We had a similar bunny issue, but honestly, fencing things off isn't always the best solution. It might seem practical at first, but visually it can break up your yard and make the space feel smaller and less inviting. Instead of fencing, we ended up planting some sacrificial plants—things rabbits really love—in a corner away from our main flower beds and veggies. It sounds counterintuitive, I know, but it worked surprisingly well. The rabbits mostly stuck to their "buffet corner," leaving the rest of our garden alone (mostly...). Plus, keeping an open yard design just feels more welcoming and cohesive overall. Might be worth considering before you give up on clover entirely.
We tried something similar with the sacrificial plants idea, but the rabbits still wandered over to our main garden beds pretty often. Maybe our rabbits were just extra stubborn or adventurous? Eventually, we compromised and put up some low, decorative edging—not a full fence, just enough to discourage casual nibbling. It doesn't visually break things up too badly, and it seems to have helped. I do agree though, a fully fenced-off area can really shrink the feel of your yard. Might experiment again next season with different plants...maybe we just haven't found their favorite snack yet.
We've had similar rabbit challenges here—those little guys are surprisingly persistent. Decorative edging sounds like a smart compromise, especially if you're trying to keep the yard feeling open. We ended up mixing in some marigolds and lavender around the veggies, and it seemed to discourage them a bit...though I swear some rabbits develop a taste for anything eventually. Good luck experimenting next season, sometimes it's just trial and error until you hit on the right combo.
"though I swear some rabbits develop a taste for anything eventually."
Haha, tell me about it...I once planted a whole row of supposedly rabbit-proof herbs, and the next morning found them neatly trimmed down to stubs. Decorative edging is a solid idea—keeps things tidy without feeling boxed in. I've also had luck with raised beds; rabbits seem less inclined to climb if there's easier pickings elsewhere. But honestly, sometimes it feels like we're just providing them with a gourmet buffet!
I'm right there with you on raised beds—they've saved me more than a few headaches. Last summer, though, I tried surrounding my veggie patch with marigolds, since I'd read rabbits don't like the smell. It worked for maybe a week...then they apparently decided marigolds were tasty appetizers too. Makes me wonder if there's anything rabbits truly won't nibble on? Maybe it's just a matter of trial and error until we stumble upon the magic combo. Speaking of garden setups, has anyone tried gravel or mulch pathways to deter critters? Curious if that's had any effect.
