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Key Points
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Rabbits love to eat roses, which is bad news for your flower garden.
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Fortunately, there are plenty of natural and humane methods that can keep curious bunnies away from these blooms.
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Removing their natural hiding places and using scents that they dislike are a few ways to help deter them.
Rabbits can eat all parts of a rose plant, including the petals, leaves, and stems. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to stop these common garden pests from nibbling on your pretty plants—if you know the right tips and tricks. Ahead, we share advice from a gardening expert, who breaks down the best natural, humane methods for keeping hungry bunnies at bay.
Related: 11 Garden Pests That Are Eating Your Plants—and How to Stop Them
Use Scents
A rabbit’s instinct is ruled by its nose.
“Sprinkling crushed garlic or blood meal near your roses creates a natural barrier that most rabbits won’t cross,” says Melissa Rolston, gardener and chief strategy officer at Paramount Landscaping, Inc.
Rabbits instinctively don’t like the smell of garlic because the plant—like other alliums—is toxic to them, creating a life-threatening allergic reaction if they ingest it in large amounts. They don’t like the smell of blood meal because it signals the potential presence of predators; it can keep squirrels out of your garden for the same reasons.
You could also try growing aromatic companion plants, like lavender, which rabbits also dislike.
Related: 10 Pest-Repelling Herbs That Make Great Companion Plants
Build a Physical Barrier
Rabbits are small, so you don’t need a tall fence to repel them. According to Rolston, all you need is a 2-foot-tall chicken wire fence—a method that will also keep chipmunks out of your garden.
However, 6 inches of your fence will need to be buried underground in order to deter these determined diggers. “Without that underground component, it’s just an open invitation,” adds Rolston.
Plant Other Tasty Treats
Yes, rabbits can eat roses, but it isn’t their preferred meal. Carrots, leafy greens, strawberries, and celery are just a few common plants that they’d rather be munching on.
So if you have the space—and an interest in supporting local wildlife—Rolston recommends planting these nearby. “We often layer in trap plants like clover or lettuce away from the roses,” she says. “These distract the rabbits and keep the prized blooms safe.”
Apply Scare Tactics
As prey animals, rabbits are afraid of the unknown. Therefore, using scare devices such as motion-activated sprinklers or reflective objects can frighten them away. However, consistency is key.
“One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make? Treating deterrents as one-time fixes,” says Rolston. “Rabbits are persistent, and so your defenses should be too.”
In other words, if rabbits realize that the methods you’ve employed will not harm them, then consider switching it up with motion-activated porch lights, decoy owls, and other humane deterrents.
Remove Hiding Spaces
Another way to make your rose garden less enticing is to remove spots where rabbits can potentially nest. Low shrubbery branches, for example, can serve as a refuge for them. Also, eliminate tall, dense vegetation, as well as wood and debris piles.
Without hiding spots or places where they can nest, rabbits are more likely to move on; they won’t dine on your prized flowers.
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