Keeping rabbits out of the garden can be a challenge for many gardeners, especially those who prefer to use natural methods to deter them. Fortunately, natural rabbit repellent methods are easy to implement and protect your vegetable garden and yard from these pesky critters.

The rabbit population naturally increases in the spring at the start of the growing season when we’re also finally getting outside to plant our gardens and enjoy the outdoors. But a rabbit problem can wreak havoc on those plans. While rabbits aren’t nearly as destructive as deer or even raccoons, they can cause problems in your garden beds.

Thankfully, there are several natural rabbit repellent options that you can utilize to help keep them out of your garden and not munching on your hard work.

Are rabbits eating your garden?

If you’re not sure if rabbits or another, equally annoying, critter are munching on your garden goods, it’s time to do a little investigation.

Rabbits prefer young trees and tender plants in comparison to their older, tougher counterparts. They will typically leave clean-cut damage, not the jagged, messy holes that most insects leave behind.

If your plants are passed the seedling stage, you probably have another garden pest on your hands. Be sure to check for burrows as woodchucks and groundhogs enjoy the same fare that rabbits do.

You can also check for their little droppings. They’ll either be scattered about or in piles in your garden.

Top Natural Rabbit Repellents for Your Garden

It’s best to begin your natural rabbit repellent protocol first thing in the spring when the rabbit population begins to boom and new plants are going in the garden. These are the best rabbit repellents to protect your garden and plants.

Fencing is the Best Way to Naturally Repel Rabbits

Keeping rabbits out of your garden with a fence is the most effective means of repelling them.

Rabbit guard welded wire fence is your best bet to keep rabbits locked out of their food source, but chicken wire can work as well.

It is a good idea to make a trench and bury the fence at least 6 inches deep around the entire perimeter of the garden for maximum protection. Affix it to u-posts or wooden posts with zip ties for easy installation.

Alternatively, or in addition, you can cover young seedlings or even mature plants you don’t want rabbits to munch on with wire cloches or row covers.

Plants that Naturally Repel Rabbits

Rabbits have tastes just like everyone else and they don’t like everything found in the vegetable garden.

A simple tip is to plant things they don’t like around the perimeter to help deter their antics, next to plants they do like, or use something as a ground cover to discourage nibbling.

Generally, rabbits don’t care for garden plants that are prickly or have strong scents. This is a list of plants rabbits don’t care much for:

• Daffodil
• Mint
• Bee Balm
• Sage
• Asparagus
• Yarrow
• Black Eyed Susan
• Japanese Maple
• Oak
• Rosemary
• Onions
• Lemon Balm
• Lavender
• Virginia Creeper
• English Ivy
• Thyme
• Tomatoes

Use Scare Tactics to Naturally Repel Them

I go by gardens and see aluminum pie pans, wind chimes, pretend owls, rubber snakes, and a host of other things floating around.

While these work for a bit, rabbits aren’t stupid and will eventually figure out that that pie pan flying around isn’t going to harm them and they’ll go right past it.

The best way to keep them out on a more “permanent” basis is to let your pet cat, pet dog, and other natural predators such as hawks and similar predators you don’t want getting your chickens, roam the yard.

Will rabbits still get in your garden if your dog is right there lying next to it? Absolutely, but it will help remind them they aren’t alone and aren’t welcome if they smell the predator or hear a bark or meow.

Repel Rabbits by Making Them Feel Vulnerable

Rabbits like to have a comfortable place to hide. This is why most of the time, they won’t go into the center of your garden. They will typically hang out around the edges.

If rabbits don’t have a place to hide, they are far less likely to bother with your garden. This means removing brush piles and excess leaves and filling in the animal’s abandoned burrow. It won’t completely keep them away, but if they have no place to hide and no place to live, they are far more likely to find somewhere else to be.

Plant Their Favorites Outside of the Garden

I know what you’re thinking “I want to keep rabbits out of my garden and here this crazy woman is telling me to plant stuff they like?!” But, hear me out.

Rabbits are more than likely going to show up and be around your property regardless of what you do to keep them away. But, you may be able to keep them out of your garden by satisfying them in a patch all their own.

Combined with some of the other efforts here, planting a small patch of clover, alfalfa, or leafy greens (a few of their absolute faves) may satisfy their desires for fresh food and keep them out.

I’m not saying this will be absolute. But, it can help you both coexist. And well, bunnies are cute so it’s hard to stay mad at them (until they eat all of my beans and lettuce, then, it’s on).

Homemade Natural Rabbit Repellent

There are tons of pungent smells straight from your garden that rabbits do not care for. While this garden rabbit repellent spray shouldn’t be your only line of defense, it can work in your favor.

For best results, you’ll have to reapply this homemade rabbit repellent after heavy rain since it relies solely on the strong odor as well as routinely respraying to keep the strong smell.

Alternatively, you can fill a satchel with a bunch of crushed garlic cloves and black pepper corns or cayenne peppers and hang them at sniffer level around the garden paying special attention to the most loved plants.

Natural Rabbit Repellent Ingredients:

• 3 Hot Peppers such as Chili Peppers (or 3 Tbsp ground cayenne pepper)
• 3 Large Onions
• One Large Bunch of Garlic
• One Gallon of Water (plus some more to cover)

Garden Rabbit Repellent Recipe:

Blend or grind together the peppers (if using), onions, and garlic. Place in a metal or glass dish (it will permeate plastic, so don’t use that). Cover the puree with enough water to cover it and allow it to sit overnight undisturbed.

Add enough water to the mixture to make a full gallon and place it in a spray bottle.

Spray plants, flower beds, and other areas you don’t want to be bothered. Pay special attention to rabbit height areas around ground level.

Rabbits can be a nuisance, especially as we quickly approach spring season, and will have an abundance of fresh, tender, green shoots coming up out of the ground.

But, with a little work, you can help keep these pesky pests out of your garden and enjoy the fruits of your labor without their taste-testing assistance.

More Natural Garden Pest Solutions

• Natural Squash Bug Control
• 6 Natural Ways to Control Cabbage Worms
• 9 Tips to Control Japanese Beetles

Did you find these solutions for repelling rabbits helpful? I’d love to hear about it in the comment section below! Be sure to follow me on Pinterest and Facebook for more gardening tips.