Do Rabbits Eat Shrubs – The Ultimate Plant Protection & Selection

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

There’s nothing quite like the pride you feel after planting a new row of beautiful shrubs, imagining how they’ll anchor your garden design for years to come. And there’s nothing more frustrating than waking up to find those same shrubs gnawed down to sad, little stumps by a furry, long-eared visitor overnight.

If you’ve ever faced this garden heartbreak, you’re not alone. The question of “do rabbits eat shrubs” is one that plagues gardeners everywhere. The short answer is a resounding yes, but don’t despair! Protecting your landscape isn’t about eliminating wildlife; it’s about outsmarting them with clever strategies and smart planting.

I promise this complete do rabbits eat shrubs guide will give you the confidence and know-how to protect your precious plants. We’ll walk through everything from the shrubs rabbits find irresistible to the ones they’ll turn their noses up at. More importantly, we’ll cover proven, practical, and eco-friendly methods to keep your garden thriving, rabbit-free.

Let’s dive in and create a garden that is both beautiful and resilient.

Understanding the Enemy: Why Rabbits Target Your Shrubs

Before we can build a defense, we need to understand our opponent. Rabbits aren’t munching on your prized azaleas just to annoy you. Their behavior is driven by basic survival needs that change throughout the year.

Rabbits chew on woody plants for two main reasons: nutrition and dental health. During the growing season, they prefer tender, green shoots. But in the winter, when herbaceous plants are gone, the bark and twigs of shrubs become a critical food source. Their teeth also grow continuously, and gnawing on tough bark helps keep them worn down.

How to Identify Rabbit Damage

Not sure if rabbits are the culprits? Look for these tell-tale signs:

  • Clean, Angled Cuts: Rabbits have sharp incisors that leave a neat, 45-degree angle cut on small stems and twigs, almost as if they were snipped with pruners. Deer, on the other hand, lack upper incisors and will tear and rip stems, leaving a ragged edge.
  • Girdling: You might see bark completely stripped from the base of a shrub’s trunk, a practice known as girdling. This is especially common in winter when snow cover gives them access to higher parts of the stem.
  • Low-Level Damage: Most rabbit damage occurs within two feet of the ground. In winter, remember to account for snow depth—a two-foot-tall rabbit can reach four feet up a shrub when standing on a snowdrift!
  • The “Evidence”: Rabbits leave behind small, round, pea-sized droppings (pellets) scattered around the areas where they feed.

The Rabbit Buffet: Shrubs They Can’t Resist

While a starving rabbit will try almost anything, they definitely have their favorites. If your landscape is rich with these plants, you’re essentially ringing the dinner bell. Planting these shrubs without protection is one of the most common problems with do rabbits eat shrubs management.

Here are some of the most commonly targeted shrubs:

  • Arborvitae (Thuja): Especially younger, smaller varieties. They are a winter staple.
  • Barberry (Berberis): Despite the thorns, tender new growth is often nibbled.
  • Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus): A well-known rabbit favorite.
  • Dogwood (Cornus): Particularly the tender stems of Red Twig and Yellow Twig varieties.
  • Forsythia: The low-hanging branches and flower buds are easy targets.
  • Hydrangea: Young plants and tender new shoots are very vulnerable.
  • Lilac (Syringa): Rabbits will often chew the bark off the base of lilac bushes in winter.
  • Serviceberry (Amelanchier): Prized for its fruit by humans and its bark by rabbits.
  • Viburnum: Many varieties are susceptible, especially when young.
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Don’t worry—if you have your heart set on one of these, it doesn’t mean you can’t plant it! It just means you’ll need a solid protection plan, which we’ll cover next.

A Gardener’s Safe Haven: Rabbit-Resistant Shrubs to Plant

The easiest way to win the battle is to choose plants that rabbits naturally avoid. This is a core principle of creating a sustainable, low-maintenance garden. Rabbits tend to dislike plants that are highly aromatic, have fuzzy or prickly leaves, or are toxic.

Consider adding these resilient beauties to your landscape:

  • Boxwood (Buxus): A classic landscape staple that rabbits find distasteful due to its scent.
  • Holly (Ilex): The sharp, spiny leaves are a powerful and natural deterrent.
  • Juniper (Juniperus): The prickly texture and strong scent keep rabbits moving along.
  • Potentilla: A tough, reliable flowering shrub that rabbits generally ignore.
  • Spirea: Most varieties are left alone, offering beautiful flowers without the worry.
  • Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): Its strong, sage-like aroma is a natural repellent.
  • Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus): This fragrant herb is fantastic for cooking and for keeping bunnies at bay.
  • Butterfly Bush (Buddleia): While butterflies love it, rabbits typically do not.

Remember, no plant is 100% rabbit-proof. A desperate rabbit in a harsh winter might sample even these. However, planting them significantly tips the odds in your favor.

So, Do Rabbits Eat Shrubs? Yes! Here’s Your Ultimate Defense Plan

You’ve identified the problem and know which plants are at risk. Now, it’s time for action! The best approach is a multi-layered one. Relying on a single method often leads to failure. This is the ultimate do rabbits eat shrubs care guide for your plants.

