Sharing Your Arizona Garden: What Cottontail Rabbits Munch On and How to Protect Your Plants 6/6/24
One of the joys of living in Arizona is sharing our environment with incredible wildlife. From hummingbirds to roadrunners, our desert companions add life and charm to our surroundings. However, for avid gardeners, some of these creatures, particularly the adorable but voracious cottontail rabbits, can quickly turn a lush garden into a personal buffet.
At Sun Control Landscapes, we understand the delicate balance between enjoying nature and protecting your landscape investment. While we appreciate our furry neighbors, keeping them from decimating your prize-winning tomatoes or freshly planted shrubs requires some strategic planning.
What’s on a Cottontail’s Menu?
Cottontail rabbits are herbivores with a diverse appetite. They are opportunistic feeders and will sample a wide variety of plants, especially tender new growth. Here’s a look at some common garden plants they particularly enjoy:
- Vegetables: They are notorious for devouring young bean plants, peas, lettuce, carrots (the tops especially), broccoli, cabbage, and even young corn.
- Flowers: Pansies, petunias, sunflowers, impatiens, and many rose varieties are often high on their list. They’ll clip off buds and new blooms.
- Young Trees & Shrubs: The tender bark and succulent shoots of newly planted trees and shrubs can be severely girdled or clipped, especially during dry spells or in winter when other food sources are scarce. Deciduous fruit trees, young mesquites, and even some young desert-adapted shrubs are vulnerable.
- Cacti & Succulents: While they often avoid spiny mature cacti, young, soft pads of prickly pear or tender agave leaves can be surprisingly appealing, especially to desperate or young rabbits.
Signs of Rabbit Damage: Look for clean, angled cuts on stems, often about 1-2 feet from the ground. Unlike deer, which tend to tear foliage, rabbits leave neat cuts. You might also find their small, round droppings nearby.
Strategies to Protect Your Garden from Wildlife
Protecting your garden from cottontails and other common Arizona garden visitors like javelina or ground squirrels requires a multi-faceted approach.
- Fencing: The Most Effective Barrier
- Height: For cottontail rabbits, a fence at least 24-36 inches tall is generally sufficient. For javelina, you’ll need something much sturdier and taller (at least 3-4 feet), and preferably electric.
- Mesh Size: Use wire mesh with openings no larger than 1 inch to prevent rabbits from squeezing through. Chicken wire or hardware cloth work well.
- Bury It: Rabbits are notorious diggers. Bury the bottom 6 inches of the fence into the ground, or bend the bottom 6 inches outwards in an “L” shape and secure it with rocks or soil.
- Material: Galvanized wire is durable and rust-resistant. For individual plants or small beds, cloches or wire cages made from hardware cloth can be effective.
- Repellents: A Temporary Solution
- Commercial Repellents: Many products use ingredients like putrescent egg solids, capsaicin (hot pepper), or animal urine (predator scents) to deter animals by taste or smell. Follow instructions carefully, and reapply frequently, especially after rain or irrigation.
- Homemade Solutions: Some gardeners swear by sprinkling blood meal, hair clippings, or even hot pepper flakes around vulnerable plants.
- Caveat: Repellents are rarely 100% effective and require consistent reapplication. Animals can also become accustomed to them over time.
- Plant Selection: Choosing Less Appealing Options
- While no plant is entirely “rabbit-proof” (especially to a hungry rabbit), some are less palatable. Rabbits tend to avoid plants that are:
- Aromatic: Lavender, rosemary, oregano, sage, catmint.
- Thorny/Spiny: Mature cacti, agave (though young ones can be nibbled), bougainvillea.
- Fuzzy/Hairy Leaves: Lamb’s Ear, Dusty Miller.
- Toxic/Bitter: Oleander (highly toxic to all), euphorbias (many are irritating).
- Focusing on native and desert-adapted plants, especially those known to be unappealing to rabbits, can significantly reduce damage.
- While no plant is entirely “rabbit-proof” (especially to a hungry rabbit), some are less palatable. Rabbits tend to avoid plants that are:
- Habitat Modification: Removing Invitations
- Clear Debris: Remove brush piles, tall weeds, and overgrown areas where rabbits can hide and nest close to your garden.
- Trim Low Branches: Keep lower branches of shrubs trimmed up to reduce ground cover.
- Water Sources: If you have standing water or easy access to irrigation runoff, this can attract wildlife. Ensure your irrigation is efficient and doesn’t create puddles.
- Scare Tactics (Limited Success):
- Motion-activated sprinklers can surprise and deter animals.
- Reflective objects, pinwheels, or predator decoys (like plastic owls) might work for a short period, but wildlife often habituates to them.
Finding Harmony in Your Arizona Landscape
Living with wildlife is part of the Arizona experience. While it can be frustrating to see your garden nibbled, understanding what animals eat and implementing effective deterrents can help you strike a balance. For a truly resilient and wildlife-managed landscape, consider professional design and installation.
At Sun Control Landscapes, we can help you create a beautiful, thriving garden that minimizes unwanted visitors while celebrating the unique beauty of our desert environment. Let’s work together to protect your landscape investment!