How to Keep Rabbits out of a Garden

How to Keep Rabbits out of a Garden humanly can be an important for about anyone with a garden.

While rabbits may seem cute hopping down a sidewalk, they can be destructive to a garden.

Keeping rabbits out of the garden.

Whether it is to save your plants or to keep your yard tidy, you may want to keep rabbits out of your garden.

If you are like me then maybe you have nothing against these furry animals, you just do not want them in your yard.

Did you read about How to Make a Pet Safe Garden ?

That article features ways to keep your pets safe in your garden. Because, we all know how pets can be curious and we do not want anything to happen to them

You may choose to simply use rabbit repeller to protect your plants. There is a selection of rabbit repelling ideas here.

What can rabbits do to a garden?

Certainly, the obvious thing that a rabbit can do to your garden can be to eat your plants.
From flowers to vegetables, if the rabbit is hungry, it will graze.

As a dog owner however, that last thing that I want to see is a bunny nest in my yard.
It can break your heart to see dogs do what evolution has told them to do and to hear and see the evidence as a result.

By the way, you may not know this but, one female cottontail rabbit can give birth to up to 25 baby bunnies in a year! Also, it takes about six months for a rabbit to reach adulthood... (do the math).

Do rabbits carry diseases?

According to the experts, yes, rabbit do carry diseases. Many of which can spread to humans or our pets.
These diseases include, rabies, tularemia, ringworm and salmonella. Consult a veterinarian or specialist for more precise details on this topic if needed.

Tips for keeping rabbits out of your garden.

While most methods may make rabbits think twice, not everything will be 100%. Sometimes, it is best to try more than one method.

Here are some more helpful tips for you.

1. Consider using physical barriers to keep rabbits out of your yard.
2. Practice strategic plant placement.
3. Plant the Plants that can repel rabbits.
4. Avoid plants that are attractive to rabbits.
5. Try Simple ways to prevent the rabbits from your yard.

Physical barriers that can prevent rabbits from getting into your yard.

Obviously, a fence is the most popular barrier for keeping about any animal out of your garden. That fence should be at least four feet tall (rabbits can jump as high as four feet!) and they should be buried into the ground at least six inches as rabbits can burrow (remember bug's living room?...). If you are using a wire fence, such as chicken wire, make sure that it is at least an inch thick and the wires should not have an opening of more than an inch.

Here is what else to keep in mind.

• I have found that when the ground under a fence settles, openings can appear. These openings are very attractive t oa rabbit looking for food.
• Be creative using large rocks or wood as needed to cover openings in your yard.
• Do not forget to take gates into consideration as sometimes they will have gapes under or around them.

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Using simple plant placements to repel rabbits from a garden.

While certain plants may be about the most humane and easy method of keeping rabbits away, it may not be the most effective. You can certainly make your odds better by using more than one plant however.

Arranging plants to prevent rabbits.

• Start by planting the plants around the perimeter of the garden to 'warn' the rabbit it may not be somewhere they would like to be and from entering as a result.
• Strategically place the plants inside of the garden- using a pot or planter for example.
• Practice companion planting, or the planting certain types of plants together. For example, I plant marigolds around my vegetables in an attempt to keep the rabbits out of my garden.

Plants that can repel rabbits.

Marigolds

Possibly the most popular and easiest to plant, Marigolds have a strong scent that rabbits find unappealing. Also, marigolds contain a natural insecticide that can also deter other pests.

Lavender

Lavender is another plant that rabbits do not like. This is because lavender has strong scent that they do not like.

Peppermint.

Rabbits do not like the strong scent of peppermint. However, peppermint tends to spread so it is a better choice for a larger area.

Rosemary.

This is an herb with a strong scent that rabbits do not like. It is however easy to grow in a garden.

Bunny-Be-Gone Coleus.

This member of the coleus family is marketed as a natural repellent. Sometimes referred to as the 'Scaredy Cat Plant' this mint family herb is sticky and has a scent that rabbits do not enjoy.

Other plants that can repel rabbits.

• Shasta Daisy (although apparently not the rabbits that visit my yard..)
• Zinnias
• Sage.

Plants that are attractive to rabbits.

Not planting certain plants is another method to keep rabbits out of your yard. You can also opt to plant these plants with a barrier surrounding them if you really want them in your garden.

Leafy greens

Rabbits love leafy greens such as lettuce kale, and spinach. These plants are a favorite for rabbits as they are tender and easy for them to eat.

Carrots

It should seem obvious that carrots are a favorite food for rabbits.

Fruits

Apples that have fallen from a tree are especially attractive rabbits.

Other popular garden food that rabbits enjoy.

• Grapes.
• Bananas
• Berries

Simple ways to prevent the rabbits from your yard.

• Keeping your garden clean and tidy is a biggie when it comes to keeping rabbits away. Rabbits seem to like messy gardens especially when there are hiding places or places to make a nest. You can keep your garden tidy by removing weeds, debris or garbage, and raking out old leaves. .

• Keep potential food sources of your garden. I have bird feeders in my yard and rabbits love to take care of what has fallen on the ground.
• Try using natural repellents. Natural options include hot sauce, cayenne pepper, and garlic spray. You can find natural rabbit repellents here.
• Try 'scare' tactics. Motion-activated sprinklers can easily scare rabbits away.
• Sprinkle coffee grounds around your plants and in your garden. I use a small paring knife to simply scoop the coffee out of the cups.

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How to Keep Rabbits out of a Garden, simple and humane methods for preventing rabbits from entering your vegetable or flower garden.

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If you decide to try any of the ideas listed in this article please tag on social media @diyandfun. We like to hear your ideas and suggestions.

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