Is there such a thing as SFG Rabbit Protection?
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Seems like protecting against rabbits typically takes a 2-3 foot high fence, perhaps even higher. Dug into the ground or at the very least fastened down to keep rabbits from squeezing under or digging underneath. Seems that this on a SFG would be terribly inconvenient for garden access. So what do you folks do about rabbits and other critters?
Do you perhaps make 1 foot by 1 foot wire cages, perhaps also caged over the top, to set over rabbit susceptible crops? Does anyone offer these commercially?
I found the photo after I posted this. Some of those rabbit protection devices would seem to exclude the sun, too! So I’m sharing the photo, even thought I’m not sure I completely get it.
0 thumbs up!Posted 10 months ago | Last edited 10 months ago -
I have had nothing be succesful other than rabbit fencing (has smaller openings at the bottom and bigger at the top) with bamboo stakes stuck down anywhere it is possible for the fence to be pushed under. And I have to put that fencing all around my entire area. On top of that, I have also then had to put chicken wire (36" high) all around certain beds within that enclosure to make sure.
The unfortunate thing is that rabbits, in one night, can destroy your average square foot garden. Younger rabbits can even squeeze past chicken wire.
Any fencing must be metal as rabbits are notorious for chewing right through plastic fencings.
I’ve heard spreading blood meal as an organic fertilizer can deter some animals, but I’ve not tried the stuff myself as it stinks something awful and while it may scare away a rabbit or two it can also attract stray dogs who can no doubt put an end to a garden when they think there is something worth diggig up.
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0 thumbs up!Posted 10 months ago
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I talked to Cory at The Catbird Seat again today about my 500% frustration with the rabbits eating all of my green beans repeatedly.
He had some Squirrel-Away type Capsicum Pepper stuff in the bird feeder department. It was labeled for bird seed to give the squirrels a really bad taste – but it also mentioned spraying onto vegetables to deter rabbits. He suggested I blend up a mixture of those really hot peppers, some eggs, and some garlic. Spray it on liberally onto the bean plants. Repeat the spraying as they grow, and after each rain. I bought some garlic and will try it when my next planting of beans sprouts.
I also have one of those nice catch them live and release them somewhere else rabbit traps. Lately I’ve tried baiting it with Lettuce, apples, and with green beans. But no takers since very early this spring. Cory suggested I put some rabbit droppings in as bait. He showed me in his sod for sale how to identify the droppings and a plastic bag to take them home with me. I picked up some, washed my hands afterwards, and will try them as bait. Makes sense that rabbits mark their territory like dogs do, and some droppings from other rabbits could be very interesting to them. On the way home it occurred to me that if I got to the local PetCo or similar pet store, they probably have LOTS of rabbit droppings, and fresh ones at that. I’ll report back if they make better bait than what I’ve been using and having no luck with lately.
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0 thumbs up!Posted 8 months ago | Last edited 8 months ago
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I saw this on the Mother Earth News website & I thought of you, so I saved it. maybe this will help some with rabbits and a few other pests. Hope it helps.
However, the main danger to your carrot crop will not be insects and diseases, but such larger pests as deer, gophers, ground hogs and rabbits. A good fence or dog is your best defense against these animals. Pouches of dog hair or human hair, or bars of soap hung around the garden, can also act as deterrents to deer. Rabbits are said to be turned back by sprinkling wood ashes, garlic powder, chili powder, ground red pepper or talcum powder about the bed. (Replenish after rains.) Ground hogs usually have to be shot or trapped, but you can also plant onions and garlic around their burrows or lure them away from the garden with plots of alfalfa or clover, their favorite foods. Plant castor bean or mole plants to deter gophers—but not if small children ate around, since these are poisonous. You can also spray a mixture of one tablespoon of castor oil and one tablespoon of liquid detergent to a gallon of water on the ground and plants, use baited traps, or put chili and garlic powder in the tunnels every week.
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1 thumbs up!Posted 8 months ago
Hi there! You're reading a conversation in the Square Foot Gardening group on Folia.
This group is for everyone who uses Mel Bartholomew’s Square Foot Gardening (SFG) method, or a variant of it. Tell us about your garden set up, your dirt (do you use Mel’s Mix?), your grid, your plants, how you water — we want to know all about how you use Mel’s methods in your garden.
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