"Makes me wonder if there's anything rabbits truly won't nibble on?"
Haha, honestly, I'm starting to think rabbits see our gardens as all-you-can-eat buffets. I've tried gravel paths around my raised beds, and while they look great and keep weeds down, I can't say they've done much to deter the furry invaders. Mulch was even less effective—pretty sure it just made their dining experience more comfortable. Maybe someone else has had better luck? At this point, I'm considering a tiny rabbit-sized fence...
"Mulch was even less effective—pretty sure it just made their dining experience more comfortable."
Haha, yeah mulch is basically rabbit bedding with snacks included. I've found that chicken wire fencing works pretty well if you bury the bottom edge about 6 inches underground. Rabbits are persistent diggers, so shallow fences won't cut it. Also, planting garlic or onions around the perimeter seems to help a bit—they're not fans of strong smells. Still, nothing's foolproof... rabbits always seem to find a way.
I've tried garlic and onions before, but honestly, it didn't seem to make much difference for me. Maybe my rabbits have a weird tolerance or something? I swear they just hopped right past the garlic like it was nothing special. Chicken wire definitely helps, but burying it 6 inches deep sounds like a lot of extra work—especially if you're on a tight budget or short on time.
One thing I've found surprisingly effective (and cheap!) is sprinkling cayenne pepper around the plants. Rabbits really don't seem to like spicy stuff. I just buy the big generic containers at the grocery store and sprinkle it around every couple weeks or after heavy rain. It's not perfect, but it's kept most of my veggies safe so far.
Also, I've noticed rabbits seem to avoid marigolds for some reason. I planted a few around my lettuce bed last year, and they mostly left it alone. Could be coincidence, but worth a shot if you're already planting flowers anyway.
Honestly though, rabbits are crafty little things... sometimes I wonder if they're secretly plotting against us gardeners.
Glad to hear the cayenne pepper trick is working for you—I’ve recommended that to a few clients who've had similar rabbit issues, and most have reported decent results. Marigolds are another good call; I've noticed rabbits steering clear of them too. Another thing you might try is planting some lavender or sage around your veggies. Seems like rabbits aren't fans of strong-smelling herbs either. But yeah, rabbits are definitely smarter than we give them credit for... sometimes it feels like they're just waiting for us to let our guard down.
"Seems like rabbits aren't fans of strong-smelling herbs either."
Funny you mention lavender and sage—I planted lavender around my lettuce bed last year, and it actually seemed to work pretty well. But I gotta ask... has anyone had luck with mint? I hear mixed things about it. On one hand, rabbits supposedly hate the smell, but on the other, mint spreads like wildfire and can take over your garden. Curious if it's worth the risk or if I'd just be trading one problem for another...
