by Steph A.
Member since:
April 15, 2008

How can I keep our friendly rabbit from eating my garden?

May 02, 2008 09:58 PM EDT
views: 927 | rating: 10/10 (24 votes) | comments: 25

We have a rabbit that's been joining us for dinner the last few nights.  As we're at the dining table eating, he's right outside the window gobbling up dandelions.  It's the funniest thing to see, since he bites them off at the bottom then nibbles them all the way to the heads. 

Cute, isn't he?  But the problem is, he's going to be eating my plants as soon as I get them in the ground.  Short of building cages around my garden, do you have any suggestions to keep him away?  Are there certain plants you found work to co-plant?  Or should we just buckle down and build some sort of fencing this weekend?
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Comments: 25

Beth - Doing God's work Daily J. May 2, 2008, 10:00pm EDT
He looks like a nice rabbitt
Amy H. May 2, 2008, 10:05pm EDT



The group: We Comment Back
Amanda T. May 2, 2008, 10:08pm EDT
I don't have any suggestions. But he sure is a cute fellow. I wish a rabit would come eat the dandelions in my yard.
Deloris Wright May 2, 2008, 10:16pm EDT
The fence is the best idea. but you might try putting cyanine pepper on your plants and around them. I have heard that works on most animals good luck
Roxanne H. May 2, 2008, 10:58pm EDT
They are so cute until they eat your Tulips, Moss Roses and Hastas all the way to the ground. I give my neighborhood rabbit a good talking to on my way to work because that's when I see him going toward my garden. I threaten to chase him but he just sits and looks back at me until I get out of the car and start towards him then he runs like crazy. Last year I planted tons of Marigolds, all types, around the outside of garden completely surrounding the garden and the rabbit stayed away. I will try this again this year and see if this helps again.
Rebecca D. May 2, 2008, 11:40pm EDT
You're going to love this one. Human urine around the perimeter will keep away all sorts of pests. If you live in an area remote enough, it's easiest to just have the men go to it. I don't advise that if you live in town, though. In that case, have the guys go into a jar and just sprinkle it around the edge. Have fun.
Monica H. May 3, 2008, 12:07am EDT
I'm laughing at Rebecca's comment. Now that would be a hoot if you lived in town and you just had a bunch of guys come over and pee all over around your garden for you!
Dagmara H. May 3, 2008, 12:07am EDT
I am sorry I don't have any suggestion for you but wanted to tell ou how beautiful he is. we have one also comeing in front of our apartmans.
JoAnne D. May 3, 2008, 4:51am EDT
There are a lot of dandelions around and unwelcome maybe we should get a bunny.
Suze P. May 3, 2008, 4:58am EDT
aww.. what a cute bunny!! we have bunnies here, but havent had any problems, so far, with them eating stuff. Then again, we don't have a garden, just flowers. Guess they don't like our flowers.. pellet guns work..lol I'm totally kidding I would never want to see any living creature, especially one that cute, get hurt.. I'd try the urine or the dandelions.. can't hurt.. or a fence would work too. :O)
sheila ~the hapless housewife~ j. May 3, 2008, 6:48am EDT
No advice, but good luck!
Marianne R. May 3, 2008, 7:47am EDT
I had asked this questionb in an article I recently wrote. I got a lot of good tips. Merigolds or dusty miller planted as a border in your flowers will keep the bunnies out. So will cyan pepper or those red pepper flakes sprinkled around the plants. So far I went with the red pepper flakes and dusty miller and the bunnies have left the flowers alone.
Jo C. May 3, 2008, 1:17pm EDT
Since you seem to have a kind heart, you probably won't like this solution (and neither did I) but we once had a dachsund who saw a rabbit, made it across the yard in about 5 seconds and killed it instantly. It was a relatively painless death for the rabbit even though I was yelling and then I sat down on the deck steps and cried. Of course, after that I had to get a shovel and bury the rabbit and then get the dog tested to see if it got some disease that rabbits carry.

But it did solve the problem of that ONE rabbit. However, if you have one rabbit, you can be pretty sure you have others.
Beaker (just Beaker) May 3, 2008, 2:04pm EDT
Oue neighbors have a pet rabbit that visits our yard regularly. The dog chases him off, but he comes back. A fence will only work until the rabbit decides to dig under. My solution was planting things that the rabbit didn't like!
Kim A. May 3, 2008, 3:02pm EDT
Do you have pets?Maybe they could chase him away.He is so cute.
j - Frugal Mom - r. May 3, 2008, 3:02pm EDT
Down here in South Florida, I've heard that male pee can do the tricks with keeping away racoons:)
Steph A. May 3, 2008, 3:04pm EDT
I think I'll try the marigolds and red pepper around my peas. My husband volunteered for the peeing, but I'm not so sure I'm okay with that!

Thanks for all your suggestions!
Sandy (back in Ohio...blah!) May 3, 2008, 7:04pm EDT
Take those tiny pie tins. Hang them by a string. So when the wind blows. They make noise. It will startel the bunny and he will run away. Trust me it works like a charm..I have been doing that for years. As I lived by a railroad track. We all know bunnies love making nests along railroad tracks.
Tiffany G. May 5, 2008, 7:23pm EDT
my FIL has a few of them small little fan things that steak into the ground the wind blows them.. I cant think of what they are called.. but it works for his garden and the creatures out here in the country!
samantha b. May 6, 2008, 7:31pm EDT
archie said that a little fence is what you should get but that the rabbit isn't going to eat much and it is nature coming to visit you so you are blessed
☼ Lisa ☼ G. May 7, 2008, 3:05pm EDT
make him a pet lol
Austin Cushing May 11, 2008, 11:22pm EDT
This comment is to let you know that this content has reached at least ten comments, and as such has been removed from Comment Speedway! Congratulations, and check out Team Green!
Ginger C. Feb 21, 2009, 2:07pm EST
Wish I had a solutions for you, building a fence is probably best!
Mariana T. Feb 21, 2009, 2:09pm EST
Plant a row just for him - that's how I had to settle my garden issues with all my lovely wild things - I just plant and let him eat his own row - I learned this from Perelander and gardening tips of planting extra rows for the garden spirits. It's beautiful to watch such a lovely rabbit and you'll enjoy watching him as much as you'll enjoy your garden! Salud
Amanda J. Feb 21, 2009, 2:11pm EST
They sell sprays that are supposed to deter animals.

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