Keeping Rabbits out?

[Treewarrior]

Have a client who has asked me to design and plant plant an orchard of mixed fruit trees, about 25 in all - about 1 acre plot.

 

There are rabbits everywhere.

 

I will start preparing the site then plant later this year.

 

Any advice on how to keep them away from the newly planted trees?

 

Fencing etc

[Paul Smith]

Gas, then fence.

[pie eater pete]

Morning, speaking from experience im afraid rabbits will most likely always find a way through fencing. Your best bet would be ferreting or shooting the rabbits but obviously this depends how the landowner feels. Hope this helps.

[Gollum]

use spiral or mesh tree guards to start with.

[agg221]

use spiral or mesh tree guards to start with.

 

Second that. We don't have any warrens on the ours, but they come in. Damage is from digging, and to the bark. Don't seem to dig specifically near the trees, and kicking the earth back into the started holes seems to deter them. They do sometimes go for the bark on slightly older trees, so the spiral guards have been best for us as we can leave them in place indefinitely (some have been on for 15yrs now).

 

Alec

[easy-lift guy]

Google tree guard and you will discover several different means of dealing with your future problem with rabbits and the like, information from the Extension Notes of Ontario, Canada I believe ?. Here in Florida with Citrus tree production in the groves we have the same issues Peter and the rest of his cotton tail family!. Good Hunting.

[kernowstu]

Gas, then fence.

 

then run the ferrets/dogs just to make sure:biggrin:

[Sam Thompson]

Lamp hard. Get some (decent, trustworthy) long dog men on it. Fence where you can.

[the verminator]

iv seen rabbits chewing through the plastic guards, best way is to remove them in the most appropriate way. no rabbits, no problem

[Joshua]

as has been said, ferrets and harris hawks, i know a guy not too far from you who could help, pm me if you want his contact details