The garden season is buried in the fact that we have months of snow and bone chilling winds to go. Warm lazy days outdoors seem too far away to even remotely get excited. Everyone knows that the garden is dormant, quite and lifeless, sleeping till the thaw of spring. Planting and pruning will have till wait till warmer days.

There is however one resident of the urban landscape that never did put down the pruners. Pruners so sharp they can tackle the thorniest of bushes, blades so expertly evolved by nature they are unsurpassed at assisting one of the cutest yet hungriest of critters.

The Eastern Cotton Tail rabbit knows no boundary when it come to your garden, heat, wind, rain and snow are of no concern to this creature of nature. Unfortunately as snow fall rises so does their diet. This little guy would rather feed on grasses and soft wooded plants but as they disappear they will turn to just about anything which includes your landscape.

When we are trapped inside we become complacent or unaware that our gardens are still alive and pests like rabbits still lurk in our gardens. As February rolls around the situation becomes more urgent. Why?..... Well for that, we will have to get into the mind of a rabbit. Deep breath here we go.........

Winter is the most critical time for these little guys, they are easy prey because they do not change color to white like their cousins and exposure to cold tells them they must eat. on top of all that they are prolific at .... well you know, courtship!

This courtship begins in February and lasts till September. So if you don't want three or four litters of bunnies in your yard now is the time to act. It's time to take action,. its time to head outback to the garden. Protect the garden you must. Damage to your roses and bushes is happening as you read.

But Dale how do I do this in knee deep snow? Let me inform.

Step1. first look for damage, like someone has done some unauthorized pruning. Second look for droppings. If you have one or both proceed to step 2.

Step2. Employee my cotton tail two step. The first step is to use poultry or chicken wire to cover bushes they like to eat. Roses, burning bush,willow, Amur maple, barberry. This is best done in the fall but a winter wrap can still be done effectively. Apply to a height of 24inches above anticipated snow line.

The second is the shot gun no,no,no....... not the fire arm but Shot * Gun (registered TM) of Bonides 'Repels-All'. A mix of dried blood, garlic and rotten eggs. Sounds yummy, yeah the rabbits think the same too. Apply this as directed on top of the snow in and around bushes, grasses and anywhere they may nest including wood piles decks and at the base of tall plants especially evergreens and tall grasses. This is one garden pest that you will want to keep tabs on year round.

Although all rabbits are a protected species in Minnesota there is no harm in seeing them frolic and eat in your neighbors yard.