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Using rabbit proof plants around your home or garden will help deter hungry rabbits and deer from turning your hard work and money into an all you can eat salad bar.
I love to watch rabbits and deer as they roam around our property.
However, I like to watch them from a distance.
As they begin to gravitate towards our plants, shrubs or vegetable garden I know they only have one thing in mind........food!
Chances are if you like to garden, you've fallen victim to a hungry animal.
Besides choosing plants that rabbits find unappealing, you should also consider rabbit repellents, fencing and even traps to help control the population.
The plants that rabbits or deer choose to eat depends on several different factors.
Climate, rainfall and the age of the plant can change an animals food preference.
As a general rule, this list gives several examples of plants that rabbits find less appetizing, therefor they have a reduced possibility of being eaten.
Agave Alyssum Artemisia Aster Balsam Beard Tongue Bee Balm Begonia Blackfoot Daisy Blanket Flower Bleeding Heart Blue Fescue California Fuchsia California Poppy Candytuft Catnip Centaurea Columbine Coreopsis Cranesbill Crocus Crown-Pink Daffodil Dahlia Daylily Dead Nettle Snapdragons Swan River Daisy Sweet Violet |
Euphorbia False Spiraea Feather Grass Ferns Fleabane Forget-Me-Not Gloriosa Daisy Herbs (Not Including Basil) Iris Lamb's Ears Merigolds Moss Pink Naked Lady Oregano Oriental Poppy Pincushion Flower Pink Sea Thrift Red-Hot Poker Santolina Saxifrage Serbian Beltflower Snow-In-Summer Speedwell Squill Straw Flower Thyme Verbena Yarrow |
Artichokes Asparagus Cucumbers Egg Plants Onions |
Potatoes Pumpkin Squash Tomatoes |
Bamboo Barberry Boxwood Butterfly Bush Brittlebush Cotoneaster Chuparosa Cinquefoil Currant Dalea Daphne Fairy Duster Firethorn Flowering Quince Glossy Abelia Heavenly Bamboo |
Holly Jojoba Juniper Kerria Japonica Lantana lavender Leucophyllum Lilac Littleleaf Cordia Manzanita Oregon Grape Rosemary Sage Sumac Turpentine Bush Viburnum |
When it comes to planting flowers, shrubs or a vegetable garden, a rabbit or deer will eat just about anything if it's hungry enough.
However, choosing some rabbit proof plants from the options above will significantly decrease the amount of wildlife damage you experience around your home.
Remember, simply planting things that rabbits avoid may not be enough to completely protect your lawn or garden.
For the best results, use additional precautions like rabbit repellents or a rabbit proof fence.