How to Keep Rabbits Out of Your Garden?

Growing your produce in your garden has its perks. However, everything can go wrong with a simple fluffy problem, rabbits. While these cute animals can melt your heart any day, they can also be destructive. Find out how to keep rabbits out of the garden in this article.

What are the signs that a Rabbit Enters Your Garden

Before finding out how to keep rabbits out of your garden, it’s important to know first how to figure out if a rabbit enters your garden in the first place. Many signs may show that a rabbit is lingering in your garden, but below are the four most common signs of a rabbit’s presence. Please read each of them below.

• Gnawing marks on Plants: The first sign is spotting gnawing marks on plants. This may be the root cause of why you searched for this article in the first place. Your produce will certainly have gnawing marks if they are eaten by rabbits entering your garden. It’s important that you carefully inspect each of your products to ensure that there are no gnawing marks, no matter how small it is.

• Nesting Areas: Another important sign to look for in your garden is nesting areas. While this may not be out in the open, you need to be cautious and diligent in looking for it around the area. Start by checking some of your bushes or covered areas.

• Rabbit Hair or Fur: You can be sure that a rabbit lurks around your garden if you find a clump of rabbit hair or fur. Be vigilant when cleaning up your garden and take notice of any hair or fur that’s different. If you do find one, make sure to take all necessary steps to keep rabbits out of your garden.

• Coarse Round Fecal Pellets: Lastly, be mindful of small round things that you may find odd in your garden. Do not touch anything with your bare hands, and always carry a broom with you. Rabbit fecal pellets can be hazardous for your health.

Now that you know how to find out if a rabbit is lurking around your garden, you are now ready to learn about the different ways to keep them out. Here are some of the best ways to keep rabbits out of your garden without further ado.

Keep Rabbits Out with Fences

The first way to keep rabbits out of your garden, and one of the most effective ways, is by using fences. And we’re not talking about a simple picket fence; we’re talking about large-scale fencing. You can also consider installing motion-activated sprinklers in your garden to keep rabbits off completely.

Keep any area secured and closed out by putting perimeter fences to keep any wild animal out. If you are dealing with rabbits, the best way to go is by using ½ to 1-inch mesh thick chicken wire with a minimum height of two feet. Make sure you choose a durable chicken wire that’s not easy to trample over if rabbits jump on them.

However, if you think you are done, then think again. Rabbits have tendencies to dig deep under the ground, and they can do the same for your fences. That’s why it’s important to have it buried under the ground for a minimum of six inches. That way, you can make sure that rabbits can’t enter your garden in any way possible.

Once everything is installed, and in place, you need to make sure that you inspect the fence now and then. Rabbits may nibble on them and deform the wires, so be vigilant.

Keep Rabbits Out by Planting what they don’t like

Instead of using fences for your garden, one way you can keep rabbits out is by planting fruits, vegetables, and other crops that they don’t like. There’s no plant that rabbits hate, but there are some that they avoid because of their strong, unpleasant odor. You may try planting different herbs and spices such as basil, garlic, mint, and hot peppers. On the other, take note of fruits and vegetables such as apples, broccoli, carrots, Brussel sprouts, blueberries, and spinach. These plants should be well protected since these are some of what rabbits would love to eat.

Keep Rabbits Out with Plant Protection

Another great way to make sure that your plants are well-protected is by putting individual plant barriers. It’s a great technique to make sure that rabbits won’t be able to reach any of your plants even if they get inside your garden. This can work for any plant size, which is a big help to keep rabbits out, but the height should vary depending on the plant you’re protecting.

Just like the perimeter fencing above, you can use chicken wire that’s ¼ to ½ mesh thick to put up individual plant protection. Remember that the fencing should be at least two feet high and six feet deep buried under the ground. This will make sure that the rabbits won’t be able to dig under your garden to reach the plant and high enough for them not to reach.

Keep Rabbits Out with Repellents

If you don’t like putting in too much work, you may go for the option of using chemical repellents. Most of the chemical repellents available on the market are sticky and have an unpleasant odor. Not to mention, some can be very harmful to the plants you are growing. Make sure that you get a safe repellent for the types of plants you are growing in your garden.

Another thing with repellents is that you need to reapply them every few hours since they can wear out easily. It can also cause sticky surfaces, which can have a very strong and unpleasant odor. Be sure to follow specific instructions if you ever choose repellents. If you want a more organic approach, check out this video below.

Keep Rabbits Out by Removing their Nests

Last but not least, if you want to make sure that rabbits won’t want to come back to your garden, get rid of any signs of nesting areas. The most common areas where rabbits usually nest are low branches or bushes. If possible, you can cut off these branches to prevent them from returning. You can also have a regular schedule of when to trim the bushes in your garden to lessen the chance of rabbits staying in them.

Another area where rabbits may nest is under your house. Sometimes, houses have openings underneath, so make sure that you seal this all off. If left open, rabbits won’t be the only animal you may find under, so it’s better to be safe and seal it off. If you have fences installed, make sure that the area around them is clear.

Other Helpful Tips to Keep Rabbits Out

Since we’ve covered all of the most common ways to keep rabbits out of your garden, we’re here to provide you with a handful of helpful tips that you can use to make the process easier. Get ready to take some notes with the following things.

• You can use talcum powder to keep rabbits away. When sprinkled over your plants, this material can create a strong odor and unpleasant taste that will certainly keep away these furry disturbances.
• Using anything with garlic can easily keep rabbits out. They have sensitive noses that amplify all they smell, making every strong odor even stronger.
• Rabbits are known for their amazing sense of smell. That’s why you have to add something in your garden with a strong odor to keep them away. The first thing you can try is planting onions in your garden.
• Regularly check your garden for any signs of rabbits, even after you have installed the right things to keep rabbits away. Check for any gnaw marks or holes that the rabbit dug.
• If you’re looking for a strong powder that rabbits would hate, go for red pepper. This material will make them go away with one sniff.
• It has been a well-known legend that rabbits are afraid of their reflections. If you want to test the theory, line up some reflective surfaces in your garden. You can find reflectors and other materials at garden stores, so make sure to check them out.
• They would want to keep away from strong chemicals with their strong sense of smell. You can use dried sulfur and sprinkle it on your plants so that the odor will keep the rabbits away.
• For persistent rabbits who still come and go, you may go for traps planted around your garden. Carefully place it in an area where you’ve spotted rabbits before or nesting areas. You can use apples or carrots as an effective bait.
• If you have been dealing with some deers in the past few years, you can also use the same techniques for rabbits, and they are proven to be effective.

Summary

Knowing how to keep rabbits out of gardens is very helpful, especially for those who grow their produce. This information can improve your product’s quality and ensure that your garden is free of any furry disturbances. Just follow everything here, and you are well on your way.