I own a house rabbit, who's sitting on my lap as I type. Rabbits actually have very sensitive digestive systems and are intelligent animals. Most things that are poisonous, like foxgloves and Oriental poppies tend to fare quite well. They are inquisitive animals though, so I wouldn't be suprised if they had a little nibble at anything new in the garden. Hostas are toxic to rabbits, but not to slugs, haha.
It has some useful tips. I put small wire cloches over some plants until they are strong enough to cope with a little gnawing. When desperate, I use a light sprinkling of chili powder. The smell seems to put them off. I know it won't be a popular comment but it has saved hours of work being destroyed, not to mention the cost of the ruined plants. One summer they chewed away art my alliums and destroyed many flowering tips.
i had a rabbit problem last year and had a bit of success by mixing a bit of hot sauce with water and spraying it around my garden, but if your garden is large it might be difficult,
I have chain link and chicken wire surrounding my plot!
Last summer when everything we germinating as they came though the soil they were eaten off,peas, beans,cabbage, kohl rabi,carrots, parsnips even gladioli stems as they emerged and they dug out the seed potato tubers!
I could not understand how they were getting in as there was chicken wire at ground level, the chain link upper most as the very small rabbits can squeeze though it, I have seen them do it!
A new plot holder had moved into the next plot,he was there one evening and said quite casually, my dogs were going berserk and I saw a rabbit on your plot, next thing it jumped the fence right into the jaws of my dog, end of rabbit.
I had not told him that I was having trouble with a rabbit, so he was not making it up!
I found it hard to believe as the wire is 4 feet high, but after that I did not loose any more seedling or plants.
Also, I never have seen any evidence of rabbits trying to burrow under the wire, only out on the paths between plots!
Well, we had around 12 wild rabbits and breeding fast until a rather wild tabby cat decided to adopt us. Before that I had tried human hair in net around the garden, infrared sensor noise devices, and several smell type products including the King of the Jungle product which claims to be a combined fertilisers and antipest control. Cat who we named as Flower because sleeps in a flowerpot on front steps, often, has proved best RABBIT remover and deterrent. He is almost self feeding too.
I too have a love/hate with bunnies - having fields on 3 sides doesn't help. However, I protect a lot of my plants with wire hanging baskets - that at least gives the plant a better chance as they're starting to grow .. heleniums, rudbeckias etc. I even leave them in place - you can't see them once the borders all grow. works for me :-)
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There's always rabbit stew, Bill.....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I own a house rabbit, who's sitting on my lap as I type. Rabbits actually have very sensitive digestive systems and are intelligent animals. Most things that are poisonous, like foxgloves and Oriental poppies tend to fare quite well. They are inquisitive animals though, so I wouldn't be suprised if they had a little nibble at anything new in the garden. Hostas are toxic to rabbits, but not to slugs, haha.
There is a small publication called 'Gardening with the Enemy' here
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gardening-Enemy-Guide-Rabbit-proof/dp/095300130X
It has some useful tips. I put small wire cloches over some plants until they are strong enough to cope with a little gnawing. When desperate, I use a light sprinkling of chili powder. The smell seems to put them off. I know it won't be a popular comment but it has saved hours of work being destroyed, not to mention the cost of the ruined plants. One summer they chewed away art my alliums and destroyed many flowering tips.
rabbits are very sensitive to smell,
i had a rabbit problem last year and had a bit of success by mixing a bit of hot sauce with water and spraying it around my garden, but if your garden is large it might be difficult,
it didnt seem to harm the plants at all
Hi,
I have chain link and chicken wire surrounding my plot!
Last summer when everything we germinating as they came though the soil they were eaten off,peas, beans,cabbage, kohl rabi,carrots, parsnips even gladioli stems as they emerged and they dug out the seed potato tubers!
I could not understand how they were getting in as there was chicken wire at ground level, the chain link upper most as the very small rabbits can squeeze though it, I have seen them do it!
A new plot holder had moved into the next plot,he was there one evening and said quite casually, my dogs were going berserk and I saw a rabbit on your plot, next thing it jumped the fence right into the jaws of my dog, end of rabbit.
I had not told him that I was having trouble with a rabbit, so he was not making it up!
I found it hard to believe as the wire is 4 feet high, but after that I did not loose any more seedling or plants.
Also, I never have seen any evidence of rabbits trying to burrow under the wire, only out on the paths between plots!
Cheers
Well, we had around 12 wild rabbits and breeding fast until a rather wild tabby cat decided to adopt us. Before that I had tried human hair in net around the garden, infrared sensor noise devices, and several smell type products including the King of the Jungle product which claims to be a combined fertilisers and antipest control. Cat who we named as Flower because sleeps in a flowerpot on front steps, often, has proved best RABBIT remover and deterrent. He is almost self feeding too.
I too have a love/hate with bunnies - having fields on 3 sides doesn't help. However, I protect a lot of my plants with wire hanging baskets - that at least gives the plant a better chance as they're starting to grow .. heleniums, rudbeckias etc. I even leave them in place - you can't see them once the borders all grow. works for me :-)