So How Do You Keep Rabbits Out Of Your Garden
While its never fun to deal with pests in your garden, I hope youre only using humane ways to keep them out of your garden.
Ive heard of people using moth balls to repel rabbits from the garden, and I dont agree with that method. Its not only toxic for the rabbits, but they are harmful to humans. Please dont use mothballs in the garden!
With that out of the way, lets see what you CAN do to prevent rabbits from destroying your favorite flowers and vegetables.
Install A Rabbit Proof Garden Fence
Probably one of the most efficient ways to keep rabbits out of your vegetable garden is to build a rabbit-proof fence around the garden. It doesnt have to be too tall unless you want to protect your garden from deer too. To protect against cottontail rabbits, your fence needs to be two feet high and three feet high to protect against jackrabbits.
Use chicken wire if you dont want to spend a lot, but hardware cloth is probably better in the long run: just make sure you bury the bottom of the fence into the ground so that the bunnies cant crawl under.
If youd rather use an electric fence, place the electric wires at 3 and at 10 above the ground. If you need a budget option, electric fencing is cheaper than hardware cloth.
A similar idea is to use floating row covers at night .
Plants That Rabbits Hate
If you plant flowers and vegetables that rabbits love, youll struggle to keep them away from your garden. But you can plant some plants that rabbits wont eat: herbs and flowers that are heavily scented and are known to be avoided by rabbits. Here are just a few plants with strong scent:
There are many other plants rabbits wont eat, but these are a few you can plant right away while you research what else to plant.
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How To Get Rid Of A Rabbit Problem
There is no quick fix for a Rabbit problem. You have to develop a multi-phase strategy to get these squatters off your land and remain diligent in preventing them from returning. Rabbits do not give up easily, they are very smart and determined creatures.
The most effective method is to block access to your yard by installing a 3 to 4 foot high rabbit fence, one foot of which should be buried underground. Rabbits are powerful jumpers and also can tunnel their way into your yard, under standard fencing.
Bushes and plants attract rabbits. Trim low hanging branches that can provide shelter and hiding spots around trees shrubs, and bushes.
You can also use fertilizer containing blood or bone meal in gardens and plant beds to repel herbivores like rabbits. Some suggest using other repellents like cayenne pepper, human or pet hair, kitty litter, coffee grounds, and manure. But these are not as successful as a strong barrier and some of these applications can be harmful to desirable insects, birds, and pets.
Gated entryways into the yard are often overlooked when installing a rabbit barrier. Be sure gates leave very little wiggle room underneath or around fence posts.
Catch And Release Traps
Another good way to get rid of rabbits is with a catch and release trap. Rabbit traps are usually safe and effective.
However, you must take great care to release them away from your home and not in a place where they may be harmed. Trust me on this one, release them a good five miles or so from your home, or you might just wake up the next day to find out theyve returned.
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Why Would You Keep Rabbits Away
Anyone who tills the soil regards the rabbit as more than just a cute threat to the carrot patch. This long-eared animal possesses a voracious appetite for all kinds of fresh vegetationwoody plants, perennials, annuals, vegetables, and berries. In fact, a menu of rabbit favorites is so ridiculously long that its easier to list the few plants that they dont enjoy.
Rabbits also have an extremely high reproductive potential, which is why keeping them around might quickly cause a total garden infestation. They can produce up to three litters of six babies each per year in the north, and up to six litters of three babies each per year in the south. The first litter appears in March in the north, year-round elsewhere. The gestation period is 29 days. Thats only about eight days more than it takes a chicken egg to hatch!
Your backyard bunnys primary concern is to eat without being eaten, a difficult task given that rabbits are relished by more than two dozen species of predators. Nibbling your petunias is therefore not a carefree picnic but a danger-fraught mission. However, if your neighborhood bunny can squeeze through a hole in your garden fence, it will find a time to be able to munch in safety.
You can check our tips for keeping your plants safe from rabbits, but try to regard rabbits as Beatrix Potter didpart of a peaceful, pastoral landscape. Then protect the plants that you and the bunnies really love, and dont worry about the rest.
