Hostas are a popular choice for shade gardens, offering lush foliage that brightens dimly lit areas. Unfortunately, the tender, new growth is highly attractive to rabbits, which can quickly strip the leaves and ruin the plant’s appearance. Protecting hostas requires a strategy that blends physical barriers with chemical deterrents. This combined approach makes the plants inaccessible and unappealing, offering the most reliable defense against persistent rabbit feeding.
Identifying Rabbit Damage
Confirming that rabbits are the source of the damage is the first step before implementing control measures. Rabbit feeding leaves distinct, clean, angled cuts on stems and leaves, often at a 45-degree slant, due to their sharp incisor teeth. This “snipped” appearance differs from the ragged, torn edges left by deer, which tend to rip the foliage when they browse. Damage typically occurs low to the ground, usually within a few inches of the soil line. They prefer the succulent, newly emerging shoots and leaves, especially in the spring and early summer. The presence of small, round, pellet-like droppings nearby is another strong indicator that rabbits are frequenting the area.
Exclusion Methods and Physical Barriers
Structural exclusion, such as fencing, provides the most effective long-term protection for hostas and garden beds. To prevent rabbits from jumping over, a fence needs to stand at least 24 to 30 inches high. Because rabbits are also adept at digging, the barrier must extend below the soil surface.
The fence should be buried at least 6 inches deep, though burying it 8 to 12 inches is better to prevent tunneling. A highly effective technique is to bend the bottom 6 inches of the buried wire outward, forming an “L” shape that discourages rabbits from digging directly against the barrier. Mesh size is important; galvanized hardware cloth with openings of 1 inch or less, ideally one-half inch, is recommended over standard chicken wire.
For protecting individual, high-value hosta plants, temporary wire cages or cylinders can be constructed from hardware cloth. These structures should be secured into the ground around the plant, extending 24 to 30 inches upward. This provides localized protection for vulnerable plants without the need to fence an entire garden area.
Applying Repellents and Taste Deterrents
Repellents work by creating an unpleasant taste or smell, making the hosta leaves undesirable for consumption. These products often contain ingredients like putrescent egg solids, which signal a predator or decaying animal, or capsaicin and hot pepper oils, which cause a mild burning sensation. Other common repellent components include garlic, peppermint oil, and various botanical essential oils.
Repellents should be applied directly to the hosta foliage until the leaves are thoroughly coated. Since rabbits target new growth, reapplication is necessary whenever fresh leaves unfurl, particularly during the active growing season. The effectiveness of most repellents decreases over time and is significantly reduced by rain or overhead watering. This necessitates reapplication every two to four weeks, or immediately following heavy precipitation.
Granular deterrents, which are scattered around the base of the plants or garden perimeter, offer a secondary layer of protection by using scent to discourage entry. Ingredients like blood meal or dried sulfur can be used in this manner. Using both a taste-based spray on the leaves and a scent-based granular product provides a more comprehensive deterrent strategy against persistent rabbit feeding.