Yikes-rabbits!

Can anyone give me an effective solution for dealing with an abundance of hungry rabbits? They have ravaged several of my hostas as well as my young plants. I am new to gardening (as well as to DG) and have tried some of the spary-on applications that turn the leaves white and I find that I don't like the trade off - ugly plants now instead of chewed up plants. There must be some way to move the rabbits out of my garden or to live with them. Can I plant a bed of goodies for them and if so, will they leave my other plants alone? Or has anyone tried any products that were truly successful without drastically changing the appearance of the plants? Thanks for the help!

There were many rabbits when I moved here 5 years ago. However, our cat population keeps them in check. (I have 2 and a neighbor has lots because he won't catch and neuter them.) I still see a rabbit in the front yard occasionally, where they seem to like the cannas and my squash.

I had considered small animal fencing around my squash plants because the rabbits were nibbling, but then decided to just make an announcement to the animal spirits that they were welcome to 10% but no more. Haven't seen any more damage since I did that.

We battle with rabbits like crazy here in Tucson and for me the only solution I found before I was fenced in was this:
I bought 4' rebarb and created "beds" I pounded the rebarb into the ground about 8" then used chicken wire around the rebarb.I put the chicken wire down into the ground about 1 1/2" and never had the problem again.I now have my yard surrounded by chain link fencing and I still put 2'chicken wire around that. If its done neatly it doesn't look bad at all.I used a light gage wire to tie it onto the rebarb.
Good Luck!

placing human hair around your plants will also help

Bloodmeal sprinkled around the plants is supposed to help keep them away. You have to reapply after rains or watering. And special "rabbit" fencing might help, too.

Refer to http://davesgarden.com/t/394212/A+gun. Horseshoe's solution to squirrels in the corn. I suspect it works wonders on rabbits too.

This message was edited Tuesday, Sep 2nd 8:46 PM

HAH!...You're still guffawing about that answer, eh raisedbedbob!? (By the way, how'd the "answer" get highlited in red? You know something I don't know?)


Yep, I agree with the above posts...fencing is a definite, and doesn't have to be very high or elaborate for rabbits. Also black pepper works pretty good! (Buy it in bulk at Sam's or Walmart if you can.) Sprinkle on or around your plants.

Yep, shoe. Still makes me laugh. I didn't highlight it in red. I promise. BTW I hear you play the guitar. That true? So do I.

I don't play as much as I used to. I was able to fool some folks last yr at the Tenn RoundUp tho! Nobody applauded when I was finished but they sure seemed like they had certainly been entertained! (Everyone likes seeing someone else act like a fool!)

Hey Asa, if you play guitar...now THAT might be another tactic to get rid of the rabbits, too! (Especially if you play like me.)

Raisedbed...email me if ya wanna talk music. Would love to hear from ya!

Thanks for all the help folks! As a newby I really appreciate it. And, I do think you're right about the fencing. I'll just have to bite the bullet and put it up around the areas that are the most severely affected.

And, Horseshoe, I don't play the guitar but you're right that it might be another tactic to chase away the pesky rabbits given that my muscial ability is non-existent!

Forgot to mention, traps.

Asa, you can make traps like these pictured here. Then release the rabbits somewhere else (unless you want rabbit stew, with dumplings!) Yummmm....