Plants That Rabbits Love To Eat
You may wonder what are the rabbits favorite plants to eat. They LOVE fresh veggies from your garden. Bunnies will always nibble on these:
Rabbits dont just love your fruit and vegetable garden: they adore many of your beautiful flowers! Here are just a few:
- etc. the list is very long
If you plant any of these flowers and veggies, youll need to find ways to keep rabbits away from your garden. I asked my Facebook followers what they do to keep rabbits away from the vegetables, and got lots of ideas. Ill share them below, but first, lets see what plants rabbits hate.
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Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Rabbits In The Garden/yard
Rabbits are omnivorous animals they wander around in search of food. Their burrows and holes cause a lot of damage to the garden or backyard.
Rabbits live in both urban and suburban areas. They live under the burrows or make holes near the areas where they can easily get through their food.
Thus, these animals are harmless but can be trouble for someone when their population explodes.
When this thing happens, they can ruin the gardens, landscaping, berry plants, trees, or even grasses also. Garden plants that are mostly ruined by rabbits are carrots, lettuce, peas, beets, and even beans.
Even the ornamental bushes and trees even get damaged when rabbits start eating or chewing these barks. They even strip them as a whole also.
A problem arises when the rabbit is infested by the bite of some infected tick or deerfly, which can be harmful to both humans and other animals which can get infected.
Some rabbits live under the holes or some make homes above the ground like in the thick bushes or vegetation or with a lot of debris to be colonized.
There are many natural ways to get rid of rabbits in the garden instead of using any gun or any lethal traps.
Some organic and commercial repellents are also used to get rid of these rabbits without harming them.
These simple home remedies could save a lot of the rabbit community from dying and can help you to get rabbits away from your garden.
Bird Food Crops Insects
If you have bird feeders in your yard, that may be whats attracting the rabbits. The seed in bird feeders is an easy food source. So, consider replacing your birdseed with nuts for squirrels that way, youll keep the squirrels around but avoid attracting rabbits.
If you have crops, then this could also be the culprit. Rabbits love vegetables and are particularly fond of carrots, so they may help themselves to the product in your garden if they have access.
Rabbits can also be drawn in by the presence of bugs. One of the most common attractors is the humble earthworm, and if you have them, you may well have rabbits!
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Taking On The Problem
Rabbits are really a farmers worst adversary. This is because rabbits may devastate a crop, wasting all of your hard work.
Farmers dont think twice about eradicating rabbits as soon as they see a problem.
Of course, were not talking about farmers here, and not everyone wants to slaughter some lovely little bunnies, so lets consider some alternatives.
For the time being, the first step is to chase them away. You may apply a rabbit repellant or even catch them humanely, but the latter may need a trapping permission from your local municipality.
Whatever technique you choose, be sure the rabbits are out of under your deck before moving on to the next stage.
How To Prevent Rabbits
The best way to keep rabbits out of the garden and prevent rabbit damage is to use physical prevention methods such as fencing. Though weve mostly been discussing eastern cottontails, keep in mindthese tips should work for any type of rabbit that loves to munch on your plants!
- The most effective way of keeping out rabbits is chicken wire fencing. Install a fence that is 4 feet high and bury it at least 6 inches deep. Bend the top foot of the fence away from the garden like a security fence, so that they cant climb or jump over it.
- For bulbs, try a dome or cage of chicken wire secured over the bed.
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How Do I Get Rid Of Rabbits Under My House
If you home has a crawl space or area that a rabbit can access they will utilize this as a safe haven or may even make it home. This could lead to a rabbit infestation with tunnels and holes called a warren. If they have made a burrow under your home, you will need to relocate them. Using the trap and remove method, you can take the rabbits to a new home far away from your home. Once you have removed the rabbits, make sure to prevent future issues by closing any holes or access points under your home. Depending on the number of rabbits it may be time to call in professional help.
I hope this article was helpful! Another pesky animal youll want to keep away from your property is snakes. Find out how to keep snakes out of your yard by reading our article, 15 Reliable Ways to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard.
How To Get Rid Of Rabbits
How to get rid of rabbits munching on your garden and lawn? Home remedies include Irish Spring soap shavings, spicy foods and red pepper. You also can purchase repellents and fencing. One other option? Add some garden plants that are pungent to rabbits as a natural deterrent.
