DIY Homemade Rabbit Repellent Recipe

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There are plenty of articles and websites that say rabbits can be deterred by dogs. Apparently the rabbits on our property do not read. We have a bull mastiff and a great pyrenees that rountinely patrol the yard (granted they don’t chase anything). The bunnies just hop out of view when the dogs go outside. And then there are our “rabbit resistant” plants, marigolds being one of them. Our rabbits love the leafy greens of our giant Alaska Marigolds.

We would never harm the rabbits or try to get rid of them. They, after all, are just doing what rabbits do. We’ve put up fencing around the garden plants to exclude rabbits. But that’s not practical for the flowers around the yard.

We have sucessfully used this mix on marigolds, petunias, lillies, hibiscus, beans and peas. We also spray the stalks of tomatos and cucumbers to discourage browsing (when rabbits take a test bite to see if it’s worth eating).

This year, we’ll also test the repellent on our patio peaches to see if it will deter the squirrels from stealing.

DIY Homemade Rabbit Repellent Recipe

  • 2 TBSP red pepper flakes
  • 1 TBSP garlic powder
  • 5 dashes tabasco sauce
  • 3 drops dish detergent

Boil (or microwave) the first twoingredients in 2 cups of water for several minutes. Once cooled, allow the mixture to strain through a coffee filter. You will want to remove all particles that might clog the squirt bottle. Save all the strained particles (see the tip below). After straining, gently mix in the detergent; which should not contain anti-bacterial ingredients (we use Dawn). The detergent helps the mixture stick to plant leaves.

Add 1/4 cup of the mixture to a 16 oz squirt bottle, then fill with water. Apply liberally to the leaves and stalk of plants. Reapply every 5-7 days or after a steady rain. You should pre-test plants if you are unsure if they can tolerate the repellent. Test by spraying only one leaf of the plant. After 24 hours, the leaf should not have any wilt or damage.

Tip: Don’t throw out the solids after you’ve strained them. Instead, mix them into 2 cups of sand or clay cat litter and sprinkle them around your plants for even more repellent power. Or, add them to ourDIY Homemade Vole and Mole Repellent Recipe to boost its effectiveness.

Categories: Backyard