How to Use Natural Rabbit Repellent in Your Garden

The idea of rabbit repellent sounds a bit cruel, until you find them eating your newly planted annuals or in your vegetable garden. However, it is possible to deter rabbits from your garden naturally without harming the rabbits, pets or local birds.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Blood Meal
• Garlic Powder - BIG size
• Chili Powder - BIG size
• Border materials & netting for vegetable gardens
• Watering can, water

1. The first steps to getting rid of rabbits in the garden is to mix the repellent. Pour about 1/2 cup of the garlic powder and 1/2 cup of the chili powder into a large watering can. Stir with stick to mix up, powders do not have to be dissolved.

2. Water the plants to be protected with the solution. Do not use on edibles. Water them deeply so the roots can soak up the solution. The garlic and chili will make the plant unpalatable to the bunny. Do the the treatment in the evening or morning to avoid burning the plants leaves.

3. Sprinkle garlic and chili powder on top of plants for at first until the solution has a chance to work itself into the plant's system.

4. Sprinkle blood meal on the plants (even vegetables). Wild bunnies may think a coyote is in the area and stay away. This trick will only work a few times, so use when you need it. Bunnies like young new plants and flowers.

5. Use raised beds, border materials like mini picket fences, and bird netting to stop rabbits from eating vegetable gardens.

Tips & Warnings

• Test solution on delicate plants.
• Repeat weekly at first, as plants grow you can decrease frequency.
• The article says "repellent," not "remover"- this will repel bunnies but is not a guarantee on all plants. Some plants taste better to bunnies than others, and if they want it and can reach it, it is likely they will eat it.

Resources

• How to Get Rid of Snails Organically
• Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening
• Arbico Organic Pest Control