A floppy-eared family ate every single leaf (except for A La Mode) on 35 dahlias planted in a bed. There are new stems on the way in most nodes so I’m optimistic they’ll bounce back. I may not get flowers on some A/AA, but hopefully the plants will still be able to make tubers.
Besides hasenpfeffer stew and elaborate fencing, does anyone have effective rabbit control methods? The plants just need to grow tall enough that the rabbits cease to be a problem.
KitCMC aaaargh! I have so many rabbit issues, but not in my dahlia garden, which is fenced, within another fence, with my dog hanging out between the two fences. Ideal!
But in the rest of my yard, I use a few different methods to foil the bunnies. What might work best for you is to buy a bunch of wire wastebaskets from the dollar store and tack them down over the plant with lawn staples. It’s a pretty quick and easy temporary fix.
Liquid fence, or similar pest deterrent products also work well, but you have to reapply religiously, especially after rain or overhead watering.
I was wondering if liquid fence is effective. Dollar store baskets is genius! Great ideas, thanks!
I’ve had rabbits nibble on plants before, but never to this extent. Grrrr.
Another plug for "Critterfence" that I have around all my gardens. For the exterior there is a flap (plastic coated wire) that goes down on the ground at the base and can be fastened to the ground with ground staples. You can use if on the inside to keep your dog from digging out, or use it on the outside to keep other critters from digging in. It has worked for us for 4 year now.
This year the rabbits decided to take a single bite out of each flower stalk of my newly planted irises. Not the ones I’ve had growing for years. Only the ones I bought last year and had been waiting for first blooms on. 
. I got some of them to bloom by putting the discarded bloom stalks in water, but still…
Juliarugula Boo! Thats so frustrating - I can’t believe they ate iris 
- that’s something I thought was on the “doesn’t like” list. They’re just relentless and unpredictable. I’ve had plants they left alone for years only to be randomly mowed down one season.
KitCMC I think they are on the “doesn’t like” list! That’s why they only took one bite each! 
KitCMC Besides hasenpfeffer stew and elaborate fencing, does anyone have effective rabbit control methods? The plants just need to grow tall enough that the rabbits cease to be a prob
I had a problem with rabbits a few years ago. I dusted the plants with dusting sulfur and it seemed to work as a deterrent. Dusting sulfur shouldn't be used if your temps are (or going to be) high and it has to be reapplied every couple of days to protect the new growth (the tasty bits). It was a lot of work/time so I ended up building a rabbit/snake/squirrel fence.
I had a neighbor who would buy rabbit food and toss it on my property to keep the rabbits out of his garden. So that is another option.
SteveM my neighbor across the street keeps a wild area for the rabbits to live and feeds them. It doesn’t seem to stop them from coming over to my side of the street for all the expensive plants (apparently the expensive ones taste better…)
KitCMC I’m so sorry, Cate. I sure hope they bounce back.
We’re another vote for Liquid Fence. Our main garden is fenced, but all of the peripheral gardens are protected by Liquid Fence. We apply more often than the bottle suggests, but the stuff WORKS!
We’ve been battling rabbits, moles and chipmunks this year. More than any other year. Sure wish I knew what was going on. And don’t even get me started on the aphids…
AndreaB I’m so glad to hear that! just got some liquid fence concentrate last night. Do you spray it every few days?
I’ve never had rabbits eat all my dahlias before. Their activity has usually been reserved to a nibble or two before they’re off to something more tasty, like hostas. I wonder if the unusually dry conditions are making other food sources scarce? Has it been really dry by you?
Juliarugula the neighbors across the street from us feed them too. I wonder if they are as frustrated watching me chase rabbits out of my yard as I am watching them set out food? 
KitCMC My husband is in charge of spraying! He tries to do it once a week, but has gone as long as 2 weeks if the weather is dry. And yes, it’s been terribly dry here. We had nearly a 3 week stretch without rain, but we’ve finally started to get some the last couple weeks. We’ve had a nice steady (and light) rain all day today. I went for a walk during one of the breaks and the plants are going nuts! We’ve also had super low humidity during our dry spell, so it feels very tropical now. I’m happy to finally have a day of rest 
Ugh so sorry! I had the same problem. Those they gnawed down are now coming back. It took a few weeks. I bought the Deer and Rabbit spray and have been using that every couple days. They haven’t gone near them since. You have to reapply after rain. I have about 500 planted and it only takes me 20-30 to spray them all. Once they get big enough they’ll leave them alone.
KitCMC I'm another Liquid Fence fan, both for deer on hostas and rabbits on all things. I usually spray in the evening because it is REALLY stinky - I'll go out and spray when I know we'll be in for the night. Just reapply after a rain or watering. I really soak the hostas, but with dahlias and others you can usually get away with the bottom parts of the plant and even the ground surrounding. If you're pretty consistent for a while I think they learn that it's not a good place to snack and then you get a little more leeway with applications.
GOOD LUCK!
I saw this on a random gardening FB post and wonder if it would work for deer and rabbits? If anything, it would give your neighbors a laugh! 
MissyWeitzel I love it! I would think twice before I crossed it.
MissyWeitzel it would freak my dog out - that’s for sure!
