A rabbit’s garden

Why a garden?

Creating an herb garden for your rabbit is a fun and rewarding project that anyone can do - no green thumb or big backyard required! Not only is it a relaxing way to spend time, but it also gives you and your bunny a steady supply of fresh, tasty herbs without breaking the bank. Rabbits love fresh greens, and herbs are among the easiest plants to grow at home.

Many herbs and vegetables grow well in containers in a sunny spot on a porch, deck or patio. Look for a space that gets about six hours of sun, something many herbs prefer. If you don’t have that much sun, some leafy vegetables, like lettuce, and herbs like mint and parsley can do well with four hours of sun. You also want to consider your water source, and select an area close enough to a spigot that you can keep everything watered.

Where to grow your garden

Container gardening: In a sunny spot, most herbs will do well in a large pot. To grow vegetables or fruits in containers, look for the dwarf or bush varieties. The possibilities are unlimited! Choose a large container - larger containers hold more soil and need to be watered less often. That can be important in the hot North Carolina summer! You also want to have enough room for the roots to grow. Make sure your container has holes in the bottom for drainage. If the drainage holes are large, you can place paper towels in the bottom of the pot. If you need to be able to move large pots around your porch or patio, a plant caddy with wheels is a good option.

Many herbs also grow well in a bright, sunny spot inside your home. For additional light, bright LED or fluorescent lights above the plants work well. There are also several indoor growing kits available for purchase.

Raised beds: If you have the space at home and would prefer to grow your garden outside in the ground, raised beds are a great choice! Central North Carolina soil often contains a lot of clay, and a raised bed will allow you to grow with the perfect soil mix. Many gardening and home supply stores sell bagged raised bed garden soil mixes, which make filling your raised bed easy. If you prefer to mix the soil yourself, a commonly recommended mix is ⅓ peat moss, ⅓ vermiculite, and ⅓ well aged compost (tip: rabbit litter makes great compost!).

Planning your garden

Deciding what to plant

There are lots of choices about what to grow. Choosing plants is all up to your, and your rabbit’s, taste. Most herbs do very well in a large pot, and are loved by rabbits. Spring is a great time for planting many herbs. You can start plants from seed, or purchase small plants at the local farmer’s market or garden center.

Suggested plants

Basil - summer/indoors

Carrot - spring/fall

Chamomile - spring/fall/indoors

Cilantro - spring/fall/indoors

Dill - late spring/early summer

Dandelion - summer

Lettuce - spring/fall/early winter

Lemon Balm - year round/indoors

Marjoram - summer/indoors

Mint - late spring through fall

Oat grass - spring/fall/indoors

Oregano - summer/indoors

Parsley - spring/summer/fall/indoors

Rye grass - spring/fall/indoors

Thyme - summer/indoors

Wheat grass - spring/fall/indoors

Preparing your soil

Good soil is important! A well drained soil that holds moisture and has some organic matter is a great choice.

Did you know that your rabbits’ droppings can be used as an amazing fertilizer for your garden? When scooping your rabbits’ litter box, save their pellets (separating out urine) to give your garden a treat. Rabbit poop is low in uric acid and ammonia, meaning you can safely apply it directly to your garden without risk of burning your plants. It also composts well, and is high in nutrients that your plants need. If you use a paper or wood litter, you can start a compost heap by dumping the entire litter box (perhaps in a spot where your neighbors can’t see it!). Turn the compost periodically. If you start this in the winter, by spring you will have nice organic matter to add to your soil. If you are just now thinking ah-ha!, then you can purchase compost at the garden center and compost rabbit litter for your fall herbs and veggies.

Dealing with insects

Herbs have strong scents, and often are not troubled by insect pests. To help prevent problems before they start look carefully at plants before your purchase them, checking under the leaves, to make sure plants are healthy before bringing them home. Avoid over-watering, since lots of moisture can promote fungus growth and attract pests. If you do notice bugs on your plants, your first defense is to wash them off. If bugs are persistent, you can make your own soap spray using one tablespoon of mild natural soap, such as Castile soap, in one quart of water. Spray on the plants in the morning to help with insect control. Remember to wash herbs thoroughly before using them.

Harvesting and pruning your herbs so they continue to grow

Herbs respond well to frequent harvesting, so they are great for adding to bunny salads. Cut the stem about one-third of the way down so your plant will continue to grow. For plants like basil and oregano, cut the stem just above a pair of leaves. Pruning regularly will prevent your herbs from going to seed as quickly and prolong your harvest. Herbs can be washed and served fresh in bunny salad, or dried and sprinkled in hay as a treat.

Interested in giving your rabbit a fresh, tasty treat? Try live wheatgrass! Wheatgrass is easy to grow in a container at home, and because it does not require a lot of soil, you can even grow it in a an old food bowl or a litter box. Your bunny can enjoy a whole patch of wheatgrass! Just follow these few steps and in a couple of weeks, your rabbit will have a fresh treat!

Where to buy seeds

Look for organic, food grade wheatgrass seeds. Sometimes they are called wheat berries, and sold as sprouting seeds. Amazon.com has several organic brands. Two of our volunteer’s favorite brands are Sow True Seed and Starwest Botanicals. Store your unused wheatgrass seeds in either the refrigerator or freezer to extend their life.

Planting the wheatgrass

Choose a container that is three inches or so deep. Place 1/2 inch to 1 inch of organic potting soil in it. Spritz it with water. Put a layer of wheatgrass seeds on top of the soil, then cover the seeds with a very light layer of the same potting soil. Spritz it again, then cover the container loosely with plastic wrap. Place it in indirect light.

Optional tip: To ensure the seed germination is relatively even, you can try giving your seeds a few days in cold temperature. After you start your seeds and wrap the container in plastic wrap, instead of putting it in indirect light, you may place it in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Then move your seeds back to room temperature.

Caring for wheatgrass

Once or twice a day, check the wheatgrass and spritz with water. You don’t want it to be dry, but you also don’t want it to be too wet. Just keep it damp.

After four or five days, when the wheatgrass is an inch or more in height, remove the plastic wrap. Keep spritzing daily until the wheatgrass is the desired height, and serve!

Things to watch for: Wheatgrass is susceptible to mildew. If your wheatgrass starts to mold at the roots, it’s time to throw it away. You can wash your container thoroughly and start a new batch.

Bon Appetit!

You can give the whole container to your bunny and let him or her comp on it! You probably want to remove it after a few minutes so they do not eat too much of the wheatgrass and experience stomach issues. While wheatgrass is a good treat for them, any sudden change in diet can lead to digestive issues for a rabbit.

You can also clip the wheat grass and serve it in your rabbit’s daily salad. Wheatgrass is also healthy for us, so you may want to add some to your own salads or smoothies!