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Rabbit & Aquilegia plants

ElsiElsi Posts: 10
in Problem solving
I have a large garden surrounded by fields and have a major problem with rabbits. However, these rabbits are targeting a particular plant, Aquilegia, which are planted randomly throughout the garden. The rabbits seek them out, wherever they are and completely demolish the plant leaving only totally bare stems!! I am at a loss to know how to deter them as this has never happened in previous years. What it is that attracts them now to these plants in particular? Has anyone experienced this and found a solution.

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Aquilegias are widely regarded as actively disliked by rabbits and are included in most rabbit-proof plant lists I've looked at, so am at a loss.  Perhaps it's a 'learned behaviour' and localised to the warren?
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
    Have you recently planted the Aquilegia?
    I had trouble with Rabbits eating some young Aquilegia last year but amazingly they returned this year and the Rabbits left them alone.
    I sympathise. I love Rabbits but they do my head in.
  • ElsiElsi Posts: 10
    Thank you for your reply. It could be learned behaviour for a particular warren as they seem to come from a particular direction. I have even had a few hellebore plants eaten but not to the same extent. I always thought hellebore plants were rabbit proof!!!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    In my experience, there are years when they'll have a go at almost anything, including so called rabbit repellent plants, especially when they first emerge.
    The youngsters in particular, and if there's loads of them, it's worse. 
    Just how it is  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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