Cayenne Pepper Is The Secret To Humanely Banishing Rabbits From Your Garden

While they may be fluffy and cute, gardeners are all too aware that rabbits can destroy your garden. However, as irritating as they can be, few people want to see harm come to these unwanted interlopers. So, the challenge that often faces gardeners is how to rid themselves of rabbits without hurting them.

One obvious solution is to prevent them from entering by erecting a fence. To be rabbit-proof, however, a fence has to be designed where they can't dig under it, jump over it, or squeeze through any small openings. While this certainly can solve the problem, a number of gardeners are reluctant to do so for a variety of reasons, such as a fence making their own access to the garden more difficult or finding the fencing unsightly.

For those looking for a way to rid themselves of rabbits without a fence (or perhaps to help bolster their fence's effectiveness), they need look no further than a popular plant that is commonly used to scare off moles or naturally repel insects from gardens. Given its effectiveness against a variety of insects and rodents, it's no surprise cayenne pepper is the secret to humanely banishing rabbits from your garden.

Using cayenne pepper to banish rabbits from your garden is surprisingly easy. There are really two basic methods that can be used. As an added bonus, each of these application methods is equally effective against various bugs, insects, and rodents that may be plaguing your garden. 

The first method is to simply sprinkle red pepper flakes throughout your garden. Try to sprinkle a good amount around the perimeter of your garden, as well as any plants that are particularly being targeted by rabbits. Sprinkle fresh flakes weekly and after each rain to ensure their effectiveness. 

A second method is to make a pepper spray. While recipes vary, Garden Design suggests two tablespoons of cayenne pepper per five cups of water. You can increase the amount of pepper to increase the strength of the mixture. Additionally, adding some garlic or garlic powder can help increase its effectiveness. Finally, add a few drops of pure-castile liquid soap, which will help the concoction stick to the leaves of your plants. Keep in mind, these are essentially similar components used to make bear spray, so be careful not to get any in your eyes while spraying it in your garden.