Let us know your top tips for humane rabbit prevention. Also any ingenious tips to stop slugs would be welcome - our fantasy of filling the garden with ducks is some way off still.
Beer trap for the slugs and snails/cooper tape too, foxes don't like strong curry powder ( ask me how I know 😂), rabbits are harder chicken wire dug deep into the soil helps, so would a dog,❤
@@BramblesCottage definitely dog for rabbits, wire mesh under any new beds to prevent digging under the beds, beer traps for the slugs, also avoid having too much cover and dark moist areas near your beds to prevent slugs having a place to hide, also be aware with ducks you will have to protect your veg as they love to eat greens as well 😁
How clever to use jeans for fabric hinges ❤❤❤❤ - they don’t need to be perfect to work the best you can for now it actually looks pretty. i love the mathematical calculations as well 😊
In regards to slugs and snails, i cut 2ltr plastic juice bottles in half, then cut off the top neck and the bottom. Now have two collars. Then i bought rolls of flat strips of copper that is sticky on one side baught from a plant nursery here in australia. I hope you can get it in uk. Stick the strips around the top edge of collar in a continious cyrcle. The beginning of the tape must stuch the end of the tape. Push the collar over individual veg seedling. The copper collar acts like an electric fence. It actually gives the moist slug and snail a mild electric shock, strong enough to make them back off away from the collar and your veg seedling. I use these each planting season. Sorry so long winded explanation !! This will help if you can get the copper tape.
Thankfully the worst thing we have to contend with are bunnies (for now) hoping that once the whole garden is fenced in we'll be fine and safe from their terror!
The cloche is great! Slugs are a constant battle this year. I bought some nematodes from Gardening Naturally and that did seem to have some impact though not a huge difference. Earlier in the year when I had a lot of vulnerable seedlings I went out most nights with a torch and patrolled the garden removing slugs. Not the most pleasant job but it definitely helped!
I kind of got the idea from some old rustic boxes where leather was used at the hinge. It just made perfect sense that all that's needed is a supple and strong material to get the job done. I think the rabbits will be having a harder time getting a meal with us as time goes by.
I have had success with simply extending the wire with about a 18" on the fence and extending that into a 6/8" apron flat on the ground (measurements from memory). No digging needed. Rabbits seem to try to dig close to the fence they are trying to beat and the apron stops that.
This is what I'd hoped we might do originally, and might still do in some areas. But in the bit we've done so far, where their existing burrows meet our land and the rabbits have already made some new tunnels towards my beds, it doesn't feel like an option anymore sadly. -Stina
Bury your chicken wire under your planting, fairly deep, and the rabbits can't come up under the fence. When you dig a bed, plant your chicken wire deep before putting in your amended soil. For instance, certain veg have deep roots and you'll need to bury the fence lower. Some have shallower root systems and you won't have to dig as deep. Rabbits are perfectly happy to eat tender roots and your plant dies anyway. They are tricky critters. You can get traps and load them with peanut butter or carrot tops...your decision.
To be honest, we're trying to just get the chicken wire out at the perimeter of the garden so we kind of know that everything inside that space is pretty safe. It'll be a tough job at first but once it's done I think we'll reap the rewards pretty quickly.
Let us know your top tips for humane rabbit prevention. Also any ingenious tips to stop slugs would be welcome - our fantasy of filling the garden with ducks is some way off still.
Beer trap for the slugs and snails/cooper tape too, foxes don't like strong curry powder ( ask me how I know 😂), rabbits are harder chicken wire dug deep into the soil helps, so would a dog,❤
@@BramblesCottage definitely dog for rabbits, wire mesh under any new beds to prevent digging under the beds, beer traps for the slugs, also avoid having too much cover and dark moist areas near your beds to prevent slugs having a place to hide, also be aware with ducks you will have to protect your veg as they love to eat greens as well 😁
How clever to use jeans for fabric hinges ❤❤❤❤ - they don’t need to be perfect to work the best you can for now it actually looks pretty. i love the mathematical calculations as well 😊
Your voice is perfect for narrating documentaries! Or ASMR vids.
