Expandable trunk protectors can help keep your trunks safe, but note-they may need to be adjusted for snow levels. They’ll often gnaw on bark, completely encircling the trunk, which can cut off the flow of water and nutrients within the plant or tree.
For larger woody shrubs and trees, rabbits can do the most damage in winter. If you have a few smaller plants that need protection, you can protect them individually with chicken wire or plant cages.
FIND THE RABBIT PHOTO HOW TO
Learn how to build a critter-resistant vegetable garden with these plans from Karen Chapman, of Le Jardinet Designs. Motion-activated sprinklers are another barrier that gardeners have used to surprise rabbits and send them running. Check your barriers often for holes or signs of nibbling. If you do this, keep in mind that rabbits are diggers, so you’ll need to dig down a little so that the chicken wire is at least 6 inches below the ground level. Use chicken wire with 1-inch mesh or smaller to create a fence around your garden or garden beds. If you’ve read Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit, you know that a picket fence isn’t going to do the trick when it comes to keeping rabbits out. Here are some humane, non-toxic ways to keep rabbits away from plants in your garden (in no particular order). The most important thing to do when addressing a rabbit problem in your garden is to start early before rabbits deem your outdoor space a great place to hang out.