Asked on Jun 02, 2018
How can I keep rabbits from eating my zinnias?
by Judy Purcell
+4
Something is eating my zinnias. I know we have rabbits living in our hedge. Are they the culprits? Or is it something else and how do I stop them?
Suggested Project Book
Only a physical barrier is any good once animals learn they can get to something they want to eat. I put bird netting on the ground around the zinnias. Anchored it with landscape pins. Sort of bunches and swirls of the stuff, not taut on the ground. That seems to be working. So far!
Mine are mature, 2 ft, blooming zinnia plants, not sprouts. Rabbits have chewed them as far up as they can reach. They chewed off smaller side stalks and lower flowers, as well as fuzzy lower leaves on the stalks. This is the first year they've attacked the zinnias. but blood meal and animal deterrent sprays were no help at all.
I also fenced off my Peace rose plant and my herb garden because rabbits were destroying coneflower, dill, and chive plants. They ate the rose down to the wood. It's coming back now that it's fenced. Rabbits will eat anything! They've even destroyed a young witch hazel tree!