How to Deter Rabbits From Your Lawn

Rabbits might look cute and cuddly, but they can do a lot of damage to your lawn. This is especially frustrating for Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Des Moines, Waterloo and Quad Cities homeowners who are paying to have their lawn treated and looking beautiful.

Rabbits live almost everywhere and are usually relatively harmless. However, if the rabbit population has gotten too large and they begin burrowing in your yard, digging holes under sheds or other buildings for shelter, or eating your garden and plants, you may need to take steps to get rid of them.

Although entirely eliminating a rabbit population from your property may not be possible, there are things you can do to deter them from making a home in your yard.

Rabbits burrow into the ground for shelter and to have their babies. Where they decided to nestle down depends on where they feel the safest.  If they are digging up your lawn to make a home for themselves, there are different natural and humane things you can do to deter them from your lawn.

 

Keep the Grass Mowed and Trimmed

If you mow your lawn frequently, you’ll find that you will rarely get a rabbit burrow. However, if you let the grass get too tall and unkempt then you have a good chance of seeing a hole or two in no time. Holes in the yard are minimized by keeping the lawn neatly trimmed. Rabbits feel much safer when they can nestle down in tall, uneven grass that provides a covering for their young. They will not make their home under a nicely manicured lawn.

Also, you will want to trim off and discard low-hanging bottom branches on bushes and shrubs, which rabbits may use for cover. Finally, fill in any existing burrows you may find in your lawn.

 

Use a Natural Rabbit Repellent

You may also trying using a natural rabbit repellent. While you will have to re-apply these products periodically to keep them away, they do work. Many of these are scent based repellents made with things like garlic, rotten eggs and other pungent materials that are not harmful to animals or the environment.  They stink when applied, but once they dry you won’t notice them like the rabbits will.  There are also much more expensive options like repellents that include fox and coyote urine.

Recommendation: Try using Nature’s MACE Deer & Rabbit Repellent dries odorless and is long lasting, rain resistant, environmentally friendly, and is also harmless to humans, pets and aquatic life. You can use it for year round protection for all types of plants and it will not wash off during rain, irrigation or normal use.

 

Grow Rabbit Deterring Plants

While rabbits eat almost anything, there are a few plants that rabbits do not like and might encourage them to go elsewhere in search of food. These undesirable plants include annuals such as impatiens and verbena, perennials like echinacea and honeysuckle, and groundcover such as big periwinkle and bougainvillea. Combined with perennials and annuals, shrubs like rhododendrons and camellias can offer an extra deterrent. Consider adding these plants to your landscape.

 

Contact our lawn care experts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Des Moines, Waterloo and Quad Cities for help maintaining a healthy lawn with one of our effective lawn care treatment options.