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Our garden has been plagued by three pesky rabbits-a baby, a mama and another adult rabit. We chase them away (our neighbors hear us yelling and see us running like banchees) but alas without a fence they return. We have lost our first planting of corn and the celery has taken a bit of a chew. We tried human hair to no avail. It is an organic garden but at this point we are desperate. Any suggestions?

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What disease did cured ham actually have?

My grandfather used to buy dried chicken blood and pour it around the garden to keep them away.

Fox urine works too, a good garden shop should have it.

I was advised to use a similar product when fall bulbs are planted, since squirrels like to dig up fresh bulbs. I bought a dried bloom compound at Gethsemane. The dog loved the smell. We didn't have problems with squirrels, so perhaps the blood worked. I suspect it's also good for the soil.

I've used a pepper spray on the lower stalks of my corn plants--this is probably not cost effective, but worked for the few plants I had.

A physical barrier of some sort is the only thing that will work. Chicken wire or some sort of similar netting.

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i used to milk cows

I thought I once read that bunnies don't like marigolds. Can anyone confirm. If true, you could plant a border of marigolds.

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Ms. Ingie
Life is too short, why skip dessert?

Blood meal. Home Depot.

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Gypsy Boy

“How can a nation be called great if its bread tastes like kleenex?” (Julia Child)

Yes blood meal but it is not fail safe. they have been nibbling my peppers and my eggplant. I had to plant my swiss chard in pots to keep it away from them.

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Toria

"I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - As You Like It,
W. Shakespeare

You might also think about a motion-activated sprinkler.

http://predatorpee.com/
It ain't cheap, but it's the good stuff.

If this doesn't work, you can borrow my Alaskan Malamute. She swallows baby rabbits whole.

I don't know if Sigma Pseudo works on rabbits, but my friends generally keep their distance when I'm wearing "Formulation II."

A .22 caliber rifle works wonders.

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

The blood meal and coyote pee pee combo seems to be working-just not as much fun as some of the other suggestions.

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What disease did cured ham actually have?

I had some luck keeping bunnies away from my beets last summer by planting garlic and onions on either side of them. The beets still did not do well. I'm watering more this summer to keep things going. I soaked the garden about 2 1/2 weeks ago before I left for vacation and it seemed to be doing well upon my return, particularly the weeds! But among the weeds was a lot of purslane which is actually pretty good. Not all of that will wind up on the compost pile. I soaked it again last night and picked a bunch of stuff this morning.

While I was picking other stuff, I heard a rustling behind me and turned to see a cotton tail bolting for the shrubbery.

Hi- I don't know if I would want to eat a salad of nothing but purslane, but when I have it in my garden, I'll add it to what ever salad I am fixing. Purslane is loaded with omega 3, and is really good for you.

That's what I'm doing too.

If Fattoosh Salad's your thing- that's the magical "secret ingredient" -
so often left out of a Good Fattoush Salad!

As to the bunnies/pest problem - I'd second the "higher-up-the-Food-Chain" predator approach- quite "Organic"/natural!

Or- just go "Elmer Fudd" on 'em!

dang rabbit eat my carrot greens....

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my food shots