Marigolds = Bunny Food ... Help!

[lisa_from_nj]

There are lots of "cute" bunnies hopping around where I live. They tend to eat my flowers. Over the last couple of years they have feasted on:

Carnations (I had two huge clumps of carnations - there would have been hundreds of blossoms - as soon as they started to bloom - total destruction.

Miniature rose bushes (not just the flowers, the whole bushes).

A lily that was originally potted with orange flowers (maybe tiger lily) that comes up every year even though the whole plant gets eaten down to the ground (this sits right next to a yellow easter lily that is untouched - must not be tasty).

Morning Glories - the bunnies did not even wait for the flowers, the vines and leaves just got eaten

Marigolds - I tried putting moth balls in amongst the marigolds, but the bunnies don't seem to care. I thought the moth balls would work because the bunnies were building a nest for their babies amongst my daffodils. As soon as I saw it I filled it with moth balls. The bunnies relocated to someone else's yard.

Interestingly enough, I also grow tomatoes, rhubard and assorted herbs (knock on wood) the bunnies don't touch that stuff.

What can be done to keep the bunnies from eating my flowers?

Thanks.

Lisa

 

[evilqueenfan]

Just wanted to say, I know how you feel. The bunnies are eating my pepper plants in my garden, even the hot peppers ! Hope someone comes along that can give some advice on how to stop the little critters. Wish I could be of some help to you.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Try some sort of predator urine (it comes in bottles in many garden centers, both liquid and granular). I like fox pee, because they're the most common predator around here, and if you use urine, it may attract those predators to the garden...I'd rather have foxes than coyotes or bobcats (both urines are also available).

OR, you could get a beagle or two...

 

[lisa_from_nj]

UrsulasShadow: Thanks for the advice, but I don't think I want predator urine in my garden (eww?). I know I definitely don't want to attrack large predators to my yard. At least the bunnies just go after the flowers!

evilqueenfan: It's really funny that the bunnies eat the hot peppers. I think they eat anything!

Lisa

 

[evilqueenfan]

Lisa,
I was told to put rubber snakes in the garden to keep the bunnies away. I am heading out to buy some now. I'll let you know if it works!

 

[PrincessMommyof2]

Try some sort of predator urine (it comes in bottles in many garden centers, both liquid and granular). I like fox pee, because they're the most common predator around here, and if you use urine, it may attract those predators to the garden...I'd rather have foxes than coyotes or bobcats (both urines are also available).

OR, you could get a beagle or two...

I hope the tag fairies get you on that one, Ursula.

"I like fox pee." Oh, that'd be a riot!!!!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Hey, I like my tags JUST the way they are, THANK you very much!

 

[pooh4me]

I have found that coco bean mulch helps to keep the rabbits from the flower beds, if not try sprinkling dried blood around. Rabbits are a real problem I even have a large Lab but she barks before she get to them so that they can run away and they know it.

 

[CajunDixie]

Someone once told me about using hot pepper or Tabsco sauce to keep rabbits out.

 

[evilqueenfan]

Just wanted to report back that we planted new plants and put the rubber snakes in the garden . We have not had a plant touched since. Keeping our fingers crossed!