Garden has been invaded by bunnies

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Let me first start out by saying I am not happy

Went into the fenced in garden to pull some weeds, and a young bunny runs and hides. I call the dog, Steffi, into the area, and we search. I kicked it up and Steffi cornered it. I darned near had a white dog full of blood, but I got the bunny away from Steffi before that happened. About that time, a second bunny runs and hides. I can't get Steffi to look for the second bunny when I have one in my hand.

The first bunny was removed from the garden...and Steffi was put in the house. I knew that I had to take the weed trimmer and cut down the over growth of grass inside the fence if I was going to find the second. About the time I get back to the garden with the running trimmer, the second bunny runs and gets caught in the fence. I pull it out of the fence. I tried to offer it to the neighbor. Funny thing, with all the rabbits we have in our area, he didn't want it...or any rabbits.

I know there is a third that has been hiding under a storage cabinet. Steffi can't get it, and I can't get it.

I have a live trap that I will try to put in an area that can catch the bunny.

Anyone have any suggestions for trapping or keeping rabbits away? The two bunnies in the garden did a lot of damage to the lillies and other flowers (but not the very young and tender lettuce). The one in the back yard has been doing a number on our freshly planted herbs. This must end.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Try planting some lavender.

I have ground hog problems here.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I guess I should be thankful for rabbits.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I guess I should be thankful for rabbits.

you betcha.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

We have tons and tons of bunnies in our Arizona home--not enough coyotes to keep them in check. I bought the liquid fence stuff at Home Depot. It smells absolutely terrible (fox urine and who knows what else). I sprayed it on non-edible (for humans) plants and I sprayed it in a perimeter around human edible plants. It does work. Bunnies avoid our place and go elsewhere.

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

We have coyotes and have never seen a rabbit in my yard!

Here are some tips from this article:
One of the best ways is to construct a two foot high fence around the vegetable garden out of poultry wire. I like the type that is coated in green plastic. I have found it much easier to work with. It is very important that your fence be tight to the ground or even buried a few inches. Rabbits are more likely to go under a fence than hop over it. Also make sure that your fence openings are not too wide allowing the rabbits to squeeze through. I would recommend using fencing with openings not bigger than two inches.

Rabbits can also be controlled by aroma . Sprinkling dried blood around the border of your garden can be effective, as is fox urine. One suggested method for using the fox urine is to tie cotton balls on the fencing around your garden, then every few days sprinkle the cotton balls with a few drops of the fox urine. Both dried blood and fox urine can be found at Southern States or other garden supply stores and are okay to use around vegetables. I have even used ferret feces around the outside border of my vegetable garden fence. Ferrets are another natural predator of rabbits and this method seemed to help keep them away. Any of these methods will have to reapplied after rain.

Human hair sprinkled around the garden can also be used as a deterrent and when the hair eventually breaks down it serves as a good fertilizer. Local hair salons I am sure would be happy to give you a bag of human hair.

Gardeners have also reported success sprinkling vinegar, hot pepper flakes and liquid chile sprays on and around plants. One method is to soak corn cobs in vinegar for five minutes and then place them throughout the garden. The corn cobs should be resoaked in vinegar after two weeks. I have tried just sprinkling vinegar around the bean plants but without much success.

Some folks use moth flakes to keep rabbits away but they should not be used around vegetable gardens or even where children or pets can get to them.

Finally clover is a favorite food of rabbits as is the plantain weed. Rabbits would rather eat that than your vegetables, so if you can tolerate clover and even a few plantain weeds in your lawn, that may be the best solution of all.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Yikes......I have lots of bunnies in my yard. I hope they aren't going to eat my vegetables.

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

Plant clover...it doesn't get too high and it's green, unless you look close, no one would know there isn't grass

[gomom Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gomom]

A couple of years ago we planted impatiens around our yard for our daughter's wedding. Bunnies love new impatiens and usually mow them over night. The landscaper had us put bone meal in a solid little trail around the flower beds. It must have worked because they grew beautifully!

[Joe L Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe L]

This worked for the squirells and cats in my yard.

Havahart Spray Away Motion Sprinkler — Protects 1000 Sq. Ft. | Animal Control | Northern Tool + Equipment

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

A couple of years ago we planted impatiens around our yard for our daughter's wedding. Bunnies love new impatiens and usually mow them over night. The landscaper had us put bone meal in a solid little trail around the flower beds. It must have worked because they grew beautifully!

I used bone meal one year in my garden and the skunks had a field day!!! I had to have my husband urinate along the perimeter of the yard...worked like a charm!!!!

He'd kill me if he knew I told people he peed the perimeter of the yard

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I used bone meal one year in my garden and the skunks had a field day!!! I had to have my husband urinate along the perimeter of the yard...worked like a charm!!!!

He'd kill me if he knew I told people he peed the perimeter of the yard

Husband PISS!

OMG!

[Joe L Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe L]

I guess he was just marking his territory.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Husband PISS!

OMG!

I think I will pass on the urine method (no pun intended)

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I think I will pass on the urine method (no pun intended)

Come on Don it is cheap and readily available!