Although they can eat all the hard work you put into your vegetable garden, rabbits are adorable. According to garden and pest management specialists, there are a few mistakes you should always avoid to help make it difficult for wildlife to get your crop, even though it may seem impossible to keep them away.
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Mistakes That Could be Attracting Rabbits To Your Garden
The grass is overgrown
letting your yard’s grassy spots become overgrown, which gives rabbits the perfect place to build their nests. The “biggest mistake people make is giving their yard rabbits plenty of food and shelter.” In addition to overgrown grass, rabbits like to hide among woodpiles, bushes, and shrubs to avoid people and predators.
The Vegetable Garden and the Landscaping Are Too Near
To access feeding sources, rabbits typically don’t want to cross a wide, open patch of lawn. If you have landscaping adjacent to your vegetable gardens, rabbits will have a safe route to enter your beds.
Although rabbits are drawn to gardens, if you use compost and organic mulch in your yard, you can find even more bunnies.
Vegetables Grown Low to the Ground
Raising vegetables too close to the ground can draw rabbits and make it simple for them to get to your produce. Building a raised bed that is at least two feet tall can be a good idea if you are growing in the ground and are having a lot of rabbit damage to your plants. In this manner, rabbits will find it difficult to jump into your garden bed.
Young Gardens Are Not Covered
Although they prefer potatoes, carrots, and kale, rabbits usually target the younger, unprotected crops and smaller shoots. To prevent the bunnies from eating your vegetables, she advises covering these crops with netting or a row cover until they are larger.
Providing a Source of Water
Unbeknownst to you, you may have a rabbit-friendly water supply in your yard close to your garden. A readily available water source will encourage rabbits to return. Rabbits can drink from sources such as an accessible bird bath or a leaking spigot or hose that often pools.
Ways to Prevent Rabbits from Entering Your Yard
Gardens attract rabbits because they provide an easy buffet of delicious options for them to utilize.”
- Securely fasten low fencing to the ground.
- To prevent rabbits from hiding, keep the lawn cut within a certain radius of the garden area.
- To keep tiny animals away from your yard, place a faux owl nearby.
- To prevent rabbits from becoming overly accustomed to the garden, let your dog or cat walk about the area from time to time.
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