To keep rabbits out of your garden, several effective strategies can be employed:
Physical Barriers
- Install fencing: Use chicken wire with 1/2- to 1-inch mesh, at least 2 feet high, around your garden or beds. Bury the fence about 6 inches underground to prevent rabbits from digging underneath
- Protect individual plants: Surround vulnerable plants with cylinders or cages made from 1/4- to 1/2-inch mesh chicken wire or hardware cloth, also buried 6 inches deep
- Motion-activated sprinklers: These can startle rabbits and discourage them from entering the garden
- Electric fences: For persistent problems, electric fencing can be a powerful deterrent, though it is more costly
Habitat Modification
- Remove dense vegetation, low shrubbery, and debris piles that provide shelter or nesting sites for rabbits
- Eliminate potential hiding places near your garden to make it less attractive to rabbits
Plant Selection
- Grow rabbit-repellent plants around your garden perimeter such as lavender, rosemary, mint, alliums, daffodils, and hellebores. These plants have scents or textures that rabbits dislike
- Use fabric row covers or cloches to protect young or tender plants from nibbling
Natural Repellents and Deterrents
- Apply natural rabbit repellents that emit predator-like odors to stimulate fear and keep rabbits away. These should be reapplied every 6 to 8 weeks
- Use reflective objects like aluminum pie pans or reflective tape that create light reflections and noises to scare rabbits
- Homemade sprays made from water and citrus juice can also deter rabbits due to the unpleasant scent
Encourage Predators
- Allow pet dogs or cats to roam the garden, as their scent and presence can discourage rabbits
- Encourage natural predators such as foxes and hawks by providing habitat, which can help control rabbit populations
Combining these methods-especially fencing with habitat modification and planting rabbit-resistant plants-provides the best chance of keeping rabbits out of your garden effectively
