6/30/03
Contacts:
Richard Jauron, Horticulture, (515) 294-1871, rjauron@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Yard and Garden Column for the Week Beginning July 4, 2003
Protecting Your Garden from Rabbits
By Richard Jauron
Extension Horticulture Specialist
Iowa State University
In their natural habitat, rabbits are enjoyable creatures. However, they're
often viewed differently in the home landscape. Rabbits can cause serious
damage to flowers and vegetables in home gardens. When damage becomes
unacceptable, control measures are in order. Control options include habitat
modification, repellents, trapping and fencing. Selecting plants that
are less likely to be damaged by rabbits may also be helpful.
Habitat Modification
Brush, junk and tall weeds near flower and vegetable gardens provide food
and cover for rabbits. Removing debris and cutting tall weeds should make
the area less attractive to rabbits.
Repellents
Rabbit browsing can be discouraged by repellents. Taste repellents, such
as Rabbit Scat (ziram), make plants distasteful. Odor repellents, such
as Hinder (ammonium soaps), drive rabbits away from treated areas by their
strong odor. Unfortunately, repellents are not always effective. Rabbits
may become accustomed to the disagreeable odor. Others may ignore the
poor taste. In addition, most repellents must be reapplied after heavy
rains.
Trapping
Live traps can be used to remove rabbits from the landscape. Traps can
be purchased at garden centers, hardware stores and garden catalogs. Place
traps where rabbits are frequently seen eating or resting in the yard
and close to protective cover. In the spring and summer months, bait the
trap with apple slices, carrots, cabbage or lettuce. Check the trap daily
and place fresh material in the trap. When successful, release the trapped
rabbit a few miles away in an area where it will not cause problems for
others.
Fencing
The most effective way to prevent rabbit damage in home gardens is to
place chicken wire (the mesh should be 1-inch or smaller), 1/4-inch hardware
cloth or other fencing materials around vulnerable plants. To provide
adequate protection, the fence should be 1.5 to 2 feet tall. Support the
fence with wooden stakes or metal posts. To keep rabbits from crawling
underneath the fence, pin it tightly to the ground with u-shaped landscape
pins or bury the bottom 1 to 2 inches below the ground.
Plant Materials
The feeding habits of rabbits vary due to fluctuations in the rabbit population,
availability of alternate foods and other factors. However, some annuals,
perennials, and vegetables are often severely damaged by browsing rabbits,
while others are usually ignored. Selecting plants that are less likely
to be damaged by rabbits can reduce the severity of the problem.
Annuals often severely damaged by rabbits include impatiens, petunia,
marigold and pansy. Perennials that are frequent victims of rabbit feeding
include aster, crocus, lily, grape hyacinth, garden phlox and tulip.
Browsing rabbits usually ignore annuals, such as ageratum, wax begonia,
vinca and geranium. Perennials seldom damaged by rabbits include columbine,
false indigo, garden mum, bleeding heart, hardy geranium, daylily, Siberian
iris, Virginia bluebells, daffodil, peony, moss phlox and perennial salvia.
Vegetables that are frequently damaged by rabbits include snap bean, pea,
beets, lettuce and spinach. Tomato, potato and onion are less likely to
be damaged by rabbits.
In the home landscape, rabbit control is difficult. A combination of
habitat modification, repellents, trapping and fencing usually provide
the best results.
-30-
Editors: There is no photo available for this week's column.
|