capsaicin. I just bought a new product, but haven't used it yet--Nature's Defense Professional Strength Organic Formula All Purpose Granular Animal Repellent. It's main ingredients are garlic,cinnamon,clove,white pepper, rosemary, thyme, and peppermint. One of the inert ingredients is urea, a product of animal urine. The smell of this mixture should drive the rabbits off. It repels 20 different animals, including rabbits, skunks,deer, all rodents, elk, raccoons and armadillos. It's supposed to deter domestic and feral cats. I used the Shot-Gun on my dianthus and the plants are still recovering. One has even bloomed already!
While nothing will truly repel rabbits, there are a few annuals that are known to deter rabbits and other animals (none of which are really pretty). I would try Dusty Miller, Marigolds, or scented geraniums. Again.. no guarantee, but they will work better than Vinca!
I,also have a problem with two rabbits that frequent my front and back garden in the morning and evening. So far they have only eaten my Salvia. They do eat the bird seed that drops to the ground too. They don't seem to like peonies, hosta, geraniums, coreopsis or roses. I guess I can count myself lucky!
The rabbits down here love roses. I had a terrible time until I got my two little dogs. They're both fast and love to chase anything. Haven't seen any in the back yard since.
Posts: 1308 | Location: Arkansas Zone 7 | Registered: Aug 18, 2005
I am having the same problem, and it's driving me crazy. Somebody told me that the smell from marigolds would keep them away, but they are eating the marigold plants. I bought a small fence yesterday, but I don't know if they'll go through it or over it. It's a big problem. I did hear about a motion detector that's attached to your hose, and when it detects an animal, it goes off. I haven't tried that yet but it's worth investigating.
I know that you may all find this strange but the thing I used to use when I had a garden and rabbits was FOX URINE. ANd no I did not have a pet fox. I used to get it at a hunting store. Apperently hunters use for something. Anyway, I used to just sprinkle the garden with it. after I watered. Never had a problem after I started using it. I have also heard that male urine also works. Something about the hormones. Since I am a widow, I have not a change to try that. HTH, msmarymac2
You could go the Elmer Fudd approach. If your in the country go with a 22 or 17HMR. If in a subdivison get a pellet gun that hinges in the middle, talk to the sales guy at your local hunting store and they will help you get what you need.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: patman75,
Posts: 127 | Location: Michigan | Registered: Aug 24, 2007
It is the trappers that use the fox urine to bait traps to lure the opposite sex in. My son trapped back in the 70's & he had a bunch of differnt kinds that he had to keep OUTSIDE cause that stuff STINKS!
That fox was at the bottom of my deck steps this morning & we saw each other at about the same time & scared each other. He ran around a building & then just kind of wandered around our back yard by my DH's shop then went & sat in the neighbor's pasture while DH & I took pics of him! DH has a neice that is a ranger in a local state park & I'm going to see if she wants to live trap him for the park? I HOPE!
I protect my new plants with hardware cloth til they get taller. I've also used a pepper spray, that seemed to work well.
