Rabbits, whether the smaller cottontail or the larger jackrabbit, often cause the rapid destruction of ornamental plants and vegetable crops. These herbivores seek tender vegetation, making gardens an attractive food source. Protecting plants requires an integrated strategy that targets both the animals’ access and their desire to feed. This approach combines physical exclusion, sensory deterrents, and long-term environmental planning.
Implementing Physical Barriers (Exclusion)
Physical exclusion is the most dependable method for safeguarding plants from rabbit damage. The primary defense involves installing a sturdy perimeter fence. The wire mesh should have openings no larger than one inch to prevent young rabbits from squeezing through.
Fence height is important; a minimum of two feet is recommended to deter the smaller cottontail rabbit. In areas with jackrabbits, a three-foot fence is necessary to prevent them from jumping over the enclosure. Durable materials like galvanized steel or welded wire are preferred for their strength and resistance to chewing.
Because rabbits are natural burrowers, the fence must extend beneath the ground surface to block digging attempts. Burying the bottom edge at least six inches deep is standard practice. For enhanced security, the buried mesh can be bent outward in an “L” shape, extending six inches away from the protected area. This makes it nearly impossible for a rabbit to tunnel underneath successfully.
For smaller, vulnerable areas like newly planted seedlings or raised beds, temporary barriers are effective. Individual plants can be protected with cylinders made from hardware cloth, or the entire bed can be covered with fine netting until the plants mature. This localized protection ensures that new growth, which is appealing to rabbits, is secure during the establishment phase.
Using Repellents and Sensory Deterrents
Repellents target a rabbit’s sensitive sense of taste or smell, making plants unpalatable or the environment seem threatening. Commercial repellents often use active ingredients like putrescent whole egg solids, which mimic predator odor, or taste deterrents like Thiram. These products must be applied directly to the plant parts being damaged.
A limitation of repellents is the need for frequent reapplication, particularly after heavy rainfall or overhead watering, which washes the active ingredients away. As plants grow, new, unprotected foliage emerges rapidly, requiring reapplication every few weeks to cover the new growth. Homemade sprays often utilize the unpleasant taste of capsaicin from hot peppers or the strong scent of garlic, mixed with an adhesive agent like soap or egg to help the solution stick.
Non-chemical deterrents rely on startling a rabbit to condition it to avoid a specific area. Motion-activated sprinklers, which deliver a sudden burst of water and noise, can be effective in the short term. However, rabbits are intelligent and can quickly become accustomed, or habituated, to static visual deterrents such as plastic owls or reflective objects. To maintain the effectiveness of these visual aids, they must be moved frequently, ideally every few days, to prevent their acclimation.
Habitat Modification and Resistant Planting
Long-term rabbit control involves making the surrounding environment less inviting by removing potential hiding and nesting locations. Rabbits seek cover in dense, overgrown areas, which provide shelter from predators and safe spots for raising young. Removing brush piles, clearing tall weeds, and blocking access underneath structures like sheds, porches, and decks eliminates these safe havens.
Eliminating these secure hiding spots increases the rabbits’ perceived risk of predation, encouraging them to move their activity elsewhere. This environmental cleanup is a passive but permanent strategy for reducing rabbit pressure on your garden.
A complementary strategy is to select plants that rabbits naturally avoid, focusing on characteristics they find unappealing. Rabbits generally steer clear of plants with strong, pungent scents, such as herbs like oregano, sage, and mint. They also tend to avoid plants that have milky sap, fuzzy or leathery foliage, or those containing toxic compounds.
Examples of rabbit-resistant plants include those with distinctive textures like Lamb’s Ear or strong aromas like allium (ornamental onions) and lavender. The term “resistant” does not mean “rabbit-proof,” as a severely hungry rabbit may still consume plants it would normally ignore, especially when other food sources are scarce.