[Arid_gardener] Rabbits Eating Lawn

[Mike Hills]

Madeline

Most of the repellent products and suggestions are very smelly and will
repel you as well, so you cannot enjoy your nice yard.   The other point
your "L.F. company" made is also true - the constant watering will wash away
or dilute any applied product, so you have to apply very often to get any
benefit.    Some people even apply blood meal to their gardens to repel
rabbits - organic and healthy nutrition for your garden but very smelly.

The best suggestion is to put up a barrier between your yard and the golf
course or your yard and the open areas where the rabbits are entering from.
16-20 inch tall chicken wire hung along the bottom of your fence, or check
under any gates out to the course and be sure you have no openings under the
gate wide enough for a skinny hungry rabbit.

Another suggestion that has met with some success is to plant deterrant type
plants along the boundary between your garden and where the rabbits are
entering - some of the more pungent smelling herbs such as Yarrow or
Artemisia are often used, along with rosemary, oregano, catnip, catmint and
even lavender - the smell is strong when the animals bruise or nibble or try
to sneak past the border planting, but it is not unpleasant to people - with
this strong smelling boundary, they often don't realize you have tasty grass
and other plants further in the yard and they go to your neighbors or back
out to the course to eat.   Plus you get the benefit of adding these
beautiful plants to your garden and cooking with the culinary varieties.

Other people suggest you empty a cat litter box scattered along the edge of
your property - rabbits fear cats as predators so they will often choose
another yard to enter if they encounter strong cat smell at the edge of your
property.    I've even heard good results hanging small bunches of cat or
dog hair in 2-3 inch bunches inside muslin or cheesecloth or nylon (hose)
"bags" along the edge of your property (tucked up inside shrubs) - less
smelly to us, and the same benefits of deterring the rabbits to other
non-cat houses.

Why are they eating your grass rather than the golf course?    They like to
eat in small grass patches with plenty of nearby cover from shrubs in case
they have to flee from a hunting cat, coyote, dog, etc.    The wide open
areas of a golf course make them nervous so they like eating grass in yards
where there are plenty of nearby hiding places.    You will find them on the
course eating, but it is usually near some planted areas with protective
cover.    They usually don't eat enough to harm your grass, especially if it
is bermudagrass that grows fast enough to keep ahead of their munching.

Here is a link to other details that may be helpful:
http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/t-tips/animals/rabbit.htm

You may also want to contact the Arizona Fish and Game Department or check
their website.    At gardening shows in the past they have discussed methods
to keep animal pests out of your garden and yard.

Mike Hills
University of Arizona Master Gardener, Maricopa County

  -----Original Message-----
  From: arid_gardener-bounces at CALS.arizona.edu
[mailto:arid_gardener-bounces at CALS.arizona.edu]On Behalf Of Madeline H.
  Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2004 9:48 AM
  To: arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
  Subject: [Arid_gardener] Rabbits Eating Lawn


  I have two rabbits eating my rye-grass lawn.  They do not eat the plants,
just the grass.  Any suggestions for a deterrent.  I tried Liquid Fence but
it did not work.  The L.F. company said it's because grass has a high water
content and is washed away when the sprinklers go on.  I live in a golf
course community and I don't think the rabbits are eating that grass....
Why mine???
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