I guess I scared her off with the word overhaul!:eek:

Not me! Send me pictures. I can overhaul your yard Holly! ;)

Hi ladies,

What can I do about my rabbit problem? They eat practically everything that I try to grow. I know about chicken wire, (which seems to be the only way to accomplish anything) but I'd like something that looks good too. Should I just break down and get a live trap? Or is that futile? :confused:

Is this your garden or your yard? There are rabbit proof plants that you can plant around your garden to help keep them out so I need a little more information about what area you are trying to keep them out of...

If it's your garden, chicken wire over the area is a good idea. Yes, it is unsightly but what do you want, veggies or rabbits?

Rabbits can be trapped, but you will be trapping them and doing what with them? Releasing them? They will be baaack!!!!

I'm with Wiz...I'm having animal problems....only mine are deer. Now this is in my fron flower beds in front of my house so I can't go crazy with fencing LOL!

I know deer don't like smelly things...but neither do I!! Ack marigolds! I want some pretty, colorful flowers that aren't 4am deer treats!

Here is one of the websites that I use for Deer Resistant plants.

http://www.deer-resistant-plants.com/

and one for rabbits that I found from Colorado State Extension

http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/cha...0plants%20.pdf

One apple we had, we finally chopped - it just dropped all the fruit, which never ripened.

The other, we do very little with.

I'd tell you Cheryl is right - there is a lot to know about apples. But we get by with very little upkeep on the apple tree we kept.


Of course, we do get some wormy apples - but we prefer that to worrying about the effects of the spray. If you prefer to spray, you can look in the phone book for an arborist, or ask at a landscaping co near you for instructions to DIY.


Cut off 1/3 - no more! - of your tree's limbs any time now. Spring is generally a good prune time. But check with each plant type.

Cut off

Branches that are not horizontal, ones that cross (lose the weaker one) and diseased or dead ones. (If you have to keep ones that fall in any of these categories, go with the ones that hang down. At least they'll give fruit)



Don't leave any nubs - cut them all the way off t the base where they start or you only promote more bushiness.

When the tree blooms, take off the flowers as they fade, until you have one bloom per six inches of branch.

This allows each fruit to fully develope. Apples grow their nodes this year for next year's blooms. so if they have too many flowers, too many fruit, you get into a pattern of no blooms or fruit the next time - or every other year - because it does not have the energy to do it.

One time, maybe two, of bloom picking should get it back on course.

You might be surprised to find even a littl attention and light prune will pump some life into it. Ours must be older than me, neglected for decades. Came around with very little loving.

Give her a chance and if she doesn't respond, then consider the axe. I hate to lose a tree that could be good, you know?

Are you misting? If so, don't. With most plants like those water collects at the base of the leaves and causes rot. They like humidity, but only in the air around them.

Watering - they like the soil to feel dry to the touch before you water. But do water.

How long since they've been repotted? The soil may be out of nutrients, may have become contaminated. Fungus, bacteria, and pests happen even in indoor pots.

I have an easier time with outdoor plants than indoor ones because natuter takes care of all those things better than I do.

:rolleyes:

I'd probably start with a fresh bag of Hyponex, a clean pot - check to see if their current one is still large enough, and if so just wash with hot soapy water. If not, only go up one size.


Wash the roots off well too with luke warm water - just in case it is something in the soil. Heck, wash the leaves, genlty. If there are any sick looking ones, cut them off. I use a solution of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water to kill bacteria if I really think the plant is sick. Pot them up, water well.

If it's a newer problems, I'd put them back where they were. If it's an on going thing, I'd rethink where they were. Maybe the lighting isn't right, maybe it's not warm enough, too warm.

Then try to water on a schedule when the soil feels dry.

Good idea! I'm growing clematis in a container and it blooms nicely. I'm trying trumpet vine too, so I'll let you know how that goes. They get a bit bigger which may help you - since you seem like you want a larger plant.

Another one might be mornig glory. I'm not a fan, but it's an idea.

I have rabbits inside my fence, lol. So I bought an articulated wooden cobra. It scares the tar outta everybody who sees it - it's not terribly realistic, but real enough. Cost me one dollar.

:eek:

Good enough to keep the rabbits out of my veggies.

Also, I do plant stuff especially for the rabbits.

(cuz I'm cool and that's how I roll) :D

I put a few johhny jump ups in, and they think that's their personal salad bar. Those must taste better then the other stuff, because the bunnies nibble the johnnies and that's about all.


I do still have to put the lettuce in pots. But I ain't lost a pepper or tomato plant yet.


Funny thing too, the rabbits never eat the johhnies completely gone. They just nibble them down so they'll keep growing - like they know it's their crop.