Creating a Rabbit Resistant Garden

Creating a Rabbit Resistant Garden - A Guide to Plants and Strategy

Gardening enthusiasts often find joy in cultivating beautiful landscapes, but the presence of rabbits can pose a significant challenge. These adorable creatures, while cute and cuddly, can turn your yard into a foraging ground if not managed properly. Given a choice, rabbits prefer to munch on tender new growth, such as peas, beans, pansies, lettuce, and other young seedlings emerging from your garden. Fortunately, with a combination of rabbit-resistant plants and effective repellents, you can create a garden that thrives while deterring these furry intruders.

Repellents play a crucial role in keeping rabbits at bay. One effective repellant is a fish and seaweed liquid fertilizer, with Neptune's Harvest being a popular brand. This liquid fertilizer, when used as a foliar spray, not only fertilizes your plants but also gives off a fishy smell that rabbits find unappealing. While this method is effective, it may need to be reapplied periodically, especially if rain washes it off. The idea is to create an environment that smells like a fish, deterring rabbits from feasting on your garden while providing essential nutrients to your plants.

Scaring tactics, such as the presence of dogs or shiny objects, can also work as deterrents, although their effectiveness may vary. It's important to note that even with repellents and rabbit-resistant plants, these furry creatures may still explore other areas of your yard that appeal to them. Experimentation with different approaches and plant combinations is key to finding what works best for your specific garden.

Creating a rabbit-resistant garden involves a thoughtful combination of repellents, strategic plant choices, and perhaps a few trial-and-error experiments. By incorporating rabbit-resistant plants like those listed and implementing repellents like fish and seaweed liquid fertilizer, you can strike a balance that allows both your garden and the local rabbit population to coexist harmoniously. Remember, not every plant may be on the list, but generally, those with pungent smells or fuzzy leaves are more likely to be left untouched by rabbits.

Choosing Rabbit-Resistant Plants:

When selecting plants for your garden, opting for varieties that rabbits tend to avoid is a smart strategy. Here is a comprehensive list of annuals, perennials, and bulbs that rabbits typically find unpalatable:

Annuals

Perennials

Bulbs