Anyone have a good suggestion to keep the rabbits out of my garden?

JoAnn
by JoAnn
The rabbit completely ate 12 broccoli plants, are working on the cabbage and did quite a number on my lettuce.
  9 answers
  • Rebecca B Rebecca B on Jun 05, 2013
    Plant dwarf french marigolds around your garden. Rabbits don't like the scent of marigolds. There are devices that use sound to repel rodents as well. Buy fox urine at a feed store and sprinkle around garden. Rabbit repellent can be found in garden shops, and fox urine can also be found in sporting goods stores. Scatter some dried blood meal throughout your garden as rabbits hate that scent also. Blood meal is available at any garden or feed store. Blood meal is also at Lowe's and Home Depot. Place a chicken wire fencing around your garden high enough to prevent rabbit from jumping over it. Make raised deep bed garden boxes at least 12 inches high and rabbits won't bother your garden. I have cats and dogs that keep cottontail rabbits away from my garden. My 3 cats are on duty at night. Good luck!
  • Jacqueline VanCamp Jacqueline VanCamp on Jun 05, 2013
    Rabbits are territorial...find a pet rabbit or two and place their droppings in your garden.
  • JoAnn JoAnn on Jun 05, 2013
    Thank you both. I will give your suggestions a try, but if anyone else has any ideas, I'm still open.
  • Debbie Gates Debbie Gates on Jun 05, 2013
    Take a plastic grocery bag and cut the bottom open. Cut strips from the bottom almost to the top opening. Don't cut all the way through. Cut the handles open and tie them to a stick. Now you have created a sort of wind sock and when the wind blows the strips that you cut will wave in the breeze and look like some wild octopus had taken over your garden. The birds, rabbits, groundhogs, deer and any other critters will stay away simply because they don't know what this strange wild thing in the garden is. If you use the really cheap bags they will make a crinkle noise too. They are so light weight that they don't hurt your plants and easy to make. Make several of them at different heights and move them around every so often. This really works and it's free to make. I do this every year and have never had a problem with critters in my garden.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jun 06, 2013
    Mr McGreagor used a fence.... tho Peter did find his way under it. A couple of years ago, our husky did a pretty good job of keeping these critters out of theyard. http://kmswoodworks.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/the-great-white-hunter/ However in the lat year or so, she has under gone eye removal surgery to combat some Glaucoma...she is not the hunter she used to be. In fact this year we have a small young one who has taken up residence under one of our sheds...with out a garden to worry about we have let it stay.
  • JoAnn JoAnn on Jun 06, 2013
    Yep, fences don't seem to deter the creatures and the dog solution wouldn't work in this particular situation. Thanks
  • Steph Mike Steph Mike on Jun 06, 2013
    Somewhere, here on this wonderful hometalk, there was a smart lady who shared her great idea to cover these plants from critters/insects with a pop up mesh hamper. The variety that are usually round or a curve sided square and can be collapsed into themselves...? You know the ones ;) I bought the largest version that my local dollar store had and they are pretty fantastic! Because of the mesh sides air flow as well as sunshine can get in while critters can not (and this is baby bunny season)! If I can find the woman who posted it I will re-comment with her name so you may see for yourself. Good luck!
  • JoAnn JoAnn on Jun 06, 2013
    Thanks. We never see the rabbits, just the missing plants. They ate a whole row of 11 broccoli plants and are now working on the cabbage. Soon there will be green beans to feast on.
  • Judith Bosford Judith Bosford on Jun 07, 2013
    I heard that sprinkling red and black pepper round the edge of the area you want to keep small animals out of will work. I tried it and it worked to save one beet and the carrots that my grandson planted. they are growing well now.