Q. I plan on planting an herb garden in the spring but
have rabbits in the neighborhood. Which herbs would be most rabbit resident?
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| You can see the chicken wire on the outside of these vegetable beds. The chicken wire is supported with posts about 6 feet apart. |
A. The University of Arizona has a publication on rabbit
and deer resistant plants but they are all landscape plants, not vegetables and
herbs.
and deer resistant plants but they are all landscape plants, not vegetables and
herbs.
I have been growing vegetables and herbs near the desert
for about twenty years. I have both jackrabbits and desert cottontails to fight
with. The most effective way of controlling these plants from both of these varmints
is a 2-foot-tall, 1 inch hexagon chicken wire as fencing around the beds. In
other words, exclude them from the growing area.
for about twenty years. I have both jackrabbits and desert cottontails to fight
with. The most effective way of controlling these plants from both of these varmints
is a 2-foot-tall, 1 inch hexagon chicken wire as fencing around the beds. In
other words, exclude them from the growing area.
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| Basil growing in raised beds surrounded by chicken wire for rabbit protection. |
Barry the bottom edge of the fencing about an inch below
the dirt so they can’t get their nose under it. I keep fencing pretty tight. I
have seen baby cottontails squeeze through the 1-inch hexagon holes at a dead
run when they are very young. Sometimes these young bunnies hide in these beds,
get fat and can’t get out.
the dirt so they can’t get their nose under it. I keep fencing pretty tight. I
have seen baby cottontails squeeze through the 1-inch hexagon holes at a dead
run when they are very young. Sometimes these young bunnies hide in these beds,
get fat and can’t get out.
Personally, I would not rely on a list of so-called rabbit
resistant plants unless there are lots of other plants for these varmints to
choose from. I have found that if they get hungry, they will eat things they
normally wouldn’t.
resistant plants unless there are lots of other plants for these varmints to
choose from. I have found that if they get hungry, they will eat things they
normally wouldn’t.
Rabbit resistant plants
work as long as rabbits have food alternatives. So, what you’re doing is
forcing rabbits to go to your neighbors and avoid yours because they don’t like
yours as much.