What Do Rabbits Eat In The Garden – Your Ultimate Guide To Protecting

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

There’s a special kind of heartbreak every gardener knows. You step outside, coffee in hand, ready to admire your hard work, only to find your prize-winning petunias nibbled to the nub or your tender lettuce patch mysteriously vanished overnight. It’s a frustrating, all-too-common scene, and the culprit is often a fluffy-tailed, long-eared visitor.

I know that feeling well. But here’s my promise to you: you can create a thriving, beautiful garden, even with rabbits nearby. The secret isn’t just about chasing them away; it’s about understanding them. Once you know the answer to “what do rabbits eat in the garden,” you gain the power to outsmart them.

In this complete guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know. We’ll uncover their absolute favorite snacks (the “keep away” list!), explore a wide variety of gorgeous plants they tend to ignore, and share my most trusted, eco-friendly strategies for protecting your precious plants. Think of this as your new playbook for peaceful coexistence.

The Rabbit Buffet: Understanding a Rabbit’s Palate

Before we can protect our gardens, we have to think like a rabbit. They aren’t malicious little creatures set on destroying your prize-winning zucchini; they’re simply herbivores following their instincts. Their primary goal is to find tender, nutritious, and safe food.

Rabbits are particularly drawn to young, succulent growth. That new perennial you just planted or the first tender shoots of your pea plants are like a five-star meal. They are creatures of opportunity and convenience, so they prefer to feed on plants that are low to the ground and easy to reach.

Their diet also changes with the seasons. In spring and summer, their menu is vast, filled with lush greens and soft flowers. In the harshness of winter, when greenery is scarce, they turn to woody plants, gnawing on the bark of young trees and shrubs for survival. Understanding this behavior is the first step in this complete what do rabbits eat in the garden guide.

What Do Rabbits Eat in the Garden? A Gardener’s “Most Wanted” List

Let’s get right to it. If you’re growing anything on this list, you’ll want to pay extra close attention and consider adding protective measures. Rabbits see these plants as an all-you-can-eat buffet, and they will return again and again for their favorites.

Tender Vegetables & Leafy Greens

The vegetable patch is often the first place rabbits visit. They have a strong preference for the same tender crops we love to cultivate.

  • Leafy Greens: Lettuce, spinach, chard, and arugula are at the top of the list. Their soft leaves are easy to digest and full of moisture.
  • Legumes: The tender leaves and shoots of beans and peas are irresistible. Rabbits will often mow down an entire row of seedlings before they even have a chance to grow.
  • Root Vegetable Tops: While they might not dig up the roots, rabbits adore the leafy green tops of beets, carrots, and radishes.
  • Cruciferous Veggies: The leaves of young broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage plants are also highly sought after.

Favorite Flowers & Perennials

It’s not just the veggie garden that’s at risk. Many of our favorite flowers are, unfortunately, rabbit delicacies. Here are some of their top floral choices.

  • Tulips & Crocuses: These early spring bloomers are a huge treat after a long winter. Rabbits will eat the flowers, stems, and even dig up the bulbs.
  • Pansies & Violas: These cool-season annuals are low to the ground and have a sweet taste, making them an easy and delicious target.
  • Hostas: The lush, tender leaves of a hosta are a rabbit’s dream. They often leave behind nothing but the tougher central stems.
  • Black-Eyed Susans & Coneflowers: While mature plants are sometimes ignored, the young, tender growth in spring is extremely vulnerable.

Young Trees, Shrubs, and Bark

Don’t assume your woody plants are safe, especially in the winter. When snow covers their usual food sources, rabbits become resourceful.

  • Young Fruit Trees: The thin bark of newly planted apple, pear, and plum trees is a prime target for winter gnawing, which can girdle and kill the tree.
  • Roses: Rabbits will happily nibble on tender new rose canes and buds.
  • Viburnum & Dogwood: The lower stems and branches of these popular landscape shrubs are susceptible to damage, especially during a harsh winter.
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The “Rabbit-Resistant” Garden: Plants They Tend to Avoid

Now for some good news! While no plant is 100% “rabbit-proof” (a starving rabbit will try anything once), you can dramatically reduce damage by planting things they find unappetizing. This is one of the most effective what do rabbits eat in the garden tips I can offer. Rabbits typically steer clear of plants with certain characteristics.

They dislike plants with:

  • Strong, pungent scents.
  • Fuzzy, hairy, or prickly textures.
  • Tough, leathery leaves.
  • Compounds that are toxic to them.

Strategically planting these varieties can create a less tempting landscape. Don’t worry—these flowers are perfect for beginners and pros alike!

Strongly Scented Herbs & Perennials

A rabbit’s sensitive nose can be your best friend. Planting aromatic herbs and flowers can confuse their sense of smell and make them move on to a less fragrant yard.

  • Lavender: Beautiful, fragrant, and almost completely ignored by rabbits.
  • Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, and Mint: These culinary herbs are fantastic for companion planting around more vulnerable vegetables.
  • Bee Balm (Monarda): Its minty fragrance is a powerful deterrent.
  • Salvia: The fuzzy leaves and strong scent of many salvia varieties keep rabbits at bay.

Plants with Prickly or Fuzzy Textures

Rabbits don’t enjoy a mouthful of fuzz or spines any more than we do. These textural plants are excellent choices for a rabbit-resistant garden.

  • Lamb’s Ear: The soft, woolly leaves are a classic rabbit-resistant plant.
  • Poppies: Both the hairy stems and the milky sap are unappealing to rabbits.
  • Globe Thistle (Echinops): As the name suggests, its spiny nature makes it an undesirable meal.

Bulbs and Flowers with Known Toxicity

Many common garden plants contain compounds that are mildly to severely toxic to rabbits. They have an innate sense to avoid these.

  • Daffodils: All parts of the daffodil are toxic, making them a safe bet for spring color.
  • Alliums: The entire onion family, from ornamental alliums to chives, is a big turn-off.
  • Foxglove (Digitalis): A beautiful but highly toxic plant that rabbits will not touch.
  • Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra): These whimsical, shade-loving flowers are safely left alone.

Proactive Protection: Best Practices for a Rabbit-Proof Garden

Planting resistant varieties is a great start, but for true peace of mind, especially if you want to grow their favorite foods, a multi-layered defense is key. This is where we get into the what do rabbits eat in the garden best practices to ensure your hard work pays off.

Fencing: Your First Line of Defense

Without a doubt, the most effective way to protect your garden is with a physical