How do I keep little bunnies from eating my garden vegetables? (other than have a fence)?

Question

Ive never really had any gardens as an adult, but I threw out a couple of plants and some seeds this year in a little patch of dirt off my deck(watermelon, eggplant, pepper, tomato and sunflowers) Unfortunately a bunny lives under the deck and has started to nibble on my football sized watermelon. How do I keep him from eating it before it grows up?

Answer 1

The coyote/fox urine stuff works, as does cayenne pepper. Be careful with that however. Some people feel it is not very humane, because they can get it on their paws and then their mouth or eyes and it's really painful. Gardeners.com has quite a selection of sprays, etc.

Answer 2

Plant some stakes at the corners of your garden plot and then string some fishing wire all around the plot a few times until it's about 6"-8" high. A small amount of light reflects of the fishing wire and confuses the bunnies. Since the fishing wire is clear it isn't unsightly. Either that or about 6"-8" of chicken wire surrounding your garden. I've also used garlic spray which bunnies seem to hate, but it can make your stuff taste like garlic.

Answer 3

My parents use pepper spray. NOt the kind the cops have, but home-made. We have these really hot peppers here that grow wild called chile-pequines. They are super hot. My mom picks them and soaks them in a spray bottle full of water overnight and then sprays the plants she doesnt want eaten. Seems to work but you have to spray every day or so, and after it rains. Also, try hanging fake owls with moving eyes and buy some plastic snakes(some look so real!) and lay them on the ground all around your garden. Only works for a while till the bunnies figure out they arent real so move them around every couple of days.

Answer 4

Getting a dog would take care of it. As far as a cat not harming a bunny my (apartment kitty) ripped the face of a rabbit 2 days after me moved to the country. Between my dog and cats I don't have rabbit problems. Fox thing might me lower maintenance though. Borrow some animal fur next time friend grooms their dog or ask a groomer? That would help I imagine. Good luck

Answer 5

Fox urine. Yes, I said fox urine! I don't want to know how they manage to collect it, but some companies do. Larger garden suppliers will carry it on their shelves or you can find it online here:
http://www.outsidepride.com/store/catalog/Fox-Urine-p-17871.html

Rabbits will pick up the scent of a fox and completely avoid the area to keep from being "eaten". In the meantime, no veggies or fuzzy bunnies will be harmed!

Answer 6

Hang some other dead bunnies around the garden as a warning to them all. Or get a cat... they won't hurt the bunnies however they will scare them.

Answer 7

A Ruger 10-22 stoked with CCI Mini-mags would do the trick.

Answer 8

Do a search for "powdered fox urine". (I'm serious). Bunnies and foxes are not good neighbors. Sprinkle a bit of powder around the edge of your garden and the bunnies will relocate.

Answer 9

We let a large piece of the lawn just go wild, and the bunnies seem to stay there. They seem to prefer weeds over our lettuce.

Answer 10

to respond to a thank you to maintain them out of your backyard - embody the completed element with marigolds. They hate marigold, so won't pass further in. to respond to your unasked question approximately awful tasting rabbit - you cooked them incorrect. learn the recipe for Hasenfeffer. Thems good eats, if cooked real. ;) further after examining different answer: Bunnies dig it - no, actually. They dig under poultry twine. (Does no one study "the story of Peter Rabbit" anymore? lol)