Rabbits
Despite being so adorable-looking, rabbits aren't all that sweet and innocent. These cute fur balls can cause considerable damage in the garden, munching on peas, beans, lettuce, flowers, tulips, clover and deciduous tree bark.
Rabbits live in tunnel systems called warrens and don't venture far to feed. If you are experiencing problems from rabbits they are living very close-by. The best ways to keep rabbits out of your garden are by fencing, repelling, or trapping them.
Rabbits are nocturnal and will feed on just about any plant they are able to reach. Succulent pansies, just about any garden vegetable or fruit and several ground cover species of shrub are all targets for hungry grazing rabbits. Since they strike at night, rabbits may go unnoticed for weeks. Eventually, the gardener may notice plants are simply disappearing or dying. A sure sign is when you find their droppings which are round and small.
Rabbits will eat randomly. Instead of ingesting the entire plant, they may only chew the flower or half the plant before moving to the next. This behavior tends to maximize the damage they do. Once eating patterns are established, it can be difficult to change.
The best method for controlling rabbits is to keep them out in the first place. There are products out there that are designed to repel rabbits. The best one I’ve seen so far is called “Rabbit Scram” by the makers of “Deer Scram” They can be found at www.deerscram.com. |