Question: How can I prevent rabbits from eating my garden plants? I am at my wits’ end!
— Vanessa
Answer: Here are a few ideas — remember what works for some rabbits may not be effective for others. Be prepared to attempt more than one of the following possibilities.
Construct a two-foot-high chicken wire fence. Bury the fence a few inches into the ground, because rabbits are more likely to dig under the fence than hop over it. Suspend aluminum pie plates around plants to keep the rabbits away. Sprinkle bags of human hair (from your local hair salon), blood meal, fox urine, bone meal or Irish Spring soap shavings. Add turkey manure in with soil. Soak corn cobs in vinegar for five minutes and then place them throughout the garden or under shrubs. Re-soak the corn cobs after two weeks.
When planting flower beds, mix thyme, spearmint, daffodils and/or eucalyptus in with flowers — rabbits don’t like the smell and often won’t get to your yummy flowers.
Some have had success burying fabric-softener sheets around plants. Around newly planted vegetables, bury a collar cut out of a milk carton or jug to protect each plant. Fill mason jars three-quarters full of water and add a drop of dish soap to each jar. Line jars along the garden one or two feet apart and place on top of foil pie plates. The water reflects the sun off the jar and the foil, and it scares the rabbits.
An ultrasonic repeller is a sound emitter that sends off a high-pitched noise that humans are unable to hear, but is uncomfortable for animals. Adjust the unit frequency so the sound doesn’t bother animals in the area. Study the best unit for your yard — some units are not effective at all.
For a homemade rabbit repellent, mix one tablespoon of baby shampoo and one tablespoon of household ammonia and one quart of water in a spray bottle and apply to your plants every three days.
Question: How do I remove blood from bedsheets? I have thin skin on my arms due to the medications I have taken over many years, which causes my arms to bleed easily. How do I get rid of these bloodstains?
— Ken
Answer: According to a nursing-home employee, scrub the sheets with Head & Shoulders dandruff shampoo. Rinse with warm/cold water until the bloodstains are gone.
Note: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of any suggestions in this column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.
Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website: reena.ca. Ask a question or share a tip at reena.ca.
