Q: We moved into our home in 1970, and there was a small grapefruit tree growing in the back yard. We don't know how old the tree is, but it is healthy and always produces hundreds of delicious grapefruit every year. Today I noticed that a cottontail rabbit was under the tree eating some of the leaves. There are a lot of cottontails in our neighborhood, but I didn't know that they eat grapefruit leaves. In the summer I always see a few damaged leaves in different places in the tree, but I thought that was caused by a leafcutter. My question is: what can I do to keep rabbits from eating the leaves?
A: Fencing is really the only prevention for keeping rabbits and other four-legged creatures away from desirable plants. If that isn’t an option you might consider doing nothing. Since your tree seems to be doing fine producing so much fruit and because rabbits can't climb trees, I recommend letting them eat the low hanging leaves. Most plants can tolerate some defoliation and still remain healthy and produce flowers and fruit. I would say the same thing about leaf-cutter bees. They only cause cosmetic damage to the tree.
Peter L. Warren is the urban horticulture agent for the Pima County Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona. Questions may be emailed to tucsongardensage@gmail.com.
