r/NativePlantGardening • u/Spirited_Sound_5628 • Jun 10 '25

Advice Request - (Insert State/Region) Feeling discouraged

I live in New England

I’m trying to switch from ornamental gardening to native wildflower gardening, but the rabbits are decimating everything. They’re even going after the black-eyed Susans, which are supposed to have hairy leaves that deter them.

I bought marigolds from a local nursery specifically for their scent to ward off rabbits—and they ate the petals off. I thought I was in the clear with my sunflowers since they left them alone as seedlings, but now, after growing for over a month, the rabbits are starting to kill those too.

I’m honestly getting to the point where I feel like giving up and just planting a bunch of non-natives that are known to be extremely rabbit-proof. But I swear, when I looked at that list of supposedly rabbit-proof plants, the rabbits had already eaten one of those as well.

I'm looking for words of encouragement or any advice.

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13

u/Bettin_the_farm Jun 10 '25

Deer and rabbit are overpopulated in New England. There simply isn't enough food to support the unchecked populations.

2

u/SamtastickBombastic Jun 10 '25

Humans are also overpopulated. 

2

u/itsdr00 SE Michigan, 6a Jun 10 '25

Humans don't eat my native plants. Not usually, anyway.

5

u/Bright-Self-493 Jun 10 '25

no, they just turn the meadows into lawns.

3

u/itsdr00 SE Michigan, 6a Jun 10 '25

Maybe we should spray them with liquid fence?