Indoors or outdoors for herbs near hares/cats
|
Author |
Message |
galwaybeginner Rank attained: Ash Tree

Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Posts: 236 Location: Galway, Ireland
|
Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 10:42 pm Post subject: Indoors or outdoors for herbs near hares/cats |
|
|
Hi
I want to grow a good few herbs in my garden, as I already have chives and parley and want to expand the choice when I'm cooking.
We get a lot of hares passing through, and eating a lot of flowers on their way. As far as I know they have not gone near the chives or parsley, but I am concerned that they may be tempted by others.
I'm also in the middle of putting up a polytunnel and thought I could put the herbs in there if needed, but would rather not if possible (keep the space or veg!)
I was wondering two things - firstly, do rabbits eat herbs? and secondly, if they do is there a herb they do not like that I could grow to deter them from the rest?
No, actually wondering something else as well! I've also got a cat, but she doesn't seem to eat much other than grass. Is there any herb I should avoid with cat (either that they like a lot or that could harm her)?
Many thanks! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Sean Ph'lib Rank attained: Ash Tree


Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 201 Location: Co Kerry
|
Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 11:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I planted a wood a few years ago and the damage inflicted by hares had to be seen to be believed! The only remedy which proved efficacious was to install tree-guards. My garden is surrounded with chicken wire, and I think that's the only practical way of dealing with hares. As regards planting things they won't eat.... if you want to eat it, a hare will want to eat it too! Rabbits are worse, in that they'll burrow under a fence; one got into my garden last January and demolished a bed of spring cabbages. Happily, the cabbages recovered (and I'm eating them now) and the rabbit came into the sights of my little single-barrel and I ate him too! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Liparis Rank attained: Orchard owner

Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 651 Location: Co. Meath
|
Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 11:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
Are you sure it was Hares that did the damage to the trees? It's quite unusual. I have hares on my land and they never do any damage, not even my veg are fenced off from them. All damage done to trees is by squirrels. I welcome the hares, they eat the grasses and a wild herbs etc but the advantage is, it's an extremely rare piece of ground on which you would find both hares and rabbits. The thinking is - not mine - that the hares see off the rabbits as they tend to attract a lot of predators, hares keep a lower profile than rabbits. 1 mile along the road from me the rabbits abound, but never come near me.
Bill. _________________ Earth is the insane asylum of the Universe.
http://www.species-specific.com/orchid-forum/ |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Sean Ph'lib Rank attained: Ash Tree


Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 201 Location: Co Kerry
|
Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 10:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Yes, I'm certain it was hares. I even watched them at their work. They cut the saplings clean through at an angle of 45 degrees - just as if it was cut with a knife. If they ate the little trees it would be bad enough, but they don't; they just cut them and leave them there! Altogether, I had to replant over a thousand oaks, two hundred beeches and a hundred silver birches. Strangely, they hardly touched the ash, which is the predominant species in my little wood. Every other tree is now protected with a tree guard. I have to check after every storm, because if a guard gets blown off, a hare will cut the tree within a week! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Liparis Rank attained: Orchard owner

Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 651 Location: Co. Meath
|
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 8:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
Wow! I wasn't suggesting you didn't know the difference visually by the way, I've just never seen such damage done by hares.
Bill. _________________ Earth is the insane asylum of the Universe.
http://www.species-specific.com/orchid-forum/ |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Sarah Evans Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree

Joined: 04 Oct 2008 Posts: 84 Location: Cork, Ireland
|
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 9:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
That is quite significant damage they dished out. Try a product called Grazers, we had some visit our garden centre and damaged some fruit trees after using grazers no bother. Plus mad pet greyhounds are a good deterrent of which we have two. _________________ The Secret Garden Centre
Newmarket
Co Cork
029 60084
www.thesecretgardener.com |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2006 - present IrishGardeners.com (part of GardenPlansIreland.com)
|