Protecting smaller trees from the bunnies

[harvey lee]

I have a row of smaller dogwood and would like to protest the trunks from the bunnies chewing off the bark and killing these trees.

A few years ago the rabbits killed all 10. I replanted this spring and thought about dried blood and such but it seems to be an ongoing issue. Could one place some drain tile around the trunk up about 3' to protect them?

Or is there a better way to keep those pesky rabbits away from them? Way too many bunnies for the gun and I'm also in town.

[sparcebag]

Drain tile sounds like a good idea!My neighbor and I have taken out too many bunnies this year and they keep commin!I'v always got 10-20 saplings in a nursery area every year they've been killed or damaged, this year I fenced it all in with 1/2" ckicken wire problem there is I'll have to remove it next spring and repete in fall,It wont look very good in the yard and mowing is problematic! Wish this post would've been made in Oct.I'd have the tile around my trees! Also if the snow gets deep the tiles can be pulled up higher to keep protecting.I wish I woulda thought of that!!

[bottomdweller]

Drain tile is what I used on my apple trees. Works good.

Just cut a slit in them and wrap around trunk.

[MILLER TIME]

Look up tree essentials company on the web, probably more expensive then tile, but its a tube you put around the tree. I used there mats and they work really good to keep moisture in and weeds down. I've also used plantskydd spray, works very well but you have to reapply it

[Powerstroke]

Drain tile works fantastic for single stem trees or smaller shrubs if you get a larger diameter tile.

If you are dealing with larger trees or multi-stemmed plants then using some sort of fencing or chicken wire is the best bet. Bury it a couple inches in the ground so they can't get underneith the fencing.

Another thing that can work pretty well but becomes difficult in the very cold is to spray coyote or fox urine in the area. I've also used products like liquid fence with fairly good results on our garden plants. Urine would be your best bet in the winter since it will still be effective when frozen.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Tom, I have a bunch of apple trees in my back yard that the bunnies used to LOVE in the winter. Drain tile is the ticket my friend.

You said you live in town so I realize it's not an option, but my big dog, smaller dog, and .22 have done a fairly decent job also.

[deadminnowcatcher]

i have the same problem. If i just sst chicken wire on the ground will they dig under it to get to the bush???

[enclak]

I'll join the guys who mentioned chicken wire, although I've never had an issue with rabbits, I know that chicken wire has done a terrific job at protecting my trees from a family of nearby beavers. I think a role of 4'x50' chicken wire at Home Depot is about $18, they also make it in 2' and 3' heights though (which needless to say are cheaper.) But since your trees are smaller, I think drain tile pipe (or "black PVC" as some call it) might do a good job.

[harvey lee]

I went with the drain tile idea. So far, not a bunny has had a bite. They havent even been around the area for more than a look. On to the neighbors trees.

[sparcebag]

Hey Harvey I said earlier I used wire,this morn I saw 4 bunnies.I thought I extingushed them,saw one last night.well anyway they got the christmas reprive! they better not show up later! STEW

[mshs1]

Chicken wire, drain tile, plastic wrap work until the snow is above the protection, then the rascals hop on the snow and chew away at the exposed bark. I had trees girdled 4' off the ground. Made for an interesting spring growth.

[sparcebag]

Right. But with drain tile you could adjust the height pretty easy!

Aint that something to look in the brush,woods and see a white band 3-4 ft off the groung! First time I saw it,it took awhile to figure out.