Garden

[bells4me]

Weird, but I live in the mountains and about 3 years ago the rabbits came and ate all my iris's down to the ground.  They haven't touched them since and haven't been back.  If I hadn't seen them I wouldn't know it had been wild rabbits.  I can only suggest fencing to keep them out.  That's what people with gardens do here.

[LonestarBabs]

@bells4me  I bet they were up in the hills burping like crazy with indigestion, learned their lesson and decided irises weren't for them!

[DiAnne]

I am getting a little discouraged here.  I came home from yoga class yesterday and a large squirrel was on the urn on my front porch tearing out and breaking my white begonias.  I think he was probably trying to bury peanuts but he did a lot of damage.  You would never know I live in a city between the squirrels and the rabbits!!

[Lilysmom]

@DiAnne et al, I have a similar story.  This year for the first time in our 11 years on our property, something is eating my hostas, Allium and Solomon's Seal.  It is happening on the edges of our property.  We border woodland on three sides.  

We have a Lab.  Since we went on vacation in mid April and the dog was with friends, we have been invaded.  She has always kept the animals at bay til now.  The munching has been sporadic.  I saw a rabbit the other day on my walk to the lake.

Fencing is not an option here.  We are on almost two acres with gardens everywhere.  I have put up small wire fencing around some plants and perhaps that helped.  

Interesting, the Allium will flower.  They just ate the leaves but I gotta tell you when I saw the Solomon's Seal tops chewed off I was mad.  

Wonder how they are avoiding the coyotes???  LM

[DiAnne]

@Lilysmom

It gets discouraging.  I live on a corner and have a pretty small back yard and it is fenced.  I also have a large dog but he is 14 years old and just likes to stay in the house and sleep!  I was out deadheading Rhodies near the street and noticed the Bergenia around the pine tree on the corner is chewed also - I am sure that is the rabbits again.  

[JustJazzmom]

There are now 3 rabbits visiting my yard! One is so used to people that when I shout 'Out!' it looks at me and doesn't move.

The deer/rabbit repellent has been used on the Asiatic lilies and so far I am winning! But I really need to be more vigilant with application. Maybe cayenne pepper powder might work as well.

[DiAnne]

@JustJazzmom

I have tried the pepper in the past without much success but that was before the rabbits and I was just dealing with squirrels.  The problem I run into the statement "reapply after rain" on the repellents.  By the time our dry season comes (fall) the plants are gone!  Our rabbits are the same way - they just look at you like "What are you going to do about it?".