we have a wild rabbit that keeps coming in to the garden from the field at the back of our house. it sits in the middle of the grass eating the clover.
I was horrified to discover huge sections of a beech hedge planted as whips last year around my veg patch totally eaten away.Oddly enough the veg so far in raised 8 inch beds have been untouched,but maybe they havent got round to it yet!I suspect I will have no alternative than to get a rabbit proof fence erected around this area.Unfortunately fencing the entire 2 acre garden is not really possible.I am waiting in dread for the rabbits to start on the flower garden.
I've got rabbits too and its causing me a nightmare. Trying to hard to get some beds going in my large garden. Cant afford to fence the entire garden and also, we've rabbits living in some of the banks within the garden itself. The farmer says he gases his rabbits. Planted a large Fatsia Jap and so far, its surviving! Grape Hyacinth though has been nibbled down to the soil!
You have my sympathy, Melanie. The Fatsia will survive. Most rabbit damage is done to young plants, can you put wire cages on them just until they get established?
I have just planted some pot roses (c35) in a border but rabbits have started nibbling buds and stripping leaves. Will this be damaging to roses long term? I have ordered some "Grazers" - has anyone tried it before? - does it work?
Hi. I tried "Grazers" and found that it certainly slows down the onslaught but you need to reapply every few weeks. Also if they don't like the taste of the Grazer they try to dig up the roots instead! My rabbits sample everything new in the garden, and particularly favour Lavender, Holly, Heather and Roses. They are also partial to anything resembling an alpine or rockery plant but seem to leave most herbaceous plants alone. New shoots on decideous trees and shribs are innresistable. Chicken wire fences work but you still need a daily inspection to detect any "breaches" of your defenses. In the end I have concluded that I enjoy the company of the rabbits frolicing in my garden so much that I have decided to work with them rather than against them - ir they leave anything alone I plant more of it, and if they destroy anything I replace it with an alternative.
We have lots of wild rabbits in our 2 acres-mostly they just eat grass and weeds. We protect our veg with nets/cages but it is not really a major probloem as far as the plants are concerned. Maybe we just have more co-operative rabbits!
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yeah right
every single carrot, beetroot and parsnip gone from my veg patch!!
im gonna get me a gun.
Planted a large Fatsia Jap and so far, its surviving! Grape Hyacinth though has been nibbled down to the soil!
The Fatsia will survive.
Most rabbit damage is done to young plants, can you put wire cages on them just until they get established?