I get this question a lot. “Can I plant geraniums in my garden, since I have a bunny?” People love their bunnies and want to know what they can do to make their furry friends happy and comfortable. Do rabbits really eat geraniums?
the answer is actually yes! Rabbits love to eat the leaves and petals of geranium plants, and they can even get some health benefits from them. So if you have a geranium plant in your home, don’t be afraid to let your bunny nibble on it! Just make sure that the leaves are clean and free of chemicals.
Do rabbits eat geraniums
When your garden is looking beautiful and colorful, it’s hard to imagine anything eating those plants. But rabbits love to eat geraniums – Both annual and perennial. It doesn’t matter if they’re in a pot or growing wild in the ground, as rabbits will eat them all.
How do I keep rabbits from eating my geraniums? – Prevention
To keep rabbits from eating your flowers and other plants, you must protect the area around your garden with fences or netting that are at least two feet tall and buried 1-2 inches below the soil line. This protects not only your flowers and vegetables but also the roots of these plants, which can be damaged by rabbits browsing on their leaves and stems.
Arranging rocks around the edge of flower beds will discourage rabbits from digging there because it’s uncomfortable for their feet. You can also place urine-scented sprays near your garden to make it less inviting for rabbits, who won’t enter the area if they smell the scent of predators.
The use of these techniques will keep your garden beautiful and full of life while keeping rabbits out.
Geraniums Are Rabbit Resistant
Both annual and perennial geranium (Geranium spp.), also known as cranesbill, is listed as rabbit resistant by the Iowa State University Extension website. Rabbits tend to avoid plants with fragrant or thick, leathery leaves. But when they are hungry, Nothing can stop them.
Repellants
Keeping rabbits away from your carrots, peas, and other vegetables is easy with the use of repellants. Place garlic oil or blood meal around the base of these plants to keep rabbits out without harming them. You can also spray diluted peppermint oil on leaves or stalks if you have already been visited by a rabbit; it will discourage them from returning.
You can also place dried red chili peppers around your garden; they are an inexpensive deterrent that also looks nice in flower beds and planters. Garlic powder sprinkled near the roots of your favorite flowers will protect them as well as prevent further damage after a rabbit has browsed there once.
If you catch a rabbit eating your geraniums, you don’t need to harm it. Instead, you can take a few steps to make it stop. Place a fence around the plants that rabbits like to eat and place it about two inches deep into the ground. This will prevent them from getting close enough to eat your plants as well as keep them out of areas where they don’t belong such as your yard or garden.
If all else fails, you can use plant-based repellants on those plants rabbits love to devour — geraniums included. These oils, such as cayenne pepper and cinnamon oil, are safe for both people and pets but will keep hungry rabbits away and protect your plants at the same time.
Do rabbits eat geraniums leaves?
Rabbits will eat geranium leaves and flowers. They also like to munch on the tender shoots of shrubs and trees, as well as other flowering plants such as Marigolds and Chrysanthemums.
Do geraniums keep rabbits away?
There is no evidence that geraniums will keep rabbits away from your garden. In fact, rabbits eat geraniums as well as many other plants. This article above discusses what you can do to protect your other plants and flowers from a rabbit’s appetite for them.
Do geraniums have thorns?
Not all types of Geranium have thorns, but some do have thorns on the stems, so if your rabbit decides to nibble at it they could get hurt or sick because of the sharp prickles on the plant. That being said, feeding a few leaves from these plants won’t harm a bunny rabbit – there are definitely safer choices out there!
Why do rabbits eat plants from garden?
The number one reason why rabbits eat flowers and plants is that they are hungry. Rabbits will also chew on plants if they feel threatened by them; their chewing punctures or rips leaves and stems, preventing the plant from growing or blooming. This usually occurs when a bunny has been confined to an area with no other means of escape other than climbing up, which can mar leaves and leave scratches in stems. The other reason for this behavior is boredom; rabbits get bored easily, so don’t be surprised if your rabbit starts munching on your plants without warning.
Write up: Do rabbtis eat geraniums
Rabbits eat geraniums, so it is important to protect your plants with repellants. Once these are in place, you can substitute your geraniums for unique rabbits-resistant flowers! However, if a rabbit eats your geraniums or any other plant or flower from your garden, the best course of action is to ensure you have protection from them as well as provide them food and other alternatives for their chewing habits. This article above discusses what you can do to protect your other plants and flowers from a rabbit’s appetite for them.
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Dr. Elly Cameron is a veterinarian who has always loved animals. She grew up with cats and rabbits, and knew from a young age that she wanted to help animals in whatever way she could. After completing veterinary school in New Zealand, she and her husband moved to North Carolina in 2009. There, she worked as a small animal veterinarian, seeing cats, dogs, and of course her favorite patients – rabbits! In the last few years, Dr. Cameron has been working as a locum vet while she concentrates on raising her two young daughters. She also started writing this blog to help other rabbit lovers out there.