Rabbits thrive in the landscapes humans provide for them. Attracted to open grassy spaces with lots of greenery to eat and shrubs to hide under, they find our yards to be the perfect habitats.
However, this relationship is not mutually beneficial as rabbits destroy Utah gardens by eating flowers and vegetables throughout the spring and summer and then gnawing on evergreen bushes and shrubs in the fall and winter.
Their sharp teeth leave clean cuts on garden plants like bypass pruners at a 45-degree angle, and their tiny, round, brown and green droppings cover the ground. Rabbits multiply quickly, with two to six litters per season, and as their populations swell, they become less easily deterred by so-called rabbit-resistant plants.
Hope is not lost, however. According to a recent article from Cedar City News, there are many things you can do this season to help protect your landscape and garden from the ravages of hungry rabbits.
As a small prey species, rabbits always need shelter to protect themselves from predators, so removing hiding places such as wood or stone piles and unkempt brush patches discourages them from using your yard as a frequent hang-out spot.
You can also lure rabbits away from eating your valued flowers, vegetables and shrubs by providing alternative food sources. Leaving some leafy weeds growing in your yard or large patches of clover in your lawn grass gives them other meal options.
Fences can be an effective way to keep rabbits from entering your yard in the first place if it is installed correctly. To prevent rabbits from entering, a fence must be at least three feet tall and have the bottom few inches buried to discourage them from digging underneath. Any gaps or openings in the fence or its gates must be smaller than one inch wide to prevent rabbits from squeezing through.
For gardeners concerned about their young trees and shrubs, installing four-foot-tall cylinders of hardware cloth around the bases of trunks can help prevent rabbits from gnawing on them. Make sure to place the fabric several inches away from the trunk and bury the bottom few inches.
Repellents are another option that can feel less obtrusive and more practical for many gardeners. It is best to select a product labeled explicitly for rabbit control and preferably an organic option like Plantskydd. This type of repellent uses odors unappealing to rabbits and is most effective when applied before rabbits have begun feeding on your garden.
Whatever combination of methods you choose, the backyard battle with bunnies need not always be a losing one. Consistently monitor your plants and the effects of your protective measures, and the health of your garden is sure to improve.
Author: Emily Walters
Editor: Chevy Blackburn
Photo courtesy of Gary Bendig
outdoors@suunews.net
