Does your lawn seem to be constantly dug up by the rabbits? If so, you’re not alone. Rabbits are notorious for their love of digging, and can wreak havoc on a carefully manicured lawn.
Luckily, there are some things you can do to deter rabbits from digging in your yard. Keeping your lawn free of holes is possible with patience and perseverance.
Read on to learn more about how to stop rabbits from digging holes in your lawn.
Make Your Lawn Undesirable To Rabbits
Rabbits are attracted to short, well-groomed lawns which feature plenty of tasty vegetation. If you make your lawn less appealing to rabbits, they’ll be less likely to dig it up. You’ll be surprised to find many natural rabbit repellents just lying around your house.
To keep rabbits at bay, sprinkle talcum powder on your plants. You can also mix various rabbit removal home remedies and spray them on your plants.
Red Pepper
Rabbits also dislike spicy foods, so red pepper flakes work as a great deterrent.
Irish Spring Soap
Some gardeners find that Irish Spring soap shavings also work. Fill small drawstring bags with the shavings and hang them throughout your garden.
Pungent Plants
Besides carrots, bunnies love flowers, berries, most vegetables, and woody plants. While rabbits aren’t picky eaters, there are certain plants they’re less likely to chew on.
The yuck factor tends to be higher for plants with an aromatic smell. Create a perimeter around your garden with onions, garlic, and peppers to deter bunnies from eating your garden’s tastier crops.
Does Vinegar Keep Rabbits Away?
Yes, because vinegar’s strong smell is a powerful rabbit deterrent. To use this home remedy, dilute some white rice vinegar with water in a spray bottle, and spray it liberally over the area surrounding your plants.
Dig A Trench:
We can also dig a trench around your yard or garden. The trench should be about a foot deep and six inches wide. Chicken wire should be laid on the bottom of the trench to prevent rabbits from digging beneath it.
There you have it! With this tip, you can keep your lawn looking pristine – no matter how many rabbits are in your neighborhood.
Cover Your Yard With Scents That Rabbits Find Unappealing:
Furthermore, having a keen sense of smell, you should know what smell does rabbits hate to keep them away from your lawn. You can use this to your advantage by covering your yard in smells that rabbits will want to avoid.
Predator Scents: Scare Rabbits Away
It is important to choose a scent that is a natural predator for the rabbits in your area. Even though the urine of any predator will be more effective at repelling rabbits, it may not be effective if they are unfamiliar with the scent in your area.
Coyotes:
Coyotes, like bobcats, are found across the continent. However, they are mostly found in the southern parts of the United States.
Therefore, coyote urine may be your best bet for scaring rabbits away if you live in the Southeast or Southwest.
Since they’re found all over, it’s a good bet to use coyote urine instead of one of the other predator scents, as there’s a very good chance that an intruding rabbit will identify the presence as coyote-like.
Bobcats
In North America, Bobcats reside anywhere between Northern Canada and Florida. Bobcat urine is an excellent way to keep rabbits away if you live in the United States.
Lynxes
Lynxes can also be found in North America, but they tend to be found mainly in the northern parts of the continent. If you live above the Mason-Dixon line, in the mountains, or somewhere that gets very cold, you would best use this scent.
Wolves
Wolves are found in similar habitats to lynxes: in the cold, mountainous areas or a more northern area, particularly in the Northwest parts of the United States or Canada. Wolf urine is also the most difficult to find, so most people use lynx or bobcat urine instead.
Rabbits Hate Lavender:
The scent of lavender also turns off rabbits. This makes lavender an ideal choice for those who don’t want to use predator urine around their home.
Lavender is an easy plant to grow and can be used in many different ways, such as sachets, oils, or dried plants.
You could also use a lavender-scented spray to keep rabbits away from your plants.
Geranium Keeps Rabbits Away:
Geraniums are thought to deter rabbits with their pungent smell, although gardeners enjoy varieties with citrus, rose, or other appealing fragrance. Zonal geraniums are bushy plants that typically bear soft, rounded leaves marked with a dark band.
Rabbit-Proof Fence:
Building a fence is one of the most effective ways to keep rabbits out of your garden. A fence should be two feet tall and wire mesh with small holes. Bury the fence about six inches deep to discourage rabbits from digging underneath it.
You could also use a physical barrier such as chicken wire around your plants. This will keep rabbits from being able to reach your plants and will also provide some protection against other pests, such as deer.
Your Rabbits Have Lots Of Things To Do:
Rabbits enjoy playing games with people that appeal to their naughty side and give them a chance to get treats. Games such as reverse fetch and tug-o-war, among others, give you ways to interact with your rabbit while also giving your rabbit a chance to have a lot of fun.
Rabbits are active creatures and need things to do to stay entertained. Bored rabbits will often turn to destructive behaviors, such as chewing on furniture or digging holes in your yard.
To keep your rabbits from getting bored, make sure they have plenty of toys to play with, such as balls, tunnels, and chew toys. You should also provide them with a spacious enclosure where they can run and explore.
A bored rabbit is a destructive rabbit, so it’s important to keep them occupied.
Opportunity For Rabbits To Dig Safely When They Are Outside Of The Hutch:
Rabbits love to dig, so it’s important to provide them with an area where they can do so without damaging your property.
You can do this by creating a digging box for your rabbit. This can be as simple as a plastic storage bin filled with sand or dirt. You can also add toys or hay for your rabbit to play with.
Another option is to create a digging pit in your yard. Excavating a small area and lining it with wire mesh is one way.
Rabbits can also be trained not to dig in certain areas. This can be done by using a spray bottle filled with water to lightly mist the area where you don’t want your rabbit to dig.
It is important to be consistent with this method and reward your rabbit when it displays the desired behavior.
Rabbits are natural diggers, so it’s important to provide them with an outlet for this behavior. Otherwise, they may start digging up your yard or chewing on your furniture.
Conclusion:
If you have a rabbit problem, there are ways to stop them from digging holes in your lawn. Try some of these tips and see which ones work best for your situation. You can keep your lawn looking great and free of rabbit holes with a little effort.