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Garden Gate:  Rabbit invasion  |
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Cindy Lou
True Blue Farmgirl
2325 Posts
Susan
Lonsdale
MN
USA
2325 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 22 2013 : 12:50:15 PM
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We have been working on setting up an orchard of dwarf fruit trees for about 5 years, trying heirloom and unique varieties of apples, peaches, plums, cherries, pears. It's been slow, adding some each year and when we checked last week all seemed to be well. Then 2 days ago the rabbits found 5 of our apple trees, hard to get varieties. Our yard and garden are surrounded by over 10 acres of woods, you would think they could find enough twigs there, but they apparently LOVE apple bark.It looks like those will be a complete loss, unless something can come from the roots.
We have 2 dogs, but keep them in at night because coyotes have been in the area, so the rabbits are taking advantage of the situation.
Susan
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Mary Oliver |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Feb 22 2013 : 1:45:38 PM
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The mice and voles do that around here there burrow under the snow and eat the bark under the snow when the tree awakes in the spring it dies.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Feb 22 2013 : 2:53:11 PM
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Sorry for the damage, Susan. Maybe your local county agent could help or give you some ideas. Keep us posted.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Feb 23 2013 : 06:28:42 AM
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They do love apple bark. We have that plastic shield stuff around the trunks of the apple trees and if my dogs aren't out I put down dog hair around the base of the trunks.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
I am trying to be the person my dogs think I am.
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2013 : 6:17:08 PM
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Absolutely bunnies love apple bark - we buy it as a treat for our 2 resident house rabbits.
One thing to try that keeps the bunnies out of our garden:
Use fresh rabbit manure from MALE rabbits. Rabbits are very very very territorial, and if something is scent-marked, it's more likely to not get disturbed.
Both of our buns are boys, so we just use what comes from the litterbox. See if you can find a rabbit owner/breeder near you, and ask if you can take their "bunny beans" off their hands.
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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magnoliakathy
True Blue Farmgirl
453 Posts
Kathryn
Magnolia
Texas
USA
453 Posts |
Posted - Mar 15 2013 : 11:48:24 AM
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We have deer problems and use one of those motion-sensor, battery-operated water sprinklers, DH moves it every two or three days. This weekend he will be putting up a motion-sensor security light on the well house, all of out fruit trees are planted in that area.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
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Lyndell
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Leah
Richwood
Ohio
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - Mar 18 2013 : 3:54:18 PM
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We have to use tree tubes to protect our trees, otherwise they are absolutely destroyed by rabbits. We've had many a young tree gnawed to death by bunnies. Now we put tubes on all our baby trees until they're well established. Unfortunately, rabbit season here is not the season when they're most active... and they're not considered a pest by our county laws, so it's technically illegal to hunt them out of season. You'll have to check your local laws if you're thinking of going that route.
http://foxgloveandfolksongs.blogspot.com
Farmgirl Sister #4236 |
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Cindy Lou
True Blue Farmgirl
2325 Posts
Susan
Lonsdale
MN
USA
2325 Posts |
Posted - Mar 18 2013 : 7:53:28 PM
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Thanks for the suggestions. My neighbor and another friend have rabbits, don't know if any are bucks, but I can check. My daughter only has does. They sure help keep the rest of our garden fertile.
Susan
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Mary Oliver |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Mar 18 2013 : 8:29:24 PM
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Susan, we have a Japanese plum tree and I have seen two raccoons eating the fruit. They come during the night hours and have their own buffet! I keep cutting the branches higher, I think that is helping. Now, at least, we have fruit on the higher limbs.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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Garden Gate: Rabbit invasion |
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Rabbit invasion
