Rabbits can cause a lot of damage in gardens by eating vegetables, flowers, shrubs and burrowing holes. Many gardeners struggle to keep rabbits out of their gardens and are looking for safe, natural ways to repel them. There are many homemade sprays and solutions that can be used as natural rabbit repellents without harming rabbits or other wildlife. This article will explore the most effective natural rabbit repellents and provide tips on how to use them properly.
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Why Use Natural Rabbit Repellents?
Natural rabbit repellents are preferable to chemical or toxic solutions. Chemical repellents can contaminate soil and plants, and harm beneficial insects and wildlife. Natural repellents made from household ingredients break down quickly without residual toxicity. They provide pest control safely for children, pets and the environment.
Natural repellents also tend to be more affordable than commercial chemical products. With some simple ingredients from your pantry and garden, you can make homemade repellents for a fraction of the cost.
Making your own natural repellents allows you to customize the ingredients and scent to target rabbits specifically. Store-bought chemical repellents are made for broad spectrum pest control and may not focus on deterring rabbits.
When to Apply Natural Rabbit Repellents
The best time to apply natural rabbit repellents is before the rabbits start feeding on plants in your garden. Early spring is when rabbits begin seeking out food sources and that is when gardens are most vulnerable.
You can start applying repellents a few weeks before your region’s average last spring frost date. This gives the repellent time to build up on plant leaves and stems before delicate new growth appears.
Continue reapplying repellents every 2-3 weeks through the peak rabbit feeding season in early summer. Use repellents until plants are established and less vulnerable to rabbit browsing damage.
Natural repellents need to be reapplied after heavy rain or watering that washes away the protective oils. For the best results, use repellents consistently throughout the period of risk.
Most Effective Natural Rabbit Repellents
Here are some of the most effective options for natural DIY rabbit repellents:
Hot Pepper Spray
A homemade spray made from hot peppers is one of the most popular natural rabbit repellents. Rabbits have sensitive noses and dislike the strong scent and oils from hot peppers.
Most hot pepper rabbit repellent recipes involve blending or grinding cayenne peppers, jalapeños or habanero peppers into a liquid solution. Some simple hot pepper sprays require just peppers and water. Other recipes add extra ingredients like garlic or dish soap.
Apply the hot pepper spray liberally on plants that rabbits tend to feed on. Focus on coating the most vulnerable parts of plants like the stems, shoot tips and flower heads. Reapply the spray after heavy rain. The heat and smell should discourage rabbits from taking a nibble.
Garlic Spray
Garlic is another strong scent that drives rabbits away. Like hot peppers, garlic contains oils that rabbits find offensive.
Chop garlic cloves and soak them in water for a day or two to make a garlic spray. Add a bit of vegetable oil or dish soap to help the garlic mixture stick to plants.
Spray the garlic solution directly on plants and around the perimeter of gardens. Rabbits will turn up their nose once they get a whiff of the potent garlic odor. Reapply the garlic spray every few weeks or after rain.
Citrus Oils
The strong citrus scent of lemons, oranges and grapefruits makes an effective natural rabbit repellent. Rabbits dislike the oils from citrus peels, juice and pulp.
Collect citrus peels and soak them in water to infuse the oils. You can also blend peels with water in a food processor. Add a bit of biodegradable soap to help the citrus spray adhere to plants.
Spray citrus solutions on and around vulnerable plants. Focus on applying them along pathways and areas where you notice rabbits entering the garden.
Predator Urine
One chemical-free option for scaring away rabbits is predator urine, particularly coyote or fox urine. The scent of predators triggers a fear response in rabbits that motivates them to avoid the area.
Look for predator urine at garden centers or hardware stores, or order it online. Apply the urine along the garden perimeter and spray it directly on plants. The scent convinces rabbits that predators are nearby so they’ll seek dinner elsewhere.
Herbal Repellents
Certain strong smelling garden herbs also have natural rabbit repellent properties, including:
- Mint
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Lavender
- Rue
- Basil
Rabbits tend to avoid these herbs. Plant them around the edge of the garden or in pots mixed among vulnerable plants. The aroma should help mask the scent of food plants and deter rabbits.
You can also make liquid repellents by soaking or boiling fresh herb leaves and stems in water. Try a mixture of several pungent herbs for an extra strong scent rabbit spray.
Homemade Rabbit Repellent Spray Recipes
Here are some easy homemade spray solutions for natural rabbit control using ingredients from your kitchen:
Hot Pepper Garlic Spray
- 4 cups hot water
- 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
- 1 bulb garlic, cloves chopped
- 1 teaspoon dish soap (optional)
Process the cayenne and garlic in a blender or food processor with enough hot water to make a thick paste. Let the mixture steep for 24 hours. Strain out the solids and mix in dish soap if desired. Dilute with more hot water and pour into a spray bottle.
Garlic Mint Spray
- 3 garlic bulbs, chopped
- 1 small bunch fresh mint, chopped
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
Steep the chopped garlic and mint leaves in boiling water overnight. Strain and mix in the vegetable oil. Pour into a spray bottle to apply.
Citrus Predator Urine Spray
- 1 cup orange, lemon or grapefruit peels
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon predator urine
2 drops dish soap
Boil the citrus peels in water, then let steep overnight. Strain the peels and mix in the predator urine and dish soap. Use as a perimeter spray around gardens.
Tips for Using Natural Rabbit Repellents
Here are some tips to use natural rabbit repellents effectively:
- Apply repellents consistently, reapplying every 2-3 weeks and after rain.
- Spray repellents on dry days without wind for best plant coverage.
- Focus on spraying the most vulnerable plant parts and along rabbit travel paths.
- Combine different repellents like garlic spray and predator urine for added impact.
- Clean spray bottles thoroughly between uses to avoid contamination.
- Store leftover repellent spray in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Natural rabbit repellents may need reapplication more often than chemical products. But with a regular maintenance routine, these homemade options can effectively protect gardens from rabbit damage.
Combining Repellents with Physical Barriers
For best results, use natural repellents along with physical barriers to cover all bases of rabbit protection:
- Fencing – Install fencing around vulnerable gardens to keep rabbits out. Use chicken wire, hardware cloth or plastic garden fencing at least 2 feet high.
- Individual cages – Protect young trees, shrubs and delicate plants with individual wire cages to prevent browsing.
- Row covers – Drape lightweight fabric row covers over plants to create a protective barrier from pests.
- Motion activated sprinklers – Motion activated sprinkler systems scare away approaching rabbits.
- Scarecrows – Spook rabbits with dangling shiny objects, wind chimes or whirligigs. Move them regularly.
Layering two or more rabbit deterrents provides the best defense. Natural repellents drive away rabbits, while fencing and barriers physically prevent access.
When to Call a Professional
In some cases where rabbit damage is extensive, you may need to call in professional help to reduce the pest population. Professional exterminators have access to chemical rabbit poisons as a last resort, however these are not recommended for home use.
If rabbits are totally destroying a garden year after year, it may be time to contact pest control. Professionals also have high powered pellet guns to humanely cull persistent rabbit colonies.
Calling on an expert to trap and remove rabbits is the final step when DIY repellents, barriers and scare tactics have failed. This avoids harming the environment with toxic chemicals.
Conclusion
Rabbits can quickly decimate a garden, but there are many effective natural ways to stop them in their tracks. Homemade repellent sprays using ingredients like hot peppers, garlic, citrus and predator urine create an unpleasant scent barrier that deters rabbits. Pair repellents with physical barriers like fencing and plant cages for full protection. With some consistent maintenance using natural deterrents, you can keep rabbits from nibbling up your hard work in the garden.