Will Plants Grow Back After Rabbit Damage?

As mentioned, most plants will come back after being eaten by a rabbit. To assist the plant in recovering, you can take a number of actions. The first thing that you should do is remove any damaged leaves or stems. This will help the damaged plant to focus its efforts on making new leaves as opposed to trying to repair the ones that are already damaged.

The next thing that you can do is fertilize the plant. This will help the plant to have the nutrients that it needs to grow back quickly. You can also try to rabbit-proof the plant, which we will discuss in more detail later.

How Do I Get Rid Of Rabbits Permanently?

Unfortunately, there are no permanent solutions to getting rid of rabbits; however, there are a few things that you can do to deter them from your garden.

Fencing the garden

This is the most effective way to keep rabbits out. There are several types of fencing available to keep rabbits out of your garden. The type of fencing that you use will depend on the size of your garden and the type of rabbits that you are trying to keep out.

The most common type of fencing is a chicken wire fence. This type of fence is relatively inexpensive and easy to install. Another option is to use plastic mesh fencing. This type of fencing is more expensive, but it will last longer. Whatever type of fence you select, you will have to place the fence at least 4 to 6 inches deep because rabbits can dig.

Rabbit proofing plants

There are some plants that bunnies hate, all because of their smell. You can use this as an advantage and grow these plants around the perimeter of your garden as a natural fence.

Here are some plants that rabbits hate:

Garlic
Onions

Peppers
chili peppers
Sweet Alyssum

Snapdragon
Sunflower
Lantana

Wax begonia
Marigold
Geranium

Clematis
Coral Berry
Vinca

Lilac
Rose of Sharon
Salvia

Milkweed
Catmint
Butterfly bush

Deutzia
Juniper
Spirea

While we can be sure that all bunnies will hate all of these plants, some may like one or two of them. Therefore, you should plant a variety to be sure that the rabbits stay away from your garden. It’s all about trial and error to determine what works best for you and your garden.

Use a Commercial Repellent

There are also some commercial rabbit repellents that you can use. These repellents work by either deterring the rabbit with a bad smell or by making the rabbit sick if they eat the plant.

Some of the most popular commercial rabbit repellents are:

Bobbex
Plantskydd
I Must Garden Deer & Rabbit Repellent

Deer Out
Critter Ridder

These repellents are safe to use around children and pets. However, you should always read the label before using any type of repellent.

Some of these repellents need to be reapplied after it rains, while others can last up to 3 months.

Trapping

If you have a small number of rabbits that you are trying to get rid of, you can try trapping them. There are numerous sorts of traps available for catching rabbits. The most common type of trap is the live trap. Live traps are humane and will not kill the rabbit. You can also use a kill trap, but this is not recommended because it can be inhumane.

You must use an appealing food item as the bait for the trap, such as:

carrots
celery
lettuce

fruit

You will also need to check the trap regularly so that you can release the rabbit or dispose of the carcass.

Remove potential nesting points.

Rabbits like to nest in dense vegetation. If you remove these nesting points, the rabbits will be less likely to stay in your garden. You can also try to make the garden less inviting for rabbits by removing any food sources. For this, remove weeds, fallen fruit, and other potential food sources. You can also try to keep the grass short so that the rabbits have nowhere to hide.

Keep a garden protector.

Keeping a dog or a cat in the garden will also help to keep the rabbits away. Rabbits are afraid of predators and will not stay in an area where they feel unsafe. Your dog or cat doesn’t need to be a hunter. They just need to be present in the garden. This is not a foolproof method, but it can help to deter rabbits.

What Smells Will Keep Rabbits Away?

Knowing the smells that rabbits don’t like can be very helpful in keeping them out of your garden. Rabbits are very sensitive to smell, and there are certain smells that they will avoid. Some of the most common smells that rabbits don’t like are:

Garlic

Vinegar
Sulfur
Blood Meal

Chili Powder
Predator Urine
Lavender

Geraniums
Chives
Wax Begonias

Plants That Rabbits Love

Although rabbits tend to gnaw at a wider variety of plants, there are still some that they prefer over others. Avoid planting these plants if you want to keep rabbits out of your garden (or at least put extra protection). Some of the plants that rabbits love are;

Beets
Broccoli

Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots

Cauliflower
Chard
Peas

Spinach
Turnips
Squash

Sweet Potatoes
Watermelons
Zucchini

How Do You Fix Rabbit Damage To Trees?

If your garden is home to rabbits, you may have noticed that they love to eat the bark off of trees. This damage is called girdling, and it can seriously harm the tree. The top of the tree slowly dies because the sap cannot pass through the injured area. Since the damage cannot be fixed, cutting down the tree and replacing it is the best option.

How Do You Fix Rabbit Damage to Plants?

Rabbit damage can often be repaired by trimming off any damaged leaves or stems. If the plant is missing a lot of leaves, you can try to fertilize it. Give the plant extra water and make sure that it is getting enough sunlight. If the plant is severely damaged, you may need to replace it.

Conclusion on will Plants Grow Back After Rabbit Damage

Most of the time, plants will grow back after rabbit damage. However, the plant may not be as full or as healthy as it was before. The plant might need to be replaced if the damage is severe. Since rabbits are voracious eaters, they will return to the garden if there is food available. You must eliminate potential food sources and make the area less enticing for rabbits if you want to keep them out of your garden. You can do many things to prevent rabbit damage in the future, such as using repellents or keeping a garden protector. Whatever you do, try to be as humane as possible as rabbits, like us, have the right to live.

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