This Cheap And Easy Solution Keeps Rabbits From Wrecking Your Garden

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As a kid, you may have read Beatrix Potter's "Peter Rabbit" and thought Mr. McGregor was the bad guy ... but as an adult, you realize he was the victim. The poor man just wanted his garden left alone! Rabbits will always be beloved pets to some and notorious pests to others. If you spend a lot of time and money keeping a garden, you probably fall in the latter category. A humane way to keep rabbits from wrecking your garden is to surround vulnerable rabbit-favorites with rabbit-deterring plants — particularly those with a strong smell. 

There's a difference between rabbit-resistant plants and rabbit-deterrent plants. Rabbit-resistant plants won't be bothered because they are either poisonous or unpalatable to rabbits. However, they won't keep rabbits out of your garden or stop them from turning your other plants into a bunny buffet. But, odorous plants like garlic (Allium sativum) will not only remain uneaten, but will help keep rabbits away from anything planted nearby. Rabbits, deer, moles, mice, and many types of insects have a dislike for garlic, so planting a row of it around your carrots and petunias could protect them from a variety of pests (not to mention any vampires looking for a late-night veggie snack). 

Garlic is a hardy annual that is easy to grow (or, you can leave it in the ground and let it multiply each year). It's also a lot less expensive than purchasing rabbit-repellent granules or an ultrasonic emitter. All you need are some unpeeled cloves from a head of garlic, which you can plant directly into the soil. 

If you want to grow your own garlic, you will need to plan ahead, since garlic grows best if planted September to November (the tops will be nice and fragrant by the following spring). Choose a hardneck or softneck (Allium sativum) variety as opposed to elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum), which is closely related to a leek and has a much milder scent. Garlic is an excellent companion plant for many rabbit-loving vegetables, fruits, and flowers, including broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, apples, raspberries, roses, and nasturtium. Garlic should not be planted near more delicate-tasting foods (i.e. peas, beans, and asparagus), as it could affect the flavor. You should also avoid planting garlic next to other alliums, as planting them together can attract onion flies.

To further help control rabbits in your garden, you can break or bruise some of the leaves of the garlic or other alliums, which will release a stronger scent. For an extra pungent kick, you can also sprinkle garlic powder on and around the plants rabbits like to eat (you will need to re-apply after it rains). Keep in mind that most natural rabbit-deterrents are not 100% effective, so using a combination of tactics, such as raised beds or YARDGARD chicken wire, will provide added protection.