rabbits and squirrels

[iluvorchids]

Boy, am I getting frustrated!

The rabbits that are coming into my backyard have eaten the heads/flowers off of my lillies. Last year they ate the young stems from my roses.

The squirrels are digging up and eating my bulbs.

What can I do

[DesertRayne]

Spray Bitter Yuck or something similar on the plants? Add fencing? Put a fake owl near the area? I remember seeing something at Home Depot or Lowes that was called something like "rabbit guard"... it was a short wire fence barrier thing you can put around the plants.

[kmarch]

Just a fortnight ago they did a nice gourmet rabbit dish on Master Chef Australia. :P I think they posted the recipe online. I can look for you if you like.

[Greybeard]

Originally Posted by kmarch

Just a fortnight ago they did a nice gourmet rabbit dish on Master Chef Australia. :P I think they posted the recipe online. I can look for you if you like.

Yumm! Wabbit stew You might try moth balls Phewww! Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't

[Daethen]

Get some REALLY hot peppers. Put them in a blender with some garlic. Add 1 gallon of water to the mash and let sit for a couple of days. Strain and spray on the plants that are affected. No more rabbits. You do have to respray after rain.

[plantloverlisa]

Sometimes there is nothing like a good barking dog! And it doesn't have to be big.

[Daethen]

We have 7 dogs that run loose on the property and I still have to spray. By the way, I use Habenero peppers seeds and all. Make sure you handle them with rubber gloves and DO NOT wipe your eyes!!! Yes, voice of experience.

[Emma Grey]

I've heard that cayenne pepper works. I bought some critter repellent at Lowe's because the squirrels were eating the buds off my miniature rose bush, and it worked.

[iluvorchids]

Lots of good ideas. I guess I'll have to make a pit stop at Home Depot.

Although the rabbit stew does sound yummy.....

[Shannara]

I vote for moth balls and cayenne pepper. A good wiff of either of those will send them running for the hills.

Shann~

[koshki]

I used to try various peppers formulas, but recently I heard (or read, can't remember) that the critters could get it in their eyes, and will scratch themselves blind to get rid of the pain. I don't like those guys eating my plants, but I don't want them to suffer either.

I have had some success with a dried blood product sprinkled in my garden. It also smells like garlic (my DH says it smells like SH**, I no longer have a problem with him digging in the garden, lol!) I do forget to reapply periodically, so wabbits come back when it doesn't smell anymore! I think it's called Deer Scram, or something like that. Not cheap.

[MelissaSE]

Originally Posted by Daethen

Get some REALLY hot peppers. Put them in a blender with some garlic. Add 1 gallon of water to the mash and let sit for a couple of days. Strain and spray on the plants that are affected. No more rabbits. You do have to respray after rain.

No squirrels here (don't know why, since I'm surrounded by woods!), but rabbits - YES! Last year I bought some rabbit repellent at Lowe's that is much like Daethen's recipe. It made my yard smell like an Italian kitchen, but it worked.

I've been meaning to get out the spray again, because this year's rabbit crop is large. I had to put wire cages around my hostas, and the rudbeckias are long gone. The darned things are so bold, they're sitting on my patio in the evening! I open the patio door occasionally and let 1 or 2 of the dogs out... they never catch the bratty rabbits, but at least they put the fear of God in 'em!