But thats hopping to the good stuff. Lets start with your rabbit problem
Even bunny lovers have bad hare days. You know, when you walk outside and see rabbits tearing through your yard and garden with the speed of the Energizer bunny. The cute fluffy tail is suddenly an aggravation the long ears are your biggest foe.
With powerful hind legs and a 24-inch vertical, wild rabbits are as elusive as Bugs Bunny. But instead of impersonating Elmer Fudd, there are a few simpler ways to prevent Bugs from making your garden his buffet.
If youve seen one rabbit in your yard, you probably have a dozen. Your neighborhood may be home to hundreds of hares. Wild rabbits breed with speed, giving birth to as many as 50 kits each year. If you see one noshing on your lawn, the rest of his family is nearby.
If you havent seen Thumper with your own eyes, investigate to be sure hes the one destroying your herb garden. Before you comb the yard looking for stray hares, look for clean-cut damage.
Youll also notice brown spots where the rabbits have feasted. What their foraging doesnt kill, their urine will.
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Remove The Optimal Conditions For Rabbits
Rabbits will only stick around places where they can take cover from predators, such as dense vegetation, piled-up garden refuse, and disorganized tools and containers scattered in your garden.
Keep your garden area organized and free of garden debris. Brush piles, leaves, rocks, dry plants, buckets, etc make it easy for the rabbits to hide. Also, get rid of tall grass and low bushes.
Unsure Of Whats Causing Trouble Identifying A Rabbit Problem
So, before you start your mission to get rid of rabbits in the yard, you first need to determine if the problem is the rabbits.
How can you know a rabbit has been into your yard if you have not seen them with your own eyes?
We have addressed the big question how to deter rabbits, now let us discuss some giveaway signs that can guarantee that there has been a rabbit in your yard. These include:
Now that you have identified that a rabbit has trespassed your area, you need to follow the simple tips stated above on how to keep rabbits out of yard.
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Will A Fence Keep Rabbits Out Of My Yard
Yes, a fence that is over 2 feet in height and that is either chicken wire, lattice or mesh will keep rabbits out of your yard. These fences are made out of materials that the rabbits cant slip through.The majority of rabbits wont try to jump anything over 2 ft in height. So make sure that you fence is high enough to keep the rabbits out. Barrier fences are easy to put up and are considered a humane approach to dealing with a rabbit problem.
Find out other ways a fenced-in yard can be beneficial besides keeping our rabbits by reading our article 10 Reasons to Install a Fence Around Your Yard.
The Hot Pepper Method
Make a homemade repellent out of hot pepper that is organic in nature, which will deter rabbits from entering the yard.
Add 2 tablespoons of hot pepper, preferably cayenne pepper, as well as 3 tablespoons of fresh garlic powder to a coffee filter. Twist the coffee filter close with a twisty string.
Transfer the “makeshift teabag” in a pitcher and pour in about 1 liter of hot water. Let the mixture sit overnight consider placing it outside where elements can cook it. The water will have a potent odor when the filter is removed.
Pour the concoction into a spray bottle and add a half ounce of dish washing soap. The dishwashing soap will allow the mixture to stick to the grass as well as leaves and plants. Concentrate the spray on areas where rabbits have eaten grass. After heavy rains, reapply the mixture to the lawn.
References
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What Are The Best Natural Rabbit Repellents
Here is a list of the best natural products that keep rabbits out of your yard: Advanced Ultrasonic Animal Repeller, Natures Mace Deer & Rabbit Repellent, I Must Garden Rabbit Repellent and Animal Stopper Granular Repellent. There are many types of products you can use to repel rabbits from your property. Using a natural rabbit repellent is a simple and easy method that has a high success rate. You can find also use home remedy repellants. Soaking a rag in ammonia and then placing it in your yard will repel rabbits. Using certain oils and spices like lavender and garlic will repel rabbits. You can even go to most hardware stores and find fox urine or coyote urine to spread around your property.
One thing to keep in mind is that a natural repellent will wear off and have to be re-applied regularly to keep the rabbits out. Most repellents will have to be reapplied after rain. You must use these consistently to break the rabbits habit of coming into your yard.
What Essential Oils Keep Rabbits Away?
