Vegetable and flower gardens often present the challenge of how to get rid of rabbits. There are many humane ways you can discourage rabbits from munching on your delicious veggies and prized flowers.
Rabbit Repellents
The fastest and most effective way to get rid of rabbits in your garden is to use a repellent. Choose a product that is safe to use with your edibles and won't harm humans or animals. There are many repellents available, such as Nature's Mace Deer and Rabbit Repellent.
How to Use a Repellent to Get Rid of Rabbits
There are several ways you can use a repellent. One is in spray form and the other is a granule or pellet.
How to Use a Spray Repellent
You will mix the concentrated liquid repellent with water according to the manufacturer's directions. You can then use the repellent to spray your entire yard or if you're seeking to save just garden plants, spray either around or directly onto the plants.
Using Pellets to Repel Rabbits
A pellet or granule form of repellent is easier to use since it doesn't require mixing with water. You will sprinkle pellets or granules around the garden plants you wish to protect or you can create a repellent border around your garden that rabbits will be hesitant to breach. Many repellents are water resistant and don't require being reapplied very often. Many repellents for rabbits employ the sense of smell instead of taste as the repelling factor.
Plant that Repel Rabbits
Certain plants are believed to be repel rabbits. You can plan to use these various herbs, flowers and vegetables to discourage rabbits from moving deeper into your garden.
Herbs to Repel Rabbits
Many gardeners swear by certain herbs believed to repel rabbits. You can try a few aromatic herbs planted as a perimeter around your garden spot. If you've wanted to start an herb garden, this may be your opportunity while lettting it serve as repellent to rabbits. The herbs include, basil, oregano, parsley, lemon balm, rosemary, and mint.
Flowers and Prickly Shrubberies to Repel Rabbits
You can plant flowers and blooming shrubberies known to repel rabbits. Start with daffodil, marigold, snapdragon, geranium, zinnia, four o'clock, lantana, and lavender flowers. Add a couple of shrub plants that are prickly to discourage rabbits, such as holly, boxwood, cedar, and juniper.
Homemade Rabbit Repellents
You can create your own type of smell repellents to get rid of rabbits in your garden. Many gardeners swear by these solutions to rabbits destroying their gardens.
Offensive Smelling Spray
Another way to repel rabbits is to create an offensive smelling spray that includes, garlic, onions, peppermint, and red chili peppers. You will need a few supplies to complete this repellent.
Supplies
- Food processor or blender to chop/puree ingredients
- Mesh sieve/strainer
- Garden sprayer
- Large bowl with lid
- Measuring cup
- Spoon and spatula
Ingredients
- 4 Large onions
- 4 Cups of fresh peppermint (stems and leaves)
- 2 Garlic bulbs
- 5 red chili peppers
Directions
- Slice onions and garlic into halves or quarters (no need to peel)
- Place these and remaining ingredients into blender or food process.
- Process until liquid or puree consistency.
- Add 1 cup of water and blend
- Pour all ingredients into bowl.
- Use spatula or spoon if necessary, to remove all of the mixture.
- Cover with lid and set aside for 24 hours.
- At the end of 24 hours strain your mixture using the mesh strainer.
- Pour strained liquid into your spray.
- Add water to your mixture until it reached the sprayer fill line.
- Spray your garden with the mixture.
- If the rabbit returns, you know it's time to respray the garden.
Sachets of Aromatic Concoctions
You can create small aromatic sachets to place around your plants. These can be something as simple as a gardners' favorite, Irish Spring soap shavings. However, you may not want that much soap rained on in your garden, so you may prefer to other sniffing aromas, such as essential oils.
Essential Oil Repellents for Rabbits
The powerful concentration of scents that essential oils deliver make them a great deterrent to rabbits. You can place three to five drops of essential oil onto a cotton ball and place on the ground by the plants you wish to protect. Be careful not to get the oil onto your hands since it is very concentrated and could irritate your skin. Use essential oils of any aromatic herbs mentioned, such as rosemary, mint, peppermint, lemon balm, etc.
Red Pepper Powder
If you want a powerful deterrent, red pepper powder is touted as a great rabbit repellent. You can get extra mileage out of your pepper when you add it to other types of repellents, such as talc powder. Just sprinkle the powder around and on top of the plants you wish to protect.
Barrier Defenses Against Rabbits
Another way to prevent rabbits from moving into your garden is to invest in fencing. You can find some very attractive rabbit proof fences that are a minimum of three feet high and are buried at least six to eight inches below ground to prevent burrowing. If you aren't concerned about aesthetics, you have a wider range of garden fencing choices like the proven barrier of chicken wire.
Pets Deter Rabbits
If you have outdoor cats, you can rest assured these predators will terrorize any rabbits brave enough to encroach on their territory. Dog owners also claim their pets are a great rabbit repellent.
Trapping Rabbits and Releasing Elsewhere
The practice of trapping rabbits and releasing them in places away from your property may sound like a good idea, but in all likelihood is a band aid to your problem. There's a reason rabbits are attracted to your garden.
Problems with Catch and Release Solution
Removing one or even a few rabbits probably won't solve your problem since there may be many hiding out on your property. Rabbits are prolific breeders and some breeds live in groups. In addition, some towns have laws against catching and releasing animals. If you plan to use this tactic, be sure you understand your local laws.
Areas that Rabbits Love
You can get rid of areas like brush piles or undergrowth near your garden that rabbits love. You want to clean these up immediately since rabbits often make their homes in such protective areas.
Crawl Spaces and Plants
Rabbits can create habitats underneath garden sheds, porches, decks, and storage buildings that have even a slight crawl space. You can block these areas to prevent rabbits from moving in. Berry patches are ideal hideouts for rabbits as are ornamental tall grasses, so keep this in mind when planning future landscaping projects.
How to Get Rid of Rabbits in Your Garden
Rabbits can destroy your garden and frustrate your efforts to produce food for your family and a beautiful landscaped yard. Select two or three methods for repelling rabbits to ensure you have enough deterrents for all of the rabbits invading your garden.
