Twigs from my garden

Recently, I’ve been thinking about rabbits. Not the Easter bunny but real rabbits that munch on garden veggies and flowers — especially since a rabbit appears to live under the front porch and I’m planning on planting a few vegetables now that I have more space and sun than I had in my little yard in town. I’m hoping to have just a small garden — a kitchen garden.I’ve heard rabbits can be real pests in country, suburban and even urban gardens. Probably because there are so many of them! They reproduce quickly. A female breeds at six months of age, her litter is born in a month, and she’s likely to be pregnant again before she weans them at around six weeks. The good news is rabbits rarely eat mature plants, but they do nibble on just about any little sprout or seedling while the leaves are tasty and tender.In the wild, rabbit populations are checked by natural predators, or they might take over the world, as well as gardens. Since rabbits are mainly nocturnal, you may not see them in the garden, but you will see the damage they do. Random eaters, they browse on just part of a plant, then move on to the next, maximizing the damage. In winter, ravenous rabbits eat almost any plant they can reach, including the bark of trees and shrubs. A little online research educated me on many ways to keep that “pesky ol’ wabbit,” to quote Elmer Fudd, out of the garden.1. Passive repellents — granules, pellets, powders — scattered around the outside of a flowerbed or vegetable garden leave a smell or taste that rabbits, hopefully, will find offensive. Bloodmeal is a traditional repellent; commercial granules include Rid-A-Critter and Shake-Away. Liquid repellents, like urine of coyote or fox, natural predators of rabbits, sprayed directly on plants should frighten the little varmints away. Some gardeners make their own red pepper spray or sprinkle cayenne pepper liberally around plants. Both are said to be quite effective since rabbits always smell before tasting. A popular commercial spray is Ropel. Of course, any repellent is expensive, takes time to apply, washes away with rain and must be re-applied, although commercial formulas last longer than natural ones. Another suggestion is spreading used kitty litter in and around plants. This is, frankly, one I wouldn’t recommend or want to try!2. Scarecrows, motion lights, noisemakers — none are really effective in the long run. A motion activated water-spraying device works, but is also expensive.3. Animal netting spread over plants and staked is a good deterrent if rabbits are concentrating on just a few choice plants, although they may still be able to reach a few stalks or leaves.4. A fence is a traditional means of keeping rabbits out of a garden. Remember the storybook pictures of Mr. McGregor’s garden? Obviously, a picket fence didn’t keep Peter Rabbit from getting into trouble! However, one or two low-voltage electrified wires running around the exterior of a fence will keep rabbits out, without harm to children, pets or wildlife. The best, and least expensive, fence is chicken wire at least two feet high and buried six inches below the ground.5. Reemay, more commonly known as “floating row cover,” is a lightweight, spun/woven material that allows water and sunshine in while keeping garden pests out. It also protects plants from harsh weather conditions and flying insects. Once plants flower, the material must be removed to allow for pollination, but by then, the plants are hardy enough to survive on their own.6. Live traps (for example, Havahart) are sold in various sizes to trap rabbits and other pests. Baited with carrot pieces, lettuce or apples with peanut butter, the trap won’t harm the animal, but the captured critter shouldn’t be released less than a mile away and preferably in a woods.7. Some plants are natural pest repellents (repelling deer as well as rabbits). Foxglove and monkshood are poisonous to animals, as well as humans. Other plants repel rabbits because of their intense aromas. While we love their scents, they are offensive to animals. Lavender, catnip and catmint, and any alliums (garlic, onion, and chives) are reputed to send rabbits running when planted among other vegetables and flowers. (Garlic sprays are also available at garden centers.)As a disclaimer, for every repellent or mechanical device advertised as foolproof in keeping Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail away, you’ll find a gardening blogger that discredits its practical use.Well, I’m feeling more confident about planting my kitchen garden since I did my research. You see, a coyote was spotted on the backside of our hectare, and I’ve seen a fox trotting across our property on more than one occasion. Between natural predators, my dog, cats and lavender plants, that rabbit under the porch may decide it’s not worth a forage in my garden. I’ll have to keep you posted on this one!Master Gardener Tip of the WeekAccording to folklore, marigolds repel rabbits, but experienced gardeners say that, while rabbits tend to leave mature marigolds alone, they will gladly gobble up seedlings.