I "resolved" my deer problem with acephate systemic spray. May help with the rabbit issue.
I should say I don't have a lot of deer pressure on my plants, just a few that pass through. Mothers bring fawns through, then somehow the fawns inherit the territory. I'm on the 3rd or 4th generation.
I had bought the systemic originally for my Adeniums. Soapy water tends to kill the leaves and buds of Adeniums, presumably at least partly because the soap tends to keep the leaves/buds wet, a no-no with Adeniums. The acephate solution is absorbed and dries quickly, so doesn't damage the plant, but gets all the aphids, scale, etc., even the ones I don't know about.
Here is one link. $16.79 for 1-lb of 97% dry product with free shipping from this company. This will last you "forever". I have used this company several times and am always pleased. There are a number of other companies that offer 97% acephate/Orthene, some of which are a bit cheaper. I have no experience with the others, and the shipping may not be free, but there are numerous sources.
I discovered the deer repellent advantage by accident. A few of my Ti plants had been infested with scale insects, so I sprayed a couple times a week or two apart. At some point I noticed that the deer were munching on plants nearby, but not on these particular Ti plants, which previously had been among their favorites.
Since then, I have used it freely on numerous non-blooming plants and seedlings. The deer have stopped bothering these plants. I don't spray often, maybe only every 4-6 weeks, but apparently the deer can smell the residual insecticide as long as it lasts.
WARNING!!!! Please, if you choose to use a systemic insecticide, please, please, please use it responsibly!
Do not spray blooming plants likely to be visited by bees, butterflys, or hummingbirds, or plants grown as forage for caterpillars or humans. Supposedly acephate is relatively safe for hummers, but I don't trust to that. Apparently acephate in the sap does enter the nectar.
It seems most plants that are deer resistant are also rabbit resistant, so it is worth considering.
Ron
