adminAs adorable as they are, rabbits can wreak havoc in a garden, whether is it a vegetable garden, or even flower beds. It isn’t just their hungry appetites that can do damage to plants; they live in burrows, and can dig very large holes that are both unsightly and hazardous. Rabbits also have teeth that grow throughout their lives, and so they have to gnaw on things to keep their teeth short. There little sharp teeth can quickly damage wood and even plastic. And where there is one rabbit, there are always more. However, there are several effective ways to stop rabbit damage from your plants and house. The best approach to stop rabbit damage is to use a variety of methods in combination. The first type is repellents, the second, barriers.
There are several types of repellents are able help keep rabbits away from your yard and house. Blood meal, a fertilizer made from powdered blood, is an option to use in flower and garden beds. Not only will it fertilize the plants, but the scent of blood will repel the little herbivores, who will avoid any plant that has a meaty smell. Blood meal will also keep other vegetarian browsers away, like deer and the like.
Other repellents that can be effective with rabbits are taste deterrents on whatever they are chewing. Hot pepper, soap, and egg are three ingredients that may help keep rabbits away. Local pet stores also have bitter tasting products to spray on furniture to keep pet puppies from chewing. These products can be used on anything rabbits have been damaging by chewing, whether it is a deck, fence, or trees. Bittering agents should not, however, be used on food plants, because the bitter taste can be absorbed into the plant itself and ruin the food.
Sometimes pets are a good protection from little pests like rabbits. A terrier dog, for example, will vigilantly guard its territory, and chase away rabbits, squirrels, opossums, and any other furry intruder. Even tom cats have been known to hunt and kill rabbits.
Barriers are necessary to keep rabbits from making their homes under porches, decks, and some types of houses, like pier and beam. These areas, if accessible, can be blocked off with wood, large rocks, or plastic or metal lattice work found a home improvement stores. Rabbits are excellent diggers and chewers, and my try to chew or dig their way under or around any barrier.
Fences around a yard are another type of barrier that can help keep rabbits out. Building a fence to keep a small animal out or in is more challenging than large animals, because they can squeeze through small gaps, and dig under. Because of their propensity for chewing, chain link fences are an excellent choice to keep rabbits away and stop rabbit damage.
Trapping is a final, but less reliable method, to stop rabbit damage. It is not reliable because, as mentioned above, there are usually a lot of rabbits where there is one.
