Tips to keep that Wascally Wabbit out of your garden

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/05/2016 (3809 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Question: Do you have any solutions to control rabbits from destroying my raspberry plants? I’ve thought about chicken wire but wondered if you might suggest something else. Mary

Answer: The best way to repel rabbits from chewing your shrubs is with a one metre (or higher) fence, but if that isn’t an option, perhaps you can wrap at least the trunk of the shrub with chicken wire.

When it comes to the garden, here are a few other hints to try. Surround the garden with milk jugs lined with sand. The idea is that the rabbits chew on the jugs instead of your plants. As well, suspend pairs of aluminum pie plates around plants, as the plates bang together the sound scares rabbits (this may become less effective over time).

Or sprinkle one of the following around plants or shrubs: bags of human hair (from a hair salon), bone meal, shaved pieces of Irish Spring bar soap or add turkey or cat manure in with the soil.

Homemade Rabbit Repellent: Mix 1 tbsp baby shampoo and 1 tbsp household ammonia and one quart water in a spray bottle. Spray plants every three days. Or soak corn cobs in vinegar for five minutes and then place them throughout the garden or under shrubs. Re-soak the corn cobs in vinegar after two weeks.

When planting your flower beds, mix thyme, spearmint, daffodils and/or eucalyptus in with your flowers — rabbits don’t like the smell and often won’t pass by to get to your yummy plants. Some people have had success by burying fabric softener sheets around plants. Or bury a collar cut out of a milk carton or jug around new individual plants or vegetables, to protect them. Lastly, spray plants with No Bite Tree & Plant Protector.

Question: What is the fastest way to remove permanent marker from skin? Brigette

Answer: Some people advise washing skin with shaving cream and others are convinced that drawing highlighter over the permanent marker is the answer. But in my experience the fastest fix for removing permanent marker is to wet the skin with soap and water and gently scrub with a pumice stone.

Question: Can smell be removed from a new fabric suitcase? Caryl

Answer: The smell is likely from the polymers and glue used in manufacturing the suitcase. Leave the luggage open and outside for a few days if possible. Next store the bag with lots of crumpled up newspaper and one of the following: a few drops of essential oils on a cotton ball such as tea tree oil, vanilla, lemon, etc. Or dryer sheets or fresh coffee grounds inside of a sock closed with an elastic band. Even without treatment, the smell may disappear over time.

2016 Gardening Hacks

After I heard that many garden pests don’t like the smell of lemons I used the information to my advantage. In the spring I cut lemons in half and scoop out the insides. I then plant seedlings inside of each lemon half. I plant the lemons directly into the ground. Extra tip: use the lemon pulp to make lemonade.

— Maurice

I always store my gardening tools in a bucket of sand. This prevents rust from forming on the metal.

— Len

Note: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of any suggestions in this column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.

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