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Replies

• 

  Nick Steele June 22, 2011 at 5:47am

  If they're hungry enough, rabbits will eat anything!   But have a look here for the RHS's words of advice :

   

  http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?PID=209
• 

  Ian Howes June 22, 2011 at 7:55am

  I work on a large garden which is under constent threat from rabbits, any new planting has to be protected by a ring of wire fencing.  Last summer while mowing the grass area I noticed a single foxglove growing, the rabbits ignored this and it flowered, there are now a quite a few foxglove seedlings growing in the same area.

   

  Ian
• PRO

  Phil Voice June 22, 2011 at 8:40am

  Hi Helen
  
  Here's a list of previous discussions on LJN about rabbit proof planting.
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  laara copley-smith June 22, 2011 at 11:01am

  somewhere there is a thread when I asked for advice earlier this year when designing for a rabbit garden ,

  not certain where it is !

  Plants I used which generally seem suitable :

  Box

  Sarcococca species

  Skimmia

  prunus lusitanica

  Pittosporum ( not Tobira as they love this )

  Hydragngea species

  Senecio

  Fushia

  Spirea

  Sambucus

  Acuba salicifolia

  rosemarinus

  salvia officinalis

  lavandula they like sometimes , yet it is on some `safe `lists

  philidelphus

  choiysa

  viburnum tinus

  leucothoe

  cornus

  All trees had tree guards

   

  Phlomis

  digitalis

  sanguisorba

  iris

  nepeta

  helleboris

  geranium

  hemerocaulis.

  ferns

   

  at the last thread on this we did say we planned to sort out an available list ....I guess this will happen when time allows.

  Cornus

   
• 

  Helen Thomas June 22, 2011 at 9:59pm

  Thanks to everyone - this is a great help!

  Helen
• 

  Sarah Russell June 23, 2011 at 7:54am

  Penstemons Cistus and euphorbias are always good - I find that some plants get left alone once they are established, so I net them off for a season until the rabbits lose interest.  We have even netted off whole borders and once the plants have grown up it looks fine. 
• 

  Bigyin June 25, 2011 at 12:25pm

  Oleander, Pittosporum.
• 

  Kerrie John-The garden design Co June 25, 2011 at 6:37pm

  Hi Helen

  I posted a list of plants a year or so ago which were rabbit and deer unfriendly.   It too took me ages to amass but with the input from the fantastic knowledge base on LJN and a little research at the RHS I was confident that the plants I supplied and planted would flourish.  

   

  Rabbits and all wildlife will try ANYTHING if they are hungry enough so nothing is 'proof'  but rule of thumb:

  Basically anything with fragrant oils contained in the leaves such as lavender, cistus and santolina etc are a real turn off to bunnies.  

  Simples!

   

  Pic shows the planting two years on in a 35 acre estate which is the capital of rabbit city and deer heaven.
• 

  Helen Thomas June 26, 2011 at 12:44am

  Lovely photo Kerrie - great to see it has worked out well for your clients and thanks for sharing all your hours of research, it's much appreciated! I will be following all this advice and hoping that my planting will survive as beautifully as yours.

  Helen
  
  Kerrie John-The garden design Co said:

  Hi Helen

  I posted a list of plants a year or so ago which were rabbit and deer unfriendly.   It too took me ages to amass but with the input from the fantastic knowledge base on LJN and a little research at the RHS I was confident that the plants I supplied and planted would flourish.  

   

  Rabbits and all wildlife will try ANYTHING if they are hungry enough so nothing is 'proof'  but rule of thumb:

  Basically anything with fragrant oils contained in the leaves such as lavender, cistus and santolina etc are a real turn off to bunnies.  

  Simples!

   

  Pic shows the planting two years on in a 35 acre estate which is the capital of rabbit city and deer heaven.
• 

  Jane Anthony June 28, 2011 at 11:24am

  Jane Anthony of The Art of Gardens                                                                                                           I have also had to plant a huge garden over run with rabbits and deer, very difficult! I've found that, added to the lists above, you should be able to plant leucanthemum, agapanthus, acanthus,  sedum, and gaura. I have had success with all! I've found that if you want a very Mediterranean effect it is a perfect pallete !
  
  Helen Thomas said:
  

  Lovely photo Kerrie - great to see it has worked out well for your clients and thanks for sharing all your hours of research, it's much appreciated! I will be following all this advice and hoping that my planting will survive as beautifully as yours.

  Helen
  
  Kerrie John-The garden design Co said:

  Hi Helen

  I posted a list of plants a year or so ago which were rabbit and deer unfriendly.   It too took me ages to amass but with the input from the fantastic knowledge base on LJN and a little research at the RHS I was confident that the plants I supplied and planted would flourish.  

   

  Rabbits and all wildlife will try ANYTHING if they are hungry enough so nothing is 'proof'  but rule of thumb:

  Basically anything with fragrant oils contained in the leaves such as lavender, cistus and santolina etc are a real turn off to bunnies.  

  Simples!

   

  Pic shows the planting two years on in a 35 acre estate which is the capital of rabbit city and deer heaven.