| Not much. Some gardeners swear that marigolds, garlic and onions keep bunnies out of their gardens, but your mileage may vary. There are a number of animal repellent sprays that can help deter rabbits from eating the flowers. Try 'Get Away' or 'Deer Away' available in your garden center. 'Deer Away' is efffective and lasts 7-10 days without washing off. Natural scent repellents such as coyote and fox urine are also available. Fencing is the most effective. A 1" chicken wire fence needs to be 2 feet high and buried at least 6 inches deep around your flowers. Or, you can make your own animal repellent mixture by mixing a few teaspoons of cayenne pepper, and a dash of soap in a quart of water. Spray on the plants you want to protect. Once the growth is a few weeks old, the rabbits shouldn't be interested anymore. You can try to scare rabbits from your garden by burying empty pop bottles with the tops poking up a few inches above the ground. The eerie whistle that results when the wind blows can scare them away. Sprinkling blood meal, ground hot peppers or human or dog hair around plants is also sometimes effective. Best wishes with your garden! |