Humm narrating could be fun, wouldn't know where to start with ASMR vids though lol
How clever to use jeans for fabric hinges ❤❤❤❤ - they don’t need to be perfect to work the best you can for now it actually looks pretty
It's surprisingly solid for being made from scrap wood and old jeans 😂
i love the idea of victorian walled garden elegance 😂
We have a long way to go before we're on that level
In regards to slugs and snails, i cut 2ltr plastic juice bottles in half, then cut off the top neck and the bottom. Now have two collars. Then i bought rolls of flat strips of copper that is sticky on one side baught from a plant nursery here in australia. I hope you can get it in uk. Stick the strips around the top edge of collar in a continious cyrcle. The beginning of the tape must stuch the end of the tape. Push the collar over individual veg seedling. The copper collar acts like an electric fence. It actually gives the moist slug and snail a mild electric shock, strong enough to make them back off away from the collar and your veg seedling. I use these each planting season.
Sorry so long winded explanation !! This will help if you can get the copper tape.
You can get the copper tape in the UK. I put some round my Hosta pot 2 years ago and it’s still keeping the little blighters away! 😊
Excellent! I knew you could get it in the UK but want sure if it really worked! Thanks for the heads up
Great cages and ways of using the old wood. Lucky you were able to save the Honeyberry in time.
I can see me doing more of the octagonal bases, really handy to be able to use such sort lengths and get a substantial base.
I cloche all my favs, but leave herbs and more for the bunnies and I have no issues BUT squirrels and chipmunks will eat all my fruit. Lovely weather.
Thankfully the worst thing we have to contend with are bunnies (for now) hoping that once the whole garden is fenced in we'll be fine and safe from their terror!
The cloche is great! Slugs are a constant battle this year. I bought some nematodes from Gardening Naturally and that did seem to have some impact though not a huge difference. Earlier in the year when I had a lot of vulnerable seedlings I went out most nights with a torch and patrolled the garden removing slugs. Not the most pleasant job but it definitely helped!
Humm I like the nematodes idea, not so keen on the midnight patrols though lol.
Love the idea of using strips of denim as hinges. Hope your cages work to protect the plants from rabbits and other wildlife
I kind of got the idea from some old rustic boxes where leather was used at the hinge. It just made perfect sense that all that's needed is a supple and strong material to get the job done. I think the rabbits will be having a harder time getting a meal with us as time goes by.
My hubby who recently retired from BT has the same spade and it’s known as a Rabbiter now I know why 😉 good luck with keeping them out ❤
Lol, never heard that name before but it's very fitting!
The soil looks fabulous
It really is beautiful soil, just need to free a lot of it from the grass and the gravel.
I have had success with simply extending the wire with about a 18" on the fence and extending that into a 6/8" apron flat on the ground (measurements from memory). No digging needed. Rabbits seem to try to dig close to the fence they are trying to beat and the apron stops that.
This is what I'd hoped we might do originally, and might still do in some areas. But in the bit we've done so far, where their existing burrows meet our land and the rabbits have already made some new tunnels towards my beds, it doesn't feel like an option anymore sadly. -Stina
@@BramblesCottage a pity, as I have certainly found that it works well here. Good luck with the battle!
I do the same for foxes.
If you put a old pie plate with beer in it in the garden it Attracts slugs They climb in And drowned
Oh yeah! I remember seeing this once. We're really hoping to get a few ducks to help manage the slugs and snails but that's a long way off yet.
Bury your chicken wire under your planting, fairly deep, and the rabbits can't come up under the fence. When you dig a bed, plant your chicken wire deep before putting in your amended soil. For instance, certain veg have deep roots and you'll need to bury the fence lower. Some have shallower root systems and you won't have to dig as deep. Rabbits are perfectly happy to eat tender roots and your plant dies anyway. They are tricky critters.
You can get traps and load them with peanut butter or carrot tops...your decision.
To be honest, we're trying to just get the chicken wire out at the perimeter of the garden so we kind of know that everything inside that space is pretty safe. It'll be a tough job at first but once it's done I think we'll reap the rewards pretty quickly.