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jenfren

By Jenfren

Herefordshire, United Kingdom Gb

when we moved into new house, we did wonder why there was a line of bricks under the garden gate and in gaps under the fence. We now know ! The garden is turning into a remake of watership down and there are bunnies living under the garden shed. Does anyone know of plants that would deter rabbits, or should we be borrowing a ferret,i am starting to think the veg patch will be a bit of a waste of time




Answers

 

You have a rabbit warren INSIDE your garden boundary. I would contact the RSPCA for ways of removing them and their warren. Otherwise, crueller methods would be to starve them out by wiring along your shed base, poison, etc. Is there a field at the back of your garden? Another option is to install mesh that they can get out of from under your shed and into the field, but cannot get back into? Contact RSPCA for advice - I am sure they will be very helpful.

15 Feb, 2012

 

I think it may be a case of moving the shed to see whats underneath. Yes we do have fields all round so when we have removed resident problem we will have to find ways to discourage them from returning as well as making boundary as rabbit proof as poss.

15 Feb, 2012

 

wish i had that shed in my garden, free food ,rabbit pie /stew roast ect lovely.

15 Feb, 2012

 

true but unfortunately no fresh veg to go with it lol

16 Feb, 2012

 

No plants deter rabbits - and they eat plenty that they're not "supposed" to as well. If you want to grow veg the only options are to keep a lively terrierand give it the run of the garden, and / or fence the part of the garden you want to be a kitchen garden.

You can get rabbit fencing - it's 4 foot high wire mesh. The bottom 12 or so inches will need to be buried vertically in the ground, cos, as you've noticed, they can dig holes if given enough time. You'll need to put in fence posts to hold it up as well, and a gate to get yourself in and out. Keep an eye on the borders and fill in any attempts at digging their way in that the rabbits make. It takes them a bit of time to make a burrow, so you'll have time to spot where one starts to try to get in and block the hole with rocks (if you have them).

In my experience, the gate is the weak point. I fenced a part of my garden, but last year 2 youngsters found their way in through a very small gap where the gatepost didn't quite meet the gate. It took several attempts to get them both out.

It's going to take quite a bit of work to get a suitable fence up. You'll need to dig a trench to bury the bottom of it and postholes (mine are about a metre apart), then bang in the posts, lay out the netting and attach it to the posts, refill the trench and firm the earth. Then you could start on the veg patch.

PS I'm told they MAY not eat garlic, and possibly potatoes or tomatoes.

17 Feb, 2012

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