8d (edited) • The Garden
Reining in Rampant Rabbits Part 1.
If you live in an area that is loaded with wildlife, chances are high that you've been hit with wildlife raiding your garden. Where we are, it's the deer that come. Like thieves in the night the buggers sneak in and have a feast.
This bit of writing though, is about a much smaller threat. Rabbits. Those cute, furry, hopping little garden disasters. This post will cover three of the multiple ways to deal with these little critters: one will cost your resources, one costs money and eventually becomes useless, and another is tried, tested, and reliable. I should also remember to mention the last one is also usually cheaper in the long run.
Option #1:
The first option to deal with these furry foragers is to simply avoid planting things that rabbits eat. This is the easiest way to deal with them, but it could mean that your fall harvest is lacking things you may have wanted. If sacrificing your favourite veggie isn't an option, this one likely won't sit well with ya.
Option #2
Install an automatic deterrent like a motion alarm designed for small critters. While these work, over time, the rabbits will adapt and they will lose their punch. This usually happens as soon as the rabbits realize that even though there is noise, light, or movement, there is no danger. No danger means no need to go hungry and it will again be open season on your garden stock.
Option #3
Set up a good ol' set of fencing. This one is tried and true if it is done correctly. This fence can be made with either Chicken Wire or Hardware cloth and some five or six foot stakes. I've included a basic supplies list below.
The materials list:
Chicken wire or Hardware cloth. You'll need this to be at least 3 feet high with openings no larger than 1 inch x 1 inch.
Bamboo Poles or wood 2x2's. You'll need enough of these to place one every three or four feet all around your garden. These should also be at least 5 feet long so you can put at least 2 feet into the ground with enough left to support the Chicken wire or hardware cloth. These bamboo poles can often be found at a local Dollar type store and are less expensive than from a big box store. If you want to use 2x2's and have access to a table saw you can make these by setting the table saw to cut strips 1.5 inches wide and run through a few 2x4's or 2x6's. Just make sure that if you are repurposing lumber you remove ALL the nails. Hitting nails can wreck your saw blade and contribute to a kickback injury.
A Shovel. You'll need this to dig a trench at least 6 inches deep around your garden to bury the bottom of the chicken wire or hardware cloth. Doing this will lessen or prevent the rabbits from digging.
Some cheap tent pegs or 8 inch nails with heads. You'll need these if you choose to use the bottom bend method.
Zipties. These will help hold your chickenwire or hardware cloth in place.
I'll leave this list here for now. The step by step instructions will be posted in a part 2, so keep an eye out for that.
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Reining in Rampant Rabbits Part 1.
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