New allotmenteer with rabbit problems.

Just taken on a new plot, Now we have a rabbit problem, are there any non rabbit plants? How should I protect against Rabbits with netting and or chicken wire please.

 

BCTV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers ) have guidance on rabbit proof fencing published on the web (I use it), of for a look around for it .......................

But basically it's 900mm high chicken mesh (25mm - young rabbits will get through larger so called 'rabbit mesh' which is for runs containing adult rabbits), with the bottom 150mm turned outwards (the rabbits try & burrow right up against the vertical fence). Burying the horizontal bit 25mm below the surface will assist mowing/strimming, and on the subject of strimming don't get too close or you'll split it open and let them through.

And there's no such thing as a non-rabbit plant. Even if they don't actually eat it, they will either scratch it up, or decide to burrow in the ground where it's growing.

 

I see rabbit fencing is very expensive. I hope it will be worth it.

I will have to burrow the money off me mum

 

Rabbits are small furry demons that destroy your plants for the hell of it, and leave the bust up, uneaten bits all around for you to view, as a way of taunting you.

However, I've had success with the rabbit fencing.

As for rabbit proof plants, I've discovered they don't touch potatoes plants, and they completely ignore Foxglove. The latter is of course not a food crop, but you could grow it around your perimiter, just your side of the rabbit fencing. It might act as a deterrent.

 

Cheaper than "no plants" though :(

Works out about £1 per Metre run.

 

A few years ago a rabbit got though my fencing whilst I was away fishing for a few days and I got a 'phone call from Mrs Scrungee about a rabbit that had got into the potato patch and dug a bloomin great burrow underneath them with the intention of rearing her brood in there. I gave her the necessary instructions on how to keep things 'under control' until I got back a day or so later and dealt with the matter permanently.

This was within the small bed of potatoes that I was growing for 'size', and all my efforts could have been easily destroyed. Even if rabbits don't destroy a crop they will nibble & chew and spoil it.

 

Do you like Rabbit pie?

 

I don't eat meat (other than fish), but I know a dog that loves rabbit and several red kites that like the leftovers (but I wish they wouldn't drop the bones from the top of the tree onto my car in the shade below).

 

I thought I made a post somewhere on GC about this..I must be mistaken as I cannot find it now. But here is part of my rabbit defence at my plot. So far no sign of them getting in as yet and they are VERY active on other peoples plots!

Fencing | The Nook

Steve...

 

my rabbit fence

Seems to work ok, occasional bayy squishes in somewhere but mostly protected.

 

The thread on using a flame gun on weeds over germinating carrot seeds reminded me of something to do with rabbit fencing.

I've always been told that when the grass, etc. grows up either side of the galvanised mesh, don't be tempted to try and remove it with a flame gun or it will 'burn off' the zinc coating and corrode.

 

we had a terrible problem with rabbits, for years would put in about 4 lots of brassicas and still didn't get a cabbage or sprout out of it. We even put the chicken wire around the perimeter fence, 6 inches into the groud but the little blighters always found a way in.

This year we protected all of our young plants with nets over hoops and so far so good.

Also protects them from crows and pigeons too which were another nightmare.

But the garlic, leeks, onions and potatoes were never touched.