The Inexpensive Ground Cover That Can Deter Rabbits From Destroying Landscaping

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For some, the sight of a rabbit in the yard is a joy — but many gardeners see a potential foe. From building fences to planting fragrant herbs around the yard to keep rabbits away, gardeners are always looking for ways to keep their favorite flowers, fruits, and vegetables safe from hungry rabbits. However, there may be a simpler and cheaper solution. Planting clover (Trifolium repens) can help distract these cute garden pests from eating your other plants.

If you're a lawn enthusiast, you may have spent quite a bit of time trying to rid your yard of clover. However, it can help attract pollinators, improve your soil by adding nitrogen, and is even drought-tolerant. With all of these benefits in mind, many people are planting clover lawns, but you don't have to go that far. A patch of clover, or using it strategically as a ground cover, can be enough to keep bunnies at bay.

Clover is easily grown from seed, and once it's established, it won't need much help from you. In fact, mowing it just encourages more growth. Two pounds of Perennial White Dutch Clover Seeds cost about $16.00, and can cover up to 1,000 square feet. You can overseed your lawn with this helpful nitrogen-fixer, or carve out an area to create a lush patch just for the rabbits.

If you're expecting clover to repel rabbits so thoroughly that you never see them in your yard again, you may need to manage your expectations. These serve less as a repellant than as a distraction. Think of clover as a decoy that keeps rabbits munching on a low-value crop far from your more valuable plants.

Clover is a nutrient-packed staple of rabbits' diets. Because it will attract rabbits, rather than repel them, you should be strategic about where you use it. If you're worried about a backyard vegetable garden, planting clover in your front yard can help keep bunnies busy far from your edibles. If they seem to love the perennials planted next to your house, creating a perimeter strip of clover may keep them from wandering too far into your yard looking for food.

If your yard isn't big enough to keep rabbits from your prized plants, interplanting clover may be your only option. Use it for paths, or simply overseed your grass to keep bunnies distracted enough that they will not zero in on your favorite plants. Using beautiful rabbit-resistant perennials like peonies as bodyguards can also help. If rabbits have to wade through plants they don't like to get to your more delectable offerings, they might just avoid your beds and stick to the protein-packed clover.