Simple Ways To Keep Rabbits From Devouring Your Garden This Season

As winter turns to spring, rabbits emerge hungry from their burrows ready to feast on your newly planted garden goodies. But there are many simple, affordable ways to deter these voracious pests and protect your produce.

In this post, we'll explore proven techniques to keep rabbits from treating your veggies and flowers like an all-you-can-eat buffet. From physical barriers to natural repellents, you'll find easy, humane methods to coexist with rabbits without sacrificing your harvest.

Prevent Rabbit Access With Fencing

Installing a fence around your garden is the most reliable way to keep rabbits out. A sturdy barrier prevents access to tender plants while allowing you to enjoy your landscape.

For optimal effectiveness, the fence should be at least 3 feet tall with mesh wire buried 6-12 inches underground. This prevents rabbits from burrowing underneath. You can use chicken wire or galvanized hardware cloth with 1/2 to 1-inch openings.

To construct a quality barrier, install fence posts first, then attach wire fencing to the posts. Bend the base of the fencing in an L-shape and bury horizontally to prevent digging. Make sure the fencing is pulled taut throughout for fewer gaps.

For added strength, a strand of wire can be run along the top and bottom of the fence. This creates a reinforced barrier that stands up to curious rabbits trying to sneak through.

Additional Precautions for Entry Points

Even when protected by fencing, some relentless rabbits still find ways in. Check for potential entry points to keep your garden fortress intact.

Block any holes along the perimeter with debris or additional wire. Use metal mesh or hardware cloth to cover gaps underneath gates or doors rabbits can squeeze through.

Regularly walk the fence line to check for maintenance issues. Look for rust, holes, loose fencing or anything else that compromises the integrity. Make repairs right away before rabbits discover a free pass.

Use Smelly Plants As Natural Repellents

Certain plants have scents rabbits find offensive or unappealing. Take advantage of these pungent properties as natural rabbit repellents around your garden's edge.

Plant garlic, onions, marigolds or nasturtiums around the outside of planting beds. You can also scatter these protective plants throughout the garden or interplant with vegetables.

The strong aromas will help mask the scent of delicious veggies. As rabbits pass by, they'll be discouraged from entering and snacking.

For potted plants, place pots of marigolds or garlic strategically around your containers. The odor gradient creates a stinky barrier while adding ornamental beauty!

Other Scent Repellents

Predator urine can mimic the frightening smell of animals that prey on rabbits. Apply fox or coyote urine along the garden perimeter to make rabbits cautious about entering.

Soak cotton balls in the urine and place around the edge every few feet. Reapply every 2-3 weeks as the scent fades. Check local ordinances first, as predator urine use may be restricted in some areas.

Herbs like thyme, oregano, dill and basil also have strong scents. Planting these around your garden or spraying herbal essential oils may mask delicious smells and divert rabbits.

Employ Motion Sprinklers For Sudden Scares

Rabbits are easily startled when suddenly sprayed with water. Motion-activated sprinklers use this reaction to your advantage.

When rabbits cross the spray zone, they trigger the sensor. A startling burst of water scares them away from your plants. Strategically placed, sprinklers provide 24/7 protection.

Position sprinklers to cover likely rabbit entry points and high traffic areas. Adjust the spray width and range so key garden beds and borders are protected.

Use This Sprinkle Tech Correctly

When using sprinklers, ensure the water pressure isn't too harsh. They should spray a startling mist, not painful streams.

Avoid wasting water with excessive overlap. Read manufacturer instructions to set up sprinklers for optimal coverage.

While effective, sprinklers should supplement fencing or other deterrents. Used alone, persistent rabbits may acclimate to the spray over time or just eat plants at night when systems are off.

Give Rabbits An Alternative Food Source

Sometimes it's easier to divert rabbits than forcefully keeping them out. Designate a corner of your yard just for the rabbits to munch.

Plant a clover patch, lettuces, or other rabbit favorites to distract them from the main garden. Clover makes an excellent diversion - it's low maintenance and flourishes with heavy nibbling.

This designated "rabbit buffet" gives them an alluring place to feed away from your crops. Just be sure it's situated far from your garden so rabbits aren't tempted by proximity.

Maintain Your Rabbit Buffet

For the diversion to remain effective, maintain the rabbit's buffet to keep it chowed down. Allow clover to flower and go to seed for new growth.

If rabbits lose interest, replant with fresh greens and vegetables. A healthy, vibrant rabbit garden will prevent curiosity about your side.

Avoid locating the rabbit garden too close to your crops. The scent of vegetables may still lure them over. Aim for at least 20-30 feet separation between the two.

Remove Shelter And Hiding Spots

Without secure shelter, rabbits are less likely to hunker down and damage your garden. Remove brush piles, branches and other debris that offer seclusion.

Keep your lawn mowed short around the garden perimeter. Eliminate shelter from long grasses and weeds rabbits can hide in.

Prune the lower branches of nearby trees and shrubs up to 2 feet off the ground. This removes protective cover for rabbits to reside under.

Check For Entry Points

Rabbits will dig burrows under fences or sneak through gaps to get to delicacies. Walk your garden boundary and fill in any holes.

Monitor for entry points used by snakes, rodents or other animals that rabbits can also slip through. Eliminate potential passages with wire mesh or rocks.

Being vigilant about maintenance ensures your defenses remain solid against these wiley creatures all season.

Protecting your garden from rabbit invasion doesn't require costly or complex solutions. Strategic fencing, smelly plants and clever diversions are simple, humane ways to coexist with rabbits.

Combining multiple deterrents gives the best control. Rabbits are less likely to push through multiple defenses and will seek easier foraging grounds.

With a bit of effort, you can enjoy watching rabbits frolic through your yard while still harvesting bushels of homegrown produce. Employ these tips so your garden remains a bountiful, rabbit-free zone.

Using companion planting, natural repellent sprays, and protective fencing around vulnerable plants are extra precautions to incorporate. Take a multifaceted approach tailored to your unique garden layout and rabbit pressures. With persistence and patience, you can find the right balance for your garden to thrive while keeping those curious rabbits where they belong - outside the fence!