Groundhog/Rabbit Repellent

[doc623]

What do you use for your garden/palnts?
I'm not talking about afence or a dog or the neighbor kid with a pellet gun.
Has any used the commercial preperations?
Do you have any tried and true home mixes?

[Patsy]

Human urine will send the gophers packing. Don't know about groundhogs or rabbits, but maybe...? Maybe some around the perimeter?

[bringselpup]

Human urine is not keeping the rabbit out of my 2 rows of peas. I think I'm down to about 4 or 5 plants left in each row. Pretty sure it's only one rabbit because I didn't lose them all at once. I saw somewhere that bunny poo from another rabbit is supposed to work. The theory I guess is they are territorial enough that they will stay away from anothers area.

So I'm trying to find someone with rabbits.....

[mtnbluet881]

As for woodchucks, we have a huge one in our yard. A gardener friend of mine told me that any kind of mint oil, that is, spearmint, peppermint, etc. will drive them clear away. I went to a few stores and did not find any. I do have some oregano oil that does have a wicked odor so I am going to try that and I will report back. I plan to mix a few drops in some cooking oil and spread it on rocks at the entrance to his burrows.

Again, my friend did specify mint oil which means I am taking a chance, but since I still have some weeding to do, the groundhog has plenty of food to choose from.

[bringselpup]

I am working on a farm rebuilding a collapsed barn. The subject came up yesterday morning as the owner had been out spraying. He uses a concoction with peppermint oil to keep deer off the crop.

[mtnbluet881]

Wow! What other critters will mint oil keep away!?!

Where does he get/buy the peppermint oil?

Thanks,
Cathy

[liechar]

Does it have to be the oil or would growing mint in the garden work? Sure would be easier, and cheaper!

[bringselpup]

I will ask about it. 100% chance of rain tomorrow and I have the roof on the barn tight so the two of us are going to rebuild a well pit in the barn. I saw today where they are browsing the buffet line at the greenhouse because the sides are rolled up these days.

[Wolf mom]

Any reason you are not considering fencing?

Do you really have the time to reapply a preparation each time it dissapates?

Fun's fun, but....

[mtnbluet881]

Just got back from a RAGA members garden walk of 3 gardens. One is an organic vegetable and chicken farmer who sells at the local farmer markets.

Keeping rabbits off of plants did come up. This is what he said.


Try either coyote / bobcat urine

and /or

garlic and cayenne pepper spray

Both of the above can be found at farm supply stores or online.

[cowboy joe]

Fencing is the best method that I've found to keep these uninvited guest out of the garden. A radio hooked to a motion sensor is a strong second. A light on a motion sensor does little good as these varmits are often out before last light. After that, fox or coyote urine will work at least for a little while. You'll have to re-apply (spray bottle) around the perimeter after a heavy dew or any rain. That said, it's a whole lot less expensive and easier to fence.

[steff bugielski]

Egg Yolk Spray
It really works but does need to be reapplied.
Mix 2 egg yolks in 1 gallon of water, strain and spray.
The rabbits, deer, woodchucks will not eat egg.

[Delrio]

A fence will not keep a groundhog out of the garden, they will dig under it.
Hot pepper flakes will keep rabbits away from your peas and beans.

[doc623]

Thanks for the suggestions/info so far.
As to fence - Garden is too big.
As top the radio - no electricity.
Have used ground red pepper to some extent and success. Have to reapply after rain.
Has anyone used or heard of 'Liquid Fence'?

[bringselpup]

The farm where I am working is using 2 things. Fencing isn't a real solution because about 12 acres are under cultivation. I do see some spot fencing with battery powered electric fence systems but for the most part the area is just too large to do.

They are using two products. Deer Out which is heavily peppermint based and Neptunes Harvest. The Deer Out has some stuff in it that keeps it from washing off readily.
The Neptunes Harvest is a fish based fertilizer they are currently applying as a foliar feed and because it stinks is keeping the deer off the plantings.

The Deer Out label listed garlic oil and eggs in the ingredients also. I am thinking that if someone were to adapt one of the many egg based deer repellent recipes found on the net by adding peppermint oil to it one would have an effective product to use in smaller home gardens.

[TheMartianChick]

I tried bobcat urine last year to keep out groundhogs...Didn't work! We don't have wild rabbits in our part of the city. I tried cayenne pepper last year, too and I think that it worked a bit, but not enough. I think the best groundhog deterrent is a good dog. When I was a kid, our 3 collies kept the groundhogs at bay.

[Yvonne's hubby]

A friend of mine goes to the barber shops and gets sacks of hair, spreads them around his garden to keep deer, rabbits and other vermin away. He has had good luck with this method for several years.

[DW]

We HAD pocket gophers in raised bed...they have moved! We got ours f/Lehmans but I have seen them in farm stores.

[Tricky Grama]

This worked for me-

Several mint leaves
about 1T cinnamon
about 1/2 c water
Blend and add about a cup or so of water & spray

Patty

[Breezy]

For years, we have trimmed our dog (sheepdog) in the spring. I put a handful in a piece of pantyhose, (first year, I made mistake of scattering hair around loose...we had hairy beans!!) tie off and scatter around the garden. This has worked for me as a rabbit deterrant. We have a woodchuck moved in at edge of woods, and will be keeping a close eye to see if he discovers garden, and if the "hair balls" keep him away.