Fencing: Your First and Best Line of Defense

Exclusion is, without a doubt, the most effective way to protect your shrubs. If rabbits can’t get to them, they can’t eat them.

For individual shrubs: Create cylinders of 1-inch chicken wire or hardware cloth. The cylinder should be 2-3 inches wider than the shrub’s branches and at least 24-36 inches tall. Secure it with stakes to prevent it from toppling over. Don’t forget to bury the bottom edge 3-6 inches deep to stop rabbits from digging under it.

For garden beds: A low fence around the entire bed can be very effective. Use chicken wire that is at least 3 feet high. Bury the bottom 6 inches underground and bend it outward at a 90-degree angle to form an L-shape. This “apron” design foils even the most determined diggers.

Repellents: Using Scent and Taste to Your Advantage

Repellents work by making your shrubs smell or taste bad to rabbits. They can be a great secondary defense, especially for larger areas where fencing is impractical.

  1. Commercial Repellents: Look for products containing ingredients like putrescent egg solids (smells like a predator is nearby) or capsaicin (hot pepper wax). These are very effective but require reapplication, especially after heavy rain or snow. Always follow the label instructions!
  2. DIY Sprays: You can make a homemade spray by mixing a few raw eggs, a dash of hot sauce, and a gallon of water. While less potent and long-lasting than commercial options, it can help in a pinch.
  3. Granular Repellents: These are shaken around the base of plants and can be more weather-resistant than sprays. They create a “scent fence” that rabbits are hesitant to cross.

Consistency is key. One of the most important do rabbits eat shrubs tips is to re-apply repellents regularly throughout the seasons when rabbits are most active.

Habitat Modification: Making Your Garden Less Inviting

Rabbits are prey animals. They feel safest when they have plenty of cover to hide from predators. By making your yard less hospitable, you can encourage them to move elsewhere.

  • Clean Up Brush Piles: Remove piles of branches, old firewood, and other debris.
  • Trim Low Branches: Prune the lower branches of large evergreen shrubs that provide shelter.
  • Mow Tall Grass: Keep the grass around your garden beds mowed to eliminate hiding spots.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Rabbit Deterrents

Many gardeners want solutions that work in harmony with nature. Fortunately, there are many eco-friendly do rabbits eat shrubs strategies that are both effective and gentle on the environment. These are some of the do rabbits eat shrubs best practices for a healthy ecosystem.

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Companion Planting

Harness the power of plants! Interplanting strong-smelling herbs and flowers around your vulnerable shrubs can confuse and deter rabbits. They navigate the world by scent, and overwhelming their senses can send them hopping in the other direction.

Try planting borders of:

  • Lavender
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Thyme
  • Marigolds
  • Onions or Garlic

Encourage Natural Predators

A healthy garden ecosystem includes predators. Creating a welcoming environment for owls, hawks, and foxes can provide natural pest control. You can do this by installing owl boxes or simply avoiding the use of poisons that harm the food chain. A neighborhood cat on patrol can also be a surprisingly effective deterrent.

Physical Annoyances

Sometimes, a simple surprise is all it takes. Motion-activated sprinklers deliver a startling, yet harmless, blast of water when a rabbit approaches. Similarly, reflective objects like pinwheels, scare tape, or old CDs hung from branches can flash and move unpredictably in the wind, spooking timid rabbits.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rabbits and Shrubs

Will rabbits eat mature, established shrubs?

Yes, they can and they will, especially in winter. While they prefer tender, young plants, they will absolutely girdle the bark of mature trees and shrubs when other food sources are scarce. No shrub is ever completely “safe” without protection.

Do coffee grounds or human hair really deter rabbits?

These are common home remedies, but their effectiveness is highly debatable and inconsistent at best. The scent of coffee grounds or human hair may deter a rabbit for a short time, but they quickly get used to it. Fencing and proven repellents are far more reliable solutions.

What time of year is rabbit damage worst for shrubs?

Winter is by far the most dangerous time for woody shrubs. Snow cover eliminates many food sources, forcing rabbits to turn to bark and twigs for survival. The snow also gives them a platform to reach higher on the plant than they could in summer.

Can a shrub recover from rabbit damage?

It depends on the extent of the damage. If a few stems are clipped, the shrub will likely recover just fine. However, if the main trunk is girdled (bark removed all the way around), it will likely die, as the flow of nutrients between the roots and leaves has been cut off. If you find a girdled shrub, it’s often best to prune it below the damage and hope for new growth from the base.

Your Garden, Your Sanctuary

Living with wildlife is one of the great joys of gardening, but it also comes with challenges. Seeing your hard work damaged can be disheartening, but now you are armed with a complete do rabbits eat shrubs action plan.

By choosing resistant plants, creating physical barriers, and making your garden less inviting, you can find a peaceful balance. Remember the key takeaways: fence your most precious plants, be strategic with repellents, and never underestimate a hungry rabbit in the winter.

Don’t let those fluffy-tailed foragers get you down. You have the knowledge and the tools to protect your landscape. Go forth and grow a beautiful, resilient, and thriving garden!

Rimon Chowdhury
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