By Esther McGinnis, Horticulturist
NDSU Extension
As a child, I used to feel great sympathy for fluffy little Peter Rabbit in his battle to obtain Mr. McGregor’s prized lettuce.
As an adult growing a vegetable garden as well as costly ornamental plants, my sympathies have changed. Nothing is more devastating than discovering that a row of young pea shoots has been clipped to the ground overnight.
What are your options?
When it comes to your vegetable garden, consider elevating the height. Raised garden beds can place those succulent vegetables beyond the reach of rabbits.
Surprisingly, rabbits have a limited vertical jump height. A raised garden bed of 24 inches or higher is sufficient to deter cottontail rabbits. If jackrabbits (or the mythical jackalope) are the problem, the raised bed should be at least 36 inches high. Your back will thank you for the raised bed!
If you have an in-ground garden, fine-mesh fencing is the best bet. Those cute baby rabbits have no problems squeezing through a chain link fence. One-inch mesh such as chicken wire is small enough to deter the smallest rabbit.
Make sure that the bottom of the fence is snug to the ground or better yet, buried a few inches to deter the most determined rabbit. If you have a chain link fence, you can line the bottom with chicken wire to make it rabbit-proof.
Rabbits love tender leaves such as lettuce and spinach. If you can fence only a portion of your garden, grow vegetables that are less palatable in the unfenced area. Less preferred vegetables include onions, garlic, corn, asparagus, potatoes, tomatoes, rhubarb, cucumbers and squash.
Keep in mind that no plant is completely safe because individual rabbits have their own taste preferences and may be desperate for food, depending upon the time of year. I once planted a row of stinky marigolds around my garden to test whether the plants could serve as a deterrent. The rabbits in my area thought the marigold flowers were a gourmet treat!
The vast majority of rabbit repellents cannot be applied directly to vegetables or other edible crops. These repellents coat the foliage and stems with hot pepper, putrefied eggs, predator urine or other chemicals that make the plants taste or smell foul. They are suitable for landscape plants and not for plants that will be consumed by humans.
If using a repellent that is not labeled for edible plants, consider spraying the odor repellent on the soil around the perimeter of the plants rather than on the vegetables that you will consume. When in doubt, thoroughly read the label.
Finally, make your yard an inhospitable place for rabbits. Fill in existing burrows. American rabbits do not dig burrows but rather utilize abandoned dens from other mammals. Eliminate debris and brush piles. If you have rabbits nesting under your deck, consider enclosing the area.
Don’t feel bad if you feel more in common with Mr. McGregor than with Peter Rabbit. We adults just want to be able to harvest the fruits of our labor.
For more information about gardening, contact your local NDSU Extension agent. Find the Extension office for your county at https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/extension/directory/counties.
NDSU Agriculture Communication - April 27, 2021
Source: Esther McGinnis, 701-231-7971, esther.mcginnis@ndsu.edu
Editor: Ellen Crawford, 701-231-5391, ellen.crawford@ndsu.edu
FAQs
One-inch mesh such as chicken wire is small enough to deter the smallest rabbit. Make sure that the bottom of the fence is snug to the ground or better yet, buried a few inches to deter the most determined rabbit.
What keeps rabbits out of your vegetable garden? ›
Since rabbits are such great sniffers, powdered red pepper sprinkled around the garden or on targeted plants may keep them out. Irish Spring soap shavings placed in little drawstring bags around the garden have been said to help keep rabbits away.
What is the most effective rabbit repellent? ›
Specially formulated to deter rabbits and hares, Plantskydd stops small critters before they bite. Plantskydd is the #1 most tested, #1 most effective and #1 longest lasting animal repellent, proven by professional growers and landscapers.
What can I put around my plants so the rabbits won t eat them? ›
Garden Guides recommends sprinkling blood meal around plants to keep rabbits away.
How do farmers keep rabbits from eating crops? ›
Fencing. The best way for how to stop rabbits from eating plants in your garden is to install fencing. Putting up a fence takes some time and effort, but you'll have a permanent barrier once it's done.
Do coffee grounds keep rabbits away from plants? ›
Sprinkling coffee grounds among your plants may help to ward off rabbits and other small mammals due to coffee's powerful scent. Plus, it composts naturally over time, giving your plants some extra nutrients!
What is the cheapest way to keep rabbits out of your garden? ›
A DIY citrus juice spray
Mix equal parts citrus juice and water in a spray bottle, then give your plants a spritz — not only do rabbits find the scent unpleasant, but it will also keep slugs, aphids, ants and whiteflies away.
Does Irish Spring soap really keep rabbits away? ›
Pat Lunders demonstrates how she uses slivers of Irish Spring soap to keep rabbits away. “Grate it, and sprinkle it like you are feeding the chickens,” she said. “It really, really works.” Mike Cochrane wrote that his wife, Annette, also has found success protecting her plants with Irish Spring.
How do you protect vegetables from rabbits? ›
You can install a good fence around the perimeter of your garden made out of chicken wire, or similar fencing. This is probably the most expensive and most labor intensive of deterrents, but also the most effective. Remember to bury the fence 6 to 12 inches below ground so the rabbits can't dig under it.
What smell do bunny rabbits hate? ›
Although rabbit-proof plants don't exist, there are some that rabbits don't like because of their strong scents such as basil, garlic, rhubarb, hot peppers, spicy basil, and mint. Some gardeners say that marigolds keep rabbits out of their gardens, while others say rabbits actually like the marigolds they planted.
These include plants with prickly leaves, such as holly and rosemary, and plants with strong scents, such as lavender and mint. By planting these kinds of plants around the garden's perimeter, you can create a natural barrier that will keep rabbits out.
How to keep rabbits out of raised garden beds? ›
A raised garden bed of 24 inches or higher is sufficient to deter cottontail rabbits. If jackrabbits (or the mythical jackalope) are the problem, the raised bed should be at least 36 inches high. Your back will thank you for the raised bed! If you have an in-ground garden, fine-mesh fencing is the best bet.
Do plastic forks deter rabbits? ›
First, the prongs of the forks create an uncomfortable surface for rabbits to walk on or dig through. This discomfort deters them from venturing further into your garden, thus protecting your plants from their voracious appetites. Using plastic forks as a rabbit deterrent offers several advantages.
Will chili powder keep rabbits away? ›
Repellents: Prevent rabbits from eating your plants by making your own repellents. You can do this by mixing garlic and chilli powder with water and dishwashing liquid into a spray bottle.
Does cayenne pepper keep rabbits away? ›
Ultimately, cayenne pepper is somewhat effective at repelling rabbits from your garden.
What smell do rabbits hate? ›
Although rabbit-proof plants don't exist, there are some that rabbits don't like because of their strong scents such as basil, garlic, rhubarb, hot peppers, spicy basil, and mint. Some gardeners say that marigolds keep rabbits out of their gardens, while others say rabbits actually like the marigolds they planted.
What is a natural deterrent for rabbits? ›
These include plants with prickly leaves, such as holly and rosemary, and plants with strong scents, such as lavender and mint. By planting these kinds of plants around the garden's perimeter, you can create a natural barrier that will keep rabbits out.
What do rabbits hate in a garden? ›
An edging of marigolds may deter rabbits. Plant deterrents. Onions, garlic, marigolds, lavender, catnip-many plants are credited with being deterrents to rabbits.
