Last Updated on March 27, 2024 by Admin
Gardening can be a rewarding and enjoyable hobby, however, if you keep rabbits, you’ll agree that they can often damage your garden if they’re left unsupervised. It’s therefore essential to choose plants that are rabbit resistant, on top of using repellents or physical barriers to protect your plants from being damaged. Keep reading to find out how to keep rabbits out detailed rabbit-proofing gardening tips that require a little planning and effort.
i) Rabbit-resistant plants
Choosing gardening plants that are less appealing to rabbits is one of the great ways to keep them out of your garden. Some of these plants include:
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Aromatic herbs
Some of the aromatic herbs that have strong unappealing scents for bunnies include oregano, rosemary, and thyme. In other words, these herbs essentially make a great rabbit-proof garden.
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Perennial flowers
Flowers such as daylilies, foxgloves, and peonies are more resistant to rabbit damage thereby making them rabbit-friendly.
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Woody shrubs
Planting woody shrubs such as barberry, boxwood, and holly that are less appealing for rabbits is also another way to keep them away from your garden.
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Succulents
Succulents that are damage-resistant and rabbit-friendly include agave, aloe, and cactus.
It’s worth pointing out however that the four plant categories can still get damaged when your bunny is hungry enough and there are no food sources available.
ii) Physical barriers
Fencing or installing other physical barriers around your garden or plants is one sure way to garden-proof them from a rabbit invasion. For instance, you can use a fence that’s at least 2 to 3 feet high around the perimeter of your garden. Most importantly, the holes in the fence should be small enough to prevent rabbits from squeezing through. Netting or using a mesh around individual plants such as vegetables is another common method you can use to protect your garden.
Another barrier you can use to secure your plants with is a garden fabric or landscape cloth. You can use it to cover the ground area around your plants to prevent your bunnies from accessing it. Lastly, plant covers such as paper cups or plastic bottles with their bottoms cut out, also come in handy. For protection place either one of them over small plants.
iii) Repellents
Applying repellents is another great way to protect your plants from being eaten by your rabbits. Below are three different types of repellents you can use to deter rabbits from your garden.
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Chemical repellents
Chemical repellents containing capsaicin a compound found in chili peppers or other unpleasant bitter flavors can be used to make plants less tasty.
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Natural repellents
Another popular repellent useful for deterring rabbits from your garden is by sprinkling predatory urine, a blood or bone meal around plants, and lastly placing hair from humans or other animals such as dogs and cats.
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Sonic repellents
Sonic repellents use high-pitched noise that’s inaudible to humans that’s useful for deterring rabbits from approaching your garden.
iv) Space and mental enrichment
Rabbits are likely to destroy your garden if they’re provided with plenty of space to play or exercise in. In addition, create hiding spots, where to dig, and also provide them with toys that provide mental stimulation. You can place them either in a playpen or an enclosed large area.
Conclusion
By following the tips mentioned above, you’ll basically bunny-proof your garden entirely. In other words, it gives you peace of mind knowing that your bunnies get to play and explore the backyard, without having to damage your plants.
