Asked on Jun 30, 2013
How do I deal with a bunny in my flower garden?
by
Marie B
+72
A little bunny is eating my tender flower leaves, i.e., zinnnas, basil, etc. what do you advise. I have sprinkled red pepper powder on the leaves....
72 answers
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I would try a live trap and re-locate it. Traps run around 30 bucks and up. Or if you want to hire an animal trapper that would be a sure fire way to remove the critter.
Julie Worster
on Jun 30, 2013
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Please don't use red pepper (cayenne, etc) as it also affect the birds that might land there and get it in their eyes. Instead, try one of the many commercial sprays. They do work. I have two or three different sprays and rotate what I spray with. I only have to do it once a week (and that is probably often than is really necessary) and it keeps rabbits and deer away.
Gretchen
on Jul 01, 2013
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I agree with Gretchen. I bought a spray as my little bunny was eating my perennial garden down to the roots. I lost a few of my perennials.
Glenda Jackson
on Jul 01, 2013
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I have had luck with the bunny's on my garden by using moth balls. I just pour them out all around the plants and it seems to dissuade them from eating in that area.
BlueLine Home Maintenance & Remodeling
on Jul 01, 2013
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I have tried moth balls and red pepper; work some but not as well as a Bonide spray. A trap will only work for a grown rabbit; we have one of those, but seems to work more outside of our fence when rabbits are chasing down the fence line and around the corner and they end up in the trap. A trap will also catch anything else you might have wandering around, possum, raccoons, skunks, neighbor's cat.
Jean Eickhoff
on Jul 01, 2013
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I had that problem last year. I shaved Irish spring soap and spread around my plants and garden. Kept the squirrels away to.
Kimberly Newman Stordahl
on Jul 01, 2013
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We have lots of rabbits at our place, at times well over a dozen and love watching them play. While not totally eliminating the damage to our gardens, we have substantially reduced it by leaving bowels of "store bought" rabbit food for them. We place the food where it is easy for them to get at and in full view of the living room windows away from the veggies.
HippieBob
on Jul 01, 2013
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Placing human hair in your garden will deter bunnies. I get bags of it from my local beauty salon.
Cathleen Williams
on Jul 01, 2013
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Rescue a dog :) My beautiful baby leaves his scent near the garden and gets a ton of exercise chasing any leftover bunnies away. He's more than happy to help.
Hortonica H
on Jul 01, 2013
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Thank you all for such excellent advice.....
Marie B
on Jul 01, 2013
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I agree with Cathleen, human hair works well and can be gotten from any barber or salon. Also, dog poop can be placed in your plants and this will deter them..though it may have an unwelcomed odor. I had many bunnies in my yard and the hair seemed to help deter them...thanks for the suggestions of the soap. I also put the toilet hanging mothball-like deodorants under my patio to get rid of hedgehogs.
Irysh
on Jul 01, 2013
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Fencing. Do not relocate the bunny, she may have babies in a nest she is nursing. They will die without mom.
Laura Gammons
on Jul 01, 2013
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She is a baby him and/or her.....a little one but so smart....eating all tender seedlings....LOL
Marie B
on Jul 01, 2013
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And moth balls are never a good solution as a deterrent. They are toxic to everything. As they melt the chemical seeps into the ground water and then the watershed. If you, or the next owners of your land, were to ever plant vegetables where you once put mothballs, you will have toxic veggies too. If you fence, which is a great idea, make sure you put the fence many inches underground so the rabbit can not dig his way underneath. One woman I know collects a few of her male neighbors' urine and sprinkles that around. (Seriously, they drop off jars of urine on her front steps). While that is not for me, she feels it works!
Gretchen
on Jul 02, 2013
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Go to the local pet store and collect a bag of the used bedding from the snake cages. Drop a bit here and there every few weeks. Problem solved.
James Richards
on Jul 02, 2013
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I bought a little trap and Bonide this morning......so we will see...thank you all for such excellent advice. I also spread a little of my hair around........,
Marie B
on Jul 02, 2013
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A couple of years ago, we had bunnies eat all of the Crocus down to the geround - the scent of our dogs didn't seem to deter them but we bought a spray at Home Depot that was a deer/rabbit deterrent and that worked. Now that we have more dogs, they still come in the fence but never seem to get close to trhe house or flowers - my veggies are all in raised beds and are out of reach.
Carol Claremont
on Jul 02, 2013
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blood meal works but the easiest Rout is trapping it live and releasing it to a different location .. both works well also I have raise gardens that works great for rabbits But the darn tree rodents are a huge problem (squirrels) hate them rodents .. I have been trapping them without any problems. Rabbits and the tree rodents I find is pepper spray works but you have to spray right away after each time it rains..
Deb Powell
on Jul 02, 2013
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And what will you do with the rabbits when you catch them? In most states you must release trapped wildlife on your own property. (Squirrrels too). And rabbits are delicate, they can die from fear. If you MUST trap it, please cover the trap so it will not see you approach. I hope it isn't a nursing mama as babies are notoriously hard to hand raise. (if you were to find some and take them to wildlife rehab). Can't you just spray and let them be?
Gretchen
on Jul 03, 2013
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Update....don't worry about this little bunny he is smarter then me....he has not entered the cage....he goes around it......and if I did catch him I would take him to a lovely park 25 miles away from my house.....but this morning when I went outdoors I found that he ate all my young Cosmos seedlings....all the them.....he is being very naughty....and I am mad at him...
Marie B
on Jul 03, 2013
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Plant marrigolds around it.Keeps the bunny`s away. Plus they`re pretty.
Zeb194095
on Jul 03, 2013
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I put a realistic looking rubber snake in all my garden beds...flowers and vegetable. Bunnies will not go near them.
Denise D
on Jul 03, 2013
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they ate all my sun flower sprouts
LaDonna Adams
on Jul 03, 2013
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Has anyone tried garlic/cayenne tea sprayed on? If so, how did it work?
Cherie Calletta
on Jul 03, 2013
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Cut up old pantyhose and tie a piece to anything it can be tied to that is near what the rabbits are eating. Works well for me. Also, if you don't mind mint, plant that nearby.
Diana L
on Jul 03, 2013
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I don't think red pepper hurts the birds. That is what is in the product squirrel away that you put in your birdseed to keep the squirrels from eating it all. Moth balls are TOXIC!!
Carol Wright
on Jul 03, 2013
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There was a plastic light up (solar) owl advertised in the newspaper this past weekend that is suppose to deter rabbits. I ordered one, will let you know if it works.
Carol C
on Jul 03, 2013
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I have lots of bunnys.. I don't even know how many lol. I have been fighting them for 3 yrs.. I gave up bought a roll chicken wire and it is around everything that I want to live.. When I plant my flower seeds I make rings and plant my chicken wire at the same time. I also planted a 16x17 area of Bermuda grass. I never have to mow this area. It has worked. Cant change mother nature but you can work around it. And trust me no one has just one lol
Leah Hill
on Jul 03, 2013
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Marigolds do not work..they eat all my tiny seedlings...Deer and rabbit repellent works best to keep away the bunnies and deer...
Judy trudell
on Jul 03, 2013
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I did cook up my own garlic/cayenne pepper mixture. Be careful where you spray it, as it will burn wide leaf veggies such as cabbage and greens...but it's a great deterrent for everything including insects
Mary McDonell
on Jul 03, 2013
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someone else on Hometalk asked this question and got most of these same answers EXCEPT one that was very different and I will be trying soon. They used those talking/singing fish that any movement will automatically turn on. I suppose any motion activated device will work (like the singing Xmas tree) but I love this suggestion because they are practically free at many garage sales. good luck. BTW they love lilly buds and phlox and columbine and ................. :-o
TJ
on Jul 03, 2013
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have friends w/ ferrets, they gave me a bag of used ferret litter that I sprinkled all round the outside edge of my garden and so far, no more bunnies eating my garden
Cathy C
on Jul 03, 2013
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I don't know if this works on rabbits but used cat litter (minus the clumps) spread around the parameter of your yard keeps squirrels out. I hope it works on rabbits too.
AmericanWoman
on Jul 03, 2013
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google it,,,, they have a list of plants that they don't like,,,,find the ones for your area,,, Marigolds as stated earlier are one.. many pests, even cute ones, don't like cinnamon,,,, or hotest cayene pepper you can buy., they shiff it and are gone...I buy mine from a natural foods store,,sprinkle it around any area I don't want cats or gods to use as their personal potty.....I bought a seasoning shaker at a local kitchen supply, clearly marked it as such...Reapply when you see them thinking of heading where you don't want them..I'd sprinkle around easch planting or area ....hope this helps..
Wanda sinnema
on Jul 03, 2013
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BTW cute idea for the shell.... am going to try that..
Wanda sinnema
on Jul 03, 2013
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I put up chicken wire. Very small gauge otherwise they were eating my vege garden.
Debby
on Jul 03, 2013
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cayenne worked great for me. had some old, dried, crushed and scatters around plants. first year i didn't have to replant! no harm to bunnies. do not advise crushing in food processor first, as it took me hours to stop coughing, duh:)
Norma
on Jul 03, 2013
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Take my cat..He's got three bunnies so far this year...
Cheryl
on Jul 03, 2013
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through clover seeds on a neighbors yard you do not like and they will go over there and eat the clover. Hundreds of them will come and raid his yard.
Bonnie G
on Jul 03, 2013
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Cayenne pepper, after a few weeks they get the message
Millie C
on Jul 03, 2013
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A couple years ago I tied an old recipe for keeping deer out of your garden and it worked; Mothballs. Now the deer and bunnies stay away.
Ginny N
on Jul 03, 2013
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I bought a motion operated sprinkler called a "Scare Crow". Hook to garden hose and it is ready. Blasts water when some thing comes close. Works very well as I live in the woods and the deer used to eat everything.
Cheryl V
on Jul 03, 2013
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thanks for the advice. I have a baby bunny, its mom, dad, aunt and uncle tearing through my vegetables and all my lily plants. They destroyed my tiger lily plants all the way to the ground and just started eating the leaves and breaking the stems off all my oriental lily plants that are just getting ready to bloom. I'm so upset.
Jamie Gross
on Jul 03, 2013
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Bunnies devour everything where I live. Also Towhee birds eat all my flowers. How do I get rid of these birds?
Linda
on Jul 03, 2013
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I agree with Denise D... the rubber snakes do the trick. I had an aster that they found tasty and never got more than a few inches high before they would prune it back, but since I put the snake in there they haven't been back!!
Anita Dueis
on Jul 03, 2013
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Not sure about the mint theory - I had lots of mint, until the rabbits invaded the garden and ate everything, including the mint!! :-D
Simona Dajko-Bradley
on Jul 04, 2013
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Again, about the cayenne. It will hurt the birds eyes if they were to fly into your garden. I am talking about the powdered type you'd buy at the grocery store. The sprays that contain cayenne are fine and do work. It's the loose powder that can hurt the birds.
Gretchen
on Jul 04, 2013
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I have the owl. It doesn't work against rabbits. They just sit in my backyard with the owl looking at and hooting at them. They learn very quickly that the owl does not fly. I chase them away LOL. The neighbours must think I am crazy. I am going to use chicken wires around the important plants.
Andrea S
on Jul 04, 2013
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if there's a local groomer around go ask them for dirty hair they've clipped off dogs put it bags like you get onions in at store ? and hang around the garden they hate the smell of dogs also works with deer and raccoons
Lynn G
on Jul 04, 2013
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there were dozens of bunnies around, but there are 2 hawks...so only 2 bunnies now
KC S
on Jul 04, 2013
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DO NOT USE HOT PEPPER OF ANY KIND, IT CAN BLIND squirrels. I found a blind squirrel In my yard once and called an animal rehab place and that's what they told me most likely blinded him. It gets into their eyes and they scratch them because of the burning and they can blind themselves!
Charlotte B
on Jul 04, 2013
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I still vote to rescue a dog :) My furry guy just chases them out of the yard whenever he goes out there. They stay away for a few days and then he does it again. He has not interest in actually catching one so they don't get hurt and he has fun. Wouldn't recommend a terrier if you just want one to chase them though. My yorkie that passed away 4 years ago was a vicious little guy. He'd actually kill the ones he caught and be so proud of himself for it!
Hortonica H
on Jul 04, 2013
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The bunny is still in my garden but I am using all your advice....so far all my zinnas have matured and he gave up on them. I noticed he only likes the young seedlings....I started another patch of Thumblina Zinnas in a container and place them in the garage at night so he can't get to them. He is a little devil and I am not a fan of his at all. I have been gardening for many moons and this is the first experience I had with a bunny....he loves my garden....LOL
Marie B
on Jul 08, 2013
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I have five of the Scarecrows mentioned by Cheryl V earlier to keep the antelope away from some small trees they seem to love. They work well for that. As far as bunnies go, I do not know. Some of our's are setting by the sprinklers this year. I don't know if it because of the 100 degree days or what. They seem to enjoy the shower.
HippieBob
on Jul 09, 2013
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The reason I hate rabbits and squirrels is one year I had a huge problem with rabbits I do mean huge I had counted 46 Rabbits in my yard one winters night they have ate all my scrubs, and my fruit trees it cost me over 350.00 to replace them that was over 35 yrs ago. as for the tree rodents they are a huge problem they will eat their way into Pumpkins , squash, eat tulips ( even rabbits), dig out my plants after I had planted them just so they can bury their seeds into my flower beds and garden beds, they are messy mean and yes they will chew thru a deck ruining the deck(s) chew thru roof making a home in your attic, wires, such as cable , telephone and ect . like I said many time they are all rodents sure they may be cute and fun to watch but they will do heavy damages to your property if you are not careful. Believe me I know more now then I did back in my younger years.. was a fool but not any more..
Deb Powell
on Jul 11, 2013
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Liquid Fence - on our block, we are surrounded by about 5 acres or more of woods, prairie grasses open land, and lawns. this stuff is not harmful chemically (as I remember & I do read labels) but it has "putrefied egg solids" in it.. helps ward off rabbits, ground squirrels, tree squirrels, deer, wild turkey, gophers, etc. I use it about once a month or more, depending on the amount of rain. If that fails, we has two Dachshunds and an Elkhound!! :-)
TJ
on Jul 11, 2013
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Followup....this morning on my daily five mile bike ride we found the little bunny dead on the road in front of my next door neighbors house...He must have been hit my a car. I feel so bad now because I was not very nice to him......
Marie B
on Jul 25, 2013
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I agree with the dog hair idea or better still if you don't have a dog, borrow one to put its scent around the garden. We had bunnies galore when we moved in, but since getting the dog, we don't see as many - they would not dare! They can get in under our fence - there is a big gap under the gate, but they tend not to for the most part as they can smell our dog. I don't advocate dog droppings in the garden, but if the dog hair works or a dog cocks its leg or squats - the smell will keep them away. Net or fence anything that you really don't want them to eat. Does not look pretty but the best way to protect. Anything that you apply to deter them can get washed away every time it rains. Good luck with it. We have lots of wildlife where we live and I know how frustrating it is when your flowers and vegies get munched on.
Carole
on Jul 25, 2013
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Marie, don't feel bad about the dead bunny. I know they are cute looking but they do cause a lot of damage. Not your fault - rabbits get hit by cars all the time. Sad but true.
Carole
on Jul 25, 2013
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Carole...he did lots of damage in my flower beds....he ate all my zinna seedlings, marigold seedlings, snip off flowers, etc......I have been gardening many years and this is the first year I had a bunny in my garden....thanks for your comment...I feel sorry for him but I don't miss him..
Marie B
on Jul 26, 2013
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That is truly a shame that he was killed on the street. Rabbits are extremely beneficial to your CrockPot, laid to rest with some tasty veggies from your garden that he loved so much and some nice broth to keep him work on his journey to bunnyland.... OK, I'm' getting hungry now.
James Richards
on Aug 04, 2013
- See 1 previous
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sad he got hit,,, you lost a little friend,,,,, now who will you have to keep you company in your garden....your garden will be prettier but ,,,, you won't have as much to do now! We are having a racoon problem.. only 1,,,, he scales a 7 ft wood fence then bathes in the neighbors pond, suns on the patio, and feasts on everyones garbage cans unless you bungy cord closed.... has climbed the 12 ft. tree to eat all my apricots about 200 in a week,,,and broken all the corn stalks at ground level,,,,,my only hope is he had a severe case of diarhea.. tomatoes are just now starting to ripen.... here we go again..
Wanda sinnema
on Aug 13, 2013
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Wanda sinnema...believe me I don't miss him....he was a nusiance......and I didn't want more little bunnies to arrive....sorry to hear your story about the racoon....
Marie B
on Aug 13, 2013
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Bunnies are GODS creatures... Are our gardens and lawns that important to deny one or many of GODS creatures???? They are only doing what is natural to them...
Paula
on Oct 01, 2013
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TRY MOTH BALLS AROUND THE PERIMETER.
KATHLEEN QUINLAN
on Nov 10, 2013
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Rabbits require less water to grown compare to any other animals we eat. Still it ia good source of protein. Soon we will have to consider water footprint since water is becoming very scarse. Maybe rabbit on red wine sauce would not be a bad idea
The Rising Loafer
on Aug 07, 2014
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Blood meal. Its in powder form and sold at garden centers. Just sprinkle around on soil, especially perimeter. Blood=Danger. As soon as they get a whiff, they bolt on instinct. It worked for me.
Gena Larsin Stillday
on Feb 11, 2015
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Gena...I will try Blood Meal this Spring if I see a bunny in my flower garden...great idea....I have used Blood meal in my garden in the past...Thanks for the info
Marie B
on Feb 11, 2015
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live trap and relocate to area of choice---farm field, park...bbq on the grill. do get a trapper permit.
Dfm
on Feb 28, 2016
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This helped me in our garden. De-seed about 5 jalapeno peppers and crush the seeds and stems together, then add plain white vinegar (about 12 ounces) put in spray bottle and spray on leaves and grass around the perimeter of your garden area. This helped us with the rabbits and raccoons that were eating on the plants.
Debbie
on Sep 24, 2016
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Just dont name the little bunny because it will change from pest to pet....Leave him alone, just trying to get a small meal. It is a life form says Mr. Spock. Live long and prosper.
Florida Beachpotato
on Sep 24, 2016
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Moth balls wony hurt plants but will keep all animals out. Just toss them around the ground.
Vicki Fleming
on Sep 24, 2016
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