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Keeping Deer and Rabbits Away: Protecting Your Plants from Pesky Critters
If you're a gardener, there is nothing more disheartening than watching deer and rabbits savagely devour your hard-grown plants. Although they seem adorable, they can be extremely destructive to your fruit trees, shrubs, and other garden plants. Luckily, there are a few ways to keep these pests away from your garden and protect your plants.
Why Deer and Rabbits are Crazy About Your Garden
Deer and rabbits are infamous for their love of tender young plants, especially veggies and fruits. They especially love fruit trees and berry bushes. They can and will obliterate a garden and leave nothing but a devastated landscape for the gardener. Defending these plants will take sevreal tactics, including physical barriers, and other various deterants.
Chicken Wire.
Probably the best way to protect your bushes and trees from rabbits is wrapping the plants with chicken wire. Since rabbits can’t climb, wrapping the chicken wire around the bottom of your fruit trees and bushes will be helpful. You will have to bury the chicken wire a few inches under ground level, so rabbits cannot tunnel under the bottom.
With smaller fruit bushes, you can just wrap the entire plants in chicken wire and use the same method to protect small bushes from deer. For larger trees, using chicken wire or another one of deer-proof materials will fence in a physical barrier that deer cannot jump or chew through.
Using Your Dog as a Guard
Your dog helps you more than just having fun since he can help keep deer and rabbits away from your garden. When dogs bark at something that they do not know, as a predator, they can scare off any deer. If you let your dog hang out by the garden, it can keep deer away. From a distance, rabbits and deer can be discouraged from coming nearby by the smell of a predator and of course, the barking.
Spray Repellents to Deter Deer and Rabbits
You may have to use a spray device that gives off a scent that rabbits and deer really do not like. Things like garlic, peppers, or critter urine are common in animal repellents. Keeps in mind you do have to keep relining it. Protect your efforts since rabbits really are determined at times and it can be really annoying.
Another thing you could do yourself at home, is you could spray your plants with a combination of water and dish soap, this will make the plants unsuitable for the deer and rabbits. But, be safe and don't ruin your plants with these home remedies. Make sure to do a trial run, and test the home remedy on a small area of the plants before you spray the whole thing.
Fencing and Noise Makers
Another good way to keep the deer and rabbits out of your garden, is to consider putting up a fence. A good fence that is around 8 foot tall, is a good fence to keep deer out, as deer are poor jumpers and don't do well with jumping over other animals. But you do need to make sure the fence has a secured bottom lining, as rabbits can jump over and run through small openings. You could use a shocking type of fence for extra protection as well.
Noise making products are good for these types of situations as well, products like wind chimes, strips of aluminum foil, or even just hanging tin cans can be good for keeping noise up. This type of sound or activity is good for keeping deer and rabbits out, as they are naturally attentive to and protective over changes in the area and other obstacles.
Using Mothballs to Deter Deer and Rabbits
For a low-cost method of protecting your plants, try mothballs. The smell of mothballs is very offensive to rabbits and deer. Just remember to put them where kids and pets can’t reach them, since mothballs can be toxic if eaten. This method is especially good for smaller areas, or places that would be very difficult to cover with chicken wire.
Marigolds for a Natural Deterrent
For plants that deter deer and rabbits, there are also marigolds. These flowers have a particular scent that is known to repel a number of pests, deer and rabbits included. Planting marigolds around the at risk plants or on the edge of your garden will help provide a natural barrier. Marigolds are very prolific, so they will help keep pest at bay for the remainder of the growing season. They also are easy to grow, so they are a good addition to any garden.
Thoughts on Keeping Deer and Rabbits Away
Keeping the deer and rabbits away from your garden takes dedication and different methods. You can use chicken wire. Have your dog on garden patrol, or plant marigolds, which pests dislike, to help protect your garden. Don’t forget to apply the repellents regularly and put up frightening devices to help ensure your garden stays pest free.
Keep TN Nursery in Mind
If you are looking for additional advice, or other types of pest resistant and beautiful plants for your garden, TN Nursery is the perfect place. We can help you with many types of gardening options and help you to have a thriving and defended garden.
FAQs
What is the 3-3-3 rule for rabbits?
The three, three, three rule is a way of managing the rabbits in your garden. You plant three different types of plants for rabbits to eat, and build three different sorts of shelter for them and have a water source. This rule gives rabbits a space so they will not bother you or your garden.
What is the best deterrent for rabbits and deer?
The most effective means of deterring rabbits and deer depends on the circumstances. However, some effective solutions include chicken wire, natural repellents such as garlic and hot pepper spray, and pest-repelling plants marigolds and other. Fencing as well as noisemakers are also a effective methods of keeping both animals at bay.
Do marigolds keep deer and rabbits away?
Yes, marigolds are known to deter deer and rabbits because of their strong scent. These flowers can serve as a natural barrier for your plants and garden. If you plant marigolds around the outside of your garden or around the plants most threatened, it can really help keep these pests down.
What smell do deer hate the most?
Deer have a particular sensitivity to strong odor and there are several that they find very off-putting. Garlic, hot pepper, urine of a predator, and even human hair are some of the more effective of these deterrents. These odors are useful in the form of garden sprays for keeping deer away or just setting around the garden.
Can rabbits survive on hay alone?
The rabbits can eat hay alone in the long term. Hay is the most important food for a rabbit's diet. A rabbit's diet includes hay, fresh vegetables, fruits, and a small amount of protein. An adequate diet is important for the rabbit's long term.
What is the white rabbit rule?
The white rabbit rule is a principle of controlling the number of rabbits in the garden or in the field. It is recommended that if one rabbit is identified, it means there is a great number of rabbits that can also be nearby. Rabbits are social so seeing one rabbit could be a sign of a bigger problem in terms of controlling the number in order to avoid destroying the vegetation in the field or garden.
