Rabbit problem

I look after the landscaped areas of a large industrial unit in a semi rural setting. The local rabbit population are having a great time eating some of the existing landscaping. I want to replace this chewed over mess and create a fragrant herb garden to enliven the somewhat drab employee entrance. Can anyone tell me if the likes of Rosemary, lavender, sage and other such like fragrant plantings are likely to survive the attentions of our furry friends.

 

Hi there Kevin
Rabbits love fresh herbs..I know Lavender is not that good as it causes problems with their breeding. As a youngster I helped in a breeding farm..Lovely white fluffy cuddly bunny rabbits..for fur and meat!...Don't know if that's done anymore.
Reckon an Air rifle and a contract with your butcher would be a start.

 

Well if the herbs are going to be organic you could put up a sign "PYO ready stuffed organic rabbit"

 

I had exactly that problem when I moved into my current house - and I can tell you they'll eat EVERYTHING!!! Even things they're not meant to...... I went rght through the official lists of "rabbit-resistant plants" and no joy. They even ate the conifers here :eek:

The only thing that works is fencing the place thoroughly to keep them out. It's a highly organic method too! :D

 

Then of course you could always take out a contract with this company -

 

Hahahahaha


Shaun

 

Dave - you're repeating yourself! :D You're finally showing your age - after all 107 really is getting on a bit.....

 

Dendi - You mean you're finally having that feeling of deja-vu.
At my age I've seen it all before :D :D

You mean you're finally having that feeling of deja-vu.
At my age I've seen it all before :D :D

Lord there I go again - repeating myself.

Did I post this before or am I just imagining it. Or am I just imagining I'm imagining.

The nice lady in the lovely clean white coat says I'm doing very well for my age and that even normal people repeat things. I think it was a lady and I think she had a clean coat though I'm not really sure about the colour.

I liked her hat though.

[ 26. January 2007, 10:48 PM: Message edited by: Dave W ]

 

After that post, I would wish to be that old - fabulous :D . Anyone for marbles?

 

I would say get a fox to chase the rabbit :D :D

 

Glad it was a nice hat, Dave! Are you sure it was a hat? :rolleyes: :D

To get back on thread....

IF the rabbits are particularly hungry, they will eat pretty much anything, whatever the list of "rabbit-resistant" plants might suggest. You can plant trees, and put protectors on them, and you can try sacrificial planting, but in the long run, keeping the rabbits away from the plants is the only thing that really works.

A friend along the road takes the occasional potshot at them in his garden, but I can't a
say that's a route I would advise.... he also has some humane traps - but what do you do with the rabbit afterwards? Assuming you don't want to eat it, that is! :D

Don't know where you'd get the fox, Fancy!

 

Cant remember when Ive had such a good laugh :D

Dont know the answer to controlling the rabbits other than whats been suggested (not the fox one though!! ) I have enough trouble controlling the ones I have as pets :rolleyes: :D

 

I think basically you have a real problem. With intensive rabbit grazing anything small is out. They can also nibble off things such as shrub roses so stuff has to have a decent length of stem before it goes out and then needs a protective sleeve. i looked at a millenium wood i once helped plant and a lot of the trees have been partly ring barked by rabbit damage and the trees are over 10 feet high.
The only solution to rabbits is fencing, which is inappropriate in this situation. Shooting etc is useless, because those killed are immediately replaced - you will end up like King Canute before a deluge of bunnies. i fear you will be restricted to shrubs and trees, with bark protectors of course

 

Not all rabbits have long ears and little fluffy tails. Some rabbits look astonishingly like the common domestic cat. Do not be put off.