Rabbit detterant from Holly wreaths

[countrryboy]

Alright folks

Bit of a strange 1
Does anyone kbow off anything u could treat a Holly wreath with too stop rabbits eating them?

Was speaking to my folks tonight who have been down at my grandfathers grave again today
And holly wreath aling with every other 1 in the cemetry is compmetely eaten in a week.
Mum heard soneone had suggested hairspray.
But no idea if that really works

Only thing i suggested was making a mesh box etc to put on top to protect it

 

[doric_prince]

.17hmr works

 

[BenBhoy]

Each to their own obviously, but if I was buried & rabbits eating wreath on my grave I'd probably chuckle & say good luck to them

 

[hairlesshunter]

Get plastic one not as nice but would sort your problem out

 

[Apthorpe]

Firstly, I'm surprised rabbits would eat holly, but I suppose in hard weather ....are you sure its rabbits, not deer, goat etc.?
I'd lean towards Ben's view on this....dust to dust, ashes to ashes and wreaths to rabbits. In my mind, it is the laying of the wreath which is important, not how long it lasts.

Perhaps they.might try a wreath made from something else...juniper, rosemary, box, laurel, maybe yew? The thing is you'd normally expect rabbits to avoid holly.

 

[Freeforester]

Diesel.
Apply to the moss, after you’ve laid the wreath.
Creosote would similarly deter

Rather than dosing the wreath however, would you not be better to place it on eg a 3’ tall forked stick, or steel spike rod with a v on top?

 

[VSS]

I'd be happy with the wreaths being eaten.
It seems fitting, somehow.

 

[shakey jake]

Diesel.
Apply to the moss, after you’ve laid the wreath.
Creosote would similarly deter

Rather than dosing the wreath however, would you not be better to place it on eg a 3’ tall forked stick, or steel spike rod with a v on top?

Why would you even advise this? Poluting the environment.
The rabbits are clearly struggling why punish them?
Post is a good shout.

 

[countrryboy]

The raising them is not a bad shout althou would look funny at the start.

I'll have to go down fir a look but even at christmas time mum said a lot of wee metal things lying about.
Seemingly the new way to make holly wreaths is u insert ur holly into a metal holder thingy and it goes into the wreath base.

Says it will be a nightmare for the lads cutting the grass with the metal things lying everywhere.

Aye Vss i think its just how qyickly it was eaten.
Under a week and nothing left, and thats at a tine everyone is laying wreaths.

Think council be too skint to get rabbits shot.

 

[Freeforester]

Why would you even advise this? Poluting the environment.
The rabbits are clearly struggling why punish them?
Post is a good shout.

I suggested it because it works. Just As putting the wreath out of reach of the rabbit will work.To be clear, an ounce, not a gallon.

The rabbit is a survivor, deterrence is not punitive.

 

[Ratcatcher]

I'm surprised they are eating Holly, when I worked for a local council I had to cull the rabbits in a local cemetery but it was the roses that were decimated, absolutely eaten to the ground within day's of planting, I don't remember them even touching Holly, are you certain it's the rabbits? By the way countryboy I can tell you it was nothing to do with money, you have honestly no Idea how secretive and careful you have to be to cull anything for a local authority these days, I got special dispensation not to have to go before committee to get this ( and the feral pigeons ) culled, that way councillors could deny, with a straight face, any knowledge of it taking place!

 

[countrryboy]

Going back to the diesel idea.

Most holly wreaths arent made using moss and chicken wire any longer.
Must admit not sure wot the base is as not 'oasis' either.

Do u think just putting some diesel in a sprayer and giving it a few sprays should work.

I take it the tiny amount of diesel ur talking about would kill the grass on grave

 

[Freeforester]

If you’re worried about pollution, oasis might not be best first choice for a wreath base. Metal rings are traditionally wrapped with moss and some use cling film on top to secure to the ring, rings were mentioned up the thread. A cut down basin of sorts made from an old plastic container would serve to save the grass, if you’re worried about the latter then fit legs on the basin - let your inner Valerie Singleton run riot!

Or you can suspend it up and out of reach, but the slightest taint of diesel or creosote will keep brer rabbit at bay.

I'm surprised they are eating Holly, when I worked for a local council I had to cull the rabbits in a local cemetery but it was the roses that were decimated, absolutely eaten to the ground within day's of planting, I don't remember them even touching Holly, are you certain it's the rabbits? By the way countryboy I can tell you it was nothing to do with money, you have honestly no Idea how secretive and careful you have to be to cull anything for a local authority these days, I got special dispensation not to have to go before committee to get this ( and the feral pigeons ) culled, that way councillors could deny, with a straight face, any knowledge of it taking place!

The (faux) sensitivity of the councillors is part of the problem straight away. A few days without their expenses paid lunch with a rabbit in view and an airgun made available might bring them to their senses, and possibly assuage the bereaved trying to honour their deceased.

 

[JockStalk]

Toss a bag of horse carrots at the other end of the cemetery.

 

[countrryboy]

If you’re worried about pollution, oasis might not be best first choice for a wreath base. Metal rings are traditionally wrapped with moss and some use cling film on top to secure to the ring, rings were mentioned up the thread. A cut down basin of sorts made from an old plastic container would serve to save the grass, if you’re worried about the latter then fit legs on the basin - let your inner Valerie Singleton run riot!

Or you can suspend it up and out of reach, but the slightest taint of diesel or creosote will keep brer rabbit at bay.



The (faux) sensitivity of the councillors is part of the problem straight away. A few days without their expenses paid lunch with a rabbit in view and an airgun made available might bring them to their senses, and possibly assuage the bereaved trying to honour their deceased.

Aye i dont think been made with moss and wire for years.
I mind my mother would drag me out as a kid picking moss, holly etc as she used to make them to sell.
Used to be sore on the hands that old chicken wire, i mind her hands bleeding, think it was the old fashion galv treatment

Mist admit not sure wot the bases are now as she said not oasis either.
U seem to stab those metal things into it and it holds the holly.

Aye im surprised they dont control the rabbits but i do think they are skint.
A mate does do pest control work for the councils in cemetries.

That cemetry is visited by a lot of tourists as has quite a big internatuonal memorial in it.
It usually looks a bit nicer than most other graveyards in the area