Rabbit leaning on garden fence looking at green garden leaves

How to keep rabbits from eating plants in your garden

If you live in an area with a lot of rabbits, then you know how frustrating it can be to try to grow a garden. No matter what you do, it seems like the rabbits always find a way to sneak in and nibble on your plants. But there is hope.

With a little bit of persistence and the following tips, you can keep those pesky rabbits out of your garden for good.

Rabbit eating a plant (leaf) in a garden. Green lawn in background.
Rabbit eating plant

Disrupt the routine

Rabbits are creatures of habit, so one of the best ways to keep them out of your garden is to disrupt their daily routine.

One way to do this is to erect a fence around your garden. The fence should be at least 2 feet tall and made of chicken wire or another type of wire that the rabbits can’t chew through.

Material covering beds.
Covered plants

You can also try placing plastic netting over your plants. The netting should be tight enough that the rabbits can’t get through but loose enough that the plants can still get sunlight and air.

Make the garden unappealing

Another way to keep rabbits out of your garden is to make it unappealing to them.

Most rabbits don’t like strong smells, so try spraying your plants with a mixture of water and vinegar. You can also sprinkle garlic powder or cayenne pepper around the perimeter of your garden. Rabbits don’t like the taste of these spices, so they’ll stay away from anything that’s been sprayed with them.

Close-up view of a bowl of ground red cayenne pepper.
Cayenne pepperĀ 

Finally, try planting some rabbit-resistant plants in your garden. Some examples include marigolds, daffodils, and petunias.

Pink petunia flower (Petunia hybrida) blooming.
Pink petunia flower

Conclusion

Rabbits can be frustrating creatures, but with a little bit of effort, you can keep them out of your garden for good. By disrupting their daily routine, making your garden unappealing to them, or planting rabbit-resistant plants, you can enjoy a beautiful (and bunny-free) garden all season long.