Bunnies are cute ... but destructive!
Each spring, we get MANY questions about rabbits. Particularly … how to deter rabbits from eating plants. And not just the plants rabbits are known to enjoy. For the past couple of years, it seems like they are eating absolutely EVERYTHING.
This time of year is particularly relevant, as rabbits love new plant growth. Freshly erupting hosta are especially tempting. Even fresh rose branches delight them. Coneflowers, at the start of the stalks, are appealing. Even plants lying in wait at our Plant Club pickup locations each May are at risk – we’ve taken to elevating them while they await member pickup because the rabbits have taken down entire flats of plants overnight. The rabbits are everywhere, day and night.
There are some things gardeners can try to minimize the impact of rabbits – none are for sure, but we’ve pulled together a short list of some options that might help. We also have another article on our website that offers tips.
Of course, the first line of defense is a fence. It’s not always the most attractive, or practical (for a front yard, for example!). But in some cases, that’s the best way to go.
- Since rabbits are diggers, you will need to ensure that the bottom of the fence is buried 4-6 inches deep, to have a better chance of truly keeping them out of what you are trying to protect inside.
- If you can bend the bottom of the fence at a 90-degree angle, and bury it, the L-shape barrier you create will be even more effective.
- Note that the openings of the wire should be small – like 1” or less – because otherwise, they will squeeze through to get to your prized plants.
- Some suggested materials include chicken wire, or some welded wire fencing called hardware cloth.
There are also some repellents you can try. (Again, no promises that this works, but it’s a good thing to try as it may deter your particular rabbits.).
- In a recent Plant Club Zoom call, our teammate Sara (who shepherds the Libertyville Plant Club), identified the product Bobbex Liquid as being effective in her fight against rabbits in her garden and others she supports for clients.
- Our teammate at the Winnetka Plant Club, Susan, swears by Rat Magic granules. Don’t be freaked out by the name – it’s a deterrent, not a killer. It’s safe for humans and pets, but rodents and rabbits (and deer) don’t love the scent, so it’s a deterrent for them.
- A member shared that she has found shredded pieces of Irish Spring soap to be effective against rabbits.
- Other spray and granule repellent suggestions include Nature’s MACE granules, Enviro Pro Rabbit Scram granules, Liquid Fence, Deer and Rabbit spray, or I Must Garden granules and spray. A lot of these repellents are made with natural and/or organic components, as garlic clips or essential oils, which deter rabbits through scent or taste.
Regardless of which repellent you use, it will need to be re-applied regularly, and after it rains, to ensure it is at all effective. Depending on the weather, this can become quite a project!
Understand that most rabbits don’t want to be around strong scents – think rosemary, mint, lavender and sage. Plants that are typically rabbit-resistant also include marigolds, daffodils, alyssum and ageratum.
If all else fails, plant some things they enjoy eating and hope they hang out there! That might include legumes - peas, beans and clover or other plants you don’t particularly care about, that they like. This would be considered a “decoy garden” … hopefully distracting them from the real one!
Finally, you can get more sophisticated with motion-activated sprinklers, or even ultrasonic devices that make sounds that are unappealing to rabbits. If you have an enthusiastic dog, letting him or her roam the yard may be enough to deter the rabbits from hanging out there.
Good luck! Remember, you're not alone. We are all dealing with this and there are some tricks you can use to outsmart the rabbits. If you have some winning ways to deal in your own yard, please send them to help@northshoreplantclub.com so we can share them with all of our members.
North Shore Plant Club
