Question
I have heard that planting Marigolds around your garden will help keep rabbits out, is this true? Are there other flowers I can plant to keep other critters out?
Thank you,
Christina

Answer
Christina, there is a certain amount of truth in planting marigolds to eliminate rabbits and other pests.  Marigolds have a smell that repels many animals.  But I must tell you that I have interplanted marigolds for over 15 years with my vegetables, and it never did keep rabbits completely away.

Marigolds are very beneficial, however, in eliminating nematodes from your soil.  Nematodes are parisitic worms that live in the soil.  They do severe damage to root systems, which may retard the growth of the plants, and can even cause them to perish.  They are also excellent ways to deter many flying insects.  That is why I continue to plant them, even though I never had much success with them eliminating rabbits.

Other plants that I interplant include garlic, onions, and an assortment of aromatic herbs.  All of these together can discourage rabbits.  But once again, if a rabbit or any other animal is hungry, they will not be stopped.

There are several sprays on the market which are very effective against rabbits.  The problem with these is they are very expensive, and must be reapplied following a rain.

I purchased two male cats four years ago, and this has totally remedied my problem with rabbits.  Just the scent of the cats is enough to keep rabbits out of your yard.  But this too comes with a price.  You must love cats and be willing to put up with their traits.  This is not a problem for me, but it is for many other gardeners.

Finally, you can purchase a live trap from Havahart.  These traps are baited with peanut butter and lettuce, and are extremely effective at capturing the rabbit without harming them.  You will then have to relocate the rabbit to a park or other wooded area in your community.  Please check with your local extension office or city council to make sure trapping and relocating are permitted in your city.

I wish there was a simple answer, but one or more of the suggestions I gave you should work.

Good luck, and please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike