adminSome of the best rabbit repellents can be either made at home, or purchased inexpensively, and they will serve to protect your yard and garden from the cute but pesky creatures.
A simple rabbit repellent for gardens that is safe for edible plants is a motion-activated sprinkler. These units cost just around fifty dollars, and one sprinkler can detect motion over up to a one thousand square foot area. Rabbits will typically avoid areas once they learn that they will get wet when they enter, and the watery deterrent is safe for plants that will be eaten later. Motion activated sprinklers are available online, and as above ground units, without costly installation of an in ground sprinkler system. The motion activation works day and nights, and one homeowner reports an added advantage: she leaves it set even while on vacations, so she does not have to worry about the repellent washing off in the rain while she is away.
Another variety of rabbit repellent for gardens is pellets made from coyote or wolf urine. These are available from some hunting and gaming stores, and on the internet. While effective, this method is not without drawbacks of controversy. The methods for protracting the urine from the animals is thought by some to be inhumane. Additionally, they emit a very strong and unpleasant odor, which repels rabbits, but is also offensive to humans.
Homemade rabbit repellent for gardens is both easy to make at home with everyday ingredients, and inexpensive. One of the best rabbit repellents for gardens is a mixture of raw eggs in water. One raw egg can be mixed with on gallon of water, and then sprayed or sprinkled directly on the plants that need protection from hungry bunnies. This mixture should be reapplied after rain or watering with a sprinkler, or when new grown appears on the plants. The concentration of the mixture can be increased by using a smaller amount of water per egg, and the solution can be left in the sun to putrefy, in order to increase the odor that deters the rabbit. Some research suggests that adding a little bit of cooking oils makes the mixture adhere to the plant leaves more easily.
A raw egg solution may not be a desirable rabbit repellent for gardens if it is a vegetable or fruit garden that needs protection from deer. Eggs can carry salmonella and other nasty bacteria, and no one wants to eat fresh vegetables or garden fruit that has been sprinkled with rotten eggs. For leafy vegetables such as lettuce and kale, a solution of water and soap, or hot pepper, may be a better option. Regardless of what repellent is used directly on garden fruits and vegetables, it should be washed thoroughly before human consumption.
Rabbits do not like strong tastes, so any type of hot and spicy food can be experimented with to find the best rabbit repellents for particular needs. When using foods as a rabbit deterrent, however, one must be alert that they are not inviting other unwanted pests, like ants, to the table.
