As the warmth of spring and summer arrives, who doesn’t look forward to spending time in their garden amongst lush greenery and vibrant flowers? Unfortunately, one major obstacle when it comes to keeping a healthy garden is dealing with those pesky critters. Rabbits have become renowned for nibbling on plants — including hostas! To help you combat these furry intruders from gobbling up your precious vegetation, we created this blog post full of helpful tips on protecting them from rabbits!
How to Keep Rabbits From Eating Hostas?
If hopping bunnies are snacking on your prized hostas, you could be feeling overwhelmed. But never fear – there are multiple approaches to protect your greenery from the greedy rabbit’s teeth!
If you want to protect your hostas from pesky rabbits, the most effective approach is fencing them off. Not only will this prevent bunnies from munching on plants and flowers, but it’ll also keep other wild animals out! If putting up a fence around your entire garden isn’t feasible, consider surrounding just the area where your beloved hostas are growing. With this protective barrier in place, they can flourish without any disturbance!
If you want to defend your hostas from rabbits, a rabbit repellent can be an effective solution. A vast array of different products exist on the market that will keep them away; all you have to do is find one that actually works! But don’t forget to read and adhere strictly to the instructions given on these product labels — some of them might cause harm if misused.
What Are Hosta Plants?
Hostas – a type of gorgeous flowering perennial native to Asia and eastern Russia – are the perfect way to add color and texture to your landscape. These magnificent plants offer lush, heart-shaped leaves that can grow up to two feet tall in a variety of colors such as white, green, blue, or purple. Hostas make for an eye-catching addition to any garden!
Why Do Rabbits Like Hostas?
Did you know that Hostas – formerly known as Plantain Lily, is a fragrant herb with vibrant flowers grown in countries like Korea, Russia’s Far East China, and Japan? These giant green leaves come in ten distinct hues, so it doesn’t surprise us that rabbits find them appealing. While this flower may be edible for humans, animals should not consume it due to the presence of an alkaloid chemical that causes vomiting or diarrhea. Surprisingly though, even with its delicate stomach; rabbit stomachs are unaffected by this plant!
Do Rabbits Eat Hostas?
Rabbits can devour any kind of hosta they encounter, no matter what type you planted. I have tried several different varieties and all were decimated by the rabbits when they arrived – which is indicative that there was nothing special about them. Some may believe that the bunnies are looking for a certain species, but this has not been my experience.
How Do Rabbits Damage Hostas?
The severity of the damage caused by rabbits is dependent on how severe your infestation was. Although one rabbit may not cause much harm in a matter of minutes, when left to their own devices for only a few hours, it can quickly destroy plants and vegetation. Your new hostas will be devoured from the edges until it looks marred – often eating through newly sprouted leaves with no hesitation or mercy. Not even flowers are safe from these critters as they consume them just as readily!
Decoy Animals
Due to their timid nature, the rabbits tend to be apprehensive of predators that enter their domain. Fortunately for us, our people are not able to differentiate between a real and an artificial animal. As such, they will never risk putting any actual creatures into the environment. However, fake snakes may be scattered around your hosts just as a precautionary measure so no one gets startled or scared away by something unexpected.
Similarly, fake owls have excellent opportunities. You have the option of purchasing decoy birds for the hostess. Maybe you can put it in the middle of the stump. They can stay stationary and motion-activated, and they may emit more realistic sounds if a motion trigger is triggered.
Rabbit Repellent
You can deter rabbits from eating your hostas by using a repellent in granular, liquid, or pellet form. But why not craft your own rabbit repellent at home? All you need are some cayenne pepper, garlic cloves, Salt, chili peppers, eucalyptus oil, or even garlic plants! Alternatively use Liquid Fence Deer to keep these pesky critters away from young gardens and hostas alike. Rabbits simply don’t dig the smell of this stuff so it’s an easy win for us gardeners!
Ultrasonics
Not only can this device be beneficial to those familiar with cats and dogs, but it is even effective for those who are not. This innovative tool emits a high-frequency sound that cannot be perceived by human eyes, making it the perfect solution for keeping pesky rabbits away from your garden. It has a range of up to 12 meters and requires very little maintenance – simply an AC-powered converter or battery power! Its slim profile allows you to place the device directly in the soil near plants without disrupting aesthetics; if desired, multiple devices can be placed around them as a form of perimeter defense.
Rotten Eggs
Keep your hostas safe from pesky rabbits by utilizing the strong smell of rotten eggs! Place them at the base of each plant, or mix into around its soil. For maximum effectiveness, be sure to check on these smelly deterrents every couple of days and replace them as necessary.
Garlic Powder
Do rabbits have an affinity for your hostas? Try sprinkling garlic powder around the plants, which will leave a strong odor that repels the furry critters. Keep in mind though, you’ll need to reapply the powder after it rains or if you water them. In no time at all, your garden should be free of pesky rabbits!
Chicken Wire
To ensure that your hostas remain safe from rabbits, you must take the necessary precaution of protecting them with chicken wire. This fencing should be installed around each plant and buried a few inches into the ground to prevent any potential digging by these furry pests. By doing so, not only will your plants be protected against damage but also kept out of reach altogether!
To ensure that rabbits won’t have a chance to munch on your precious hostas and other plants, be sure the chicken wire you install is tall enough so they can’t jump over it. Chicken wire provides an affordable solution for protecting your garden from pesky critters – check out any local hardware store for more information!
If you’re struggling with pesky rabbits harming your garden, the chicken wire may be the solution for you. It is a proven defense against damage from these furry critters, helping to keep hostas and other plants safe. Don’t hesitate; chicken wire could be the answer to all of your rabbit problems – so consider it and ensure that your beloved garden remains intact!
Animals
Animals can be a powerful deterrent for rabbits. Cats, in particular, might patrol your grounds and hang around the porch – scaring off any unwelcome visitors with their presence alone. Dogs will also deter rabbits from intruding; thanks to their natural scent that is spread throughout gardens, as well as their loud barks when they spot something out of place. Not only are animals an effective way to protect your prized plants from nibbling rabbit guests, but having them around provides humans with peace of mind too!
Plant Cages
If you’re looking for a reliable way to keep your plants safe, consider using plant coops. I found success in repurposing old bird cages; the bottom was easily removed and then the cage itself fit perfectly over my host! Sunlight penetrated through but it still provided enough of a barrier that rabbits wouldn’t be able to bite into it. The shape is oval and measures around 3.5-4 ft., with four spikes securing it on top of its host – so when they attempt an intrusion, they’ll find themselves stuck inside!
Row or Netting Cover
Protect your precious garden from hungry rabbits with a sturdy wire mesh! Build hoops out of the wire so that they can easily fit around existing wooden structures, or create cylindrical shapes to place over hosts. To ensure maximum protection for your plants, measure the circumference of each hosta and craft corresponding wooden frames accordingly. Finally, tie the mesh securely to both the frame and sides—so even if those pesky bunnies manage to jump in, you’ll be sure they won’t make it back out again!
Fencing
When constructing a fence to keep rabbits away, ensure that it is at least five feet tall and made of strong metal posts securely attached to the ground. If possible, sink the top portion below the surface level so as not to be targeted by rabbit trawlers. Place your fencing ten feet away from hosta patches in order to provide an adequate buffer zone for added protection from these pesky critters.
Electric Fencing
If you use thin wire to create more condensed fencing, it will keep rabbits from entering your property. Additionally, by adjusting the voltage of the fence high enough that any contact with it would be painful for them, they’ll quickly learn and stay away. After being exposed to an unpleasant experience once or twice, rabbits are likely to avoid future attempts at gaining access and instead look elsewhere for sustenance.
Chemical
Veterinary rabbit preventive products are usually composed of potentially hazardous substances with strong smells that can have detrimental effects if used improperly. It is thus recommended to keep children and pets away from such items at all times. This document covers some viable alternatives for those who wish to stay safe while dealing with rabbits.
Scent and Taste Deterrents
If your efforts to build a fence fail, you may need scent and flavor preventatives as well. Baby powder is an excellent option for both organic and commercial applications, but can also be used in crafting your own homemade formula using items found around the home or kitchen.
Can Irish Spring Soap Keep Rabbits Away?
It’s not surprising that gardeners have various techniques to discourage rabbits from disturbing their plants. For some, commercially manufactured repellents are the best solution while others claim homemade solutions like human hair or blood meal offer the best protection against these furry pests.
Rabbit Proof Fencing
To effectively keep rabbits out of your garden, construct a two-foot high fence around it. The mesh should have openings no bigger than an inch wide and be embedded at least six inches below the surface with its bottom edge outwardly angled 45 degrees to stop any attempts to dig underneath. When properly installed, this rabbit-proof fencing will ensure that pesky critters stay away from your beloved plants!
Final Words
Don’t let pesky rabbits destroy your beloved hostas! You can easily protect them by fencing in the garden, planting rabbit-resistant plants, or applying repellents on their leaves. With a bit of time and effort invested now, you’ll be able to enjoy beautiful blooms without worrying about any destruction caused by furry nibblers.
References:
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/protect-hostas-rabbits-deer
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/1974479/what-to-put-on-hosta-to-keep-rabbits-from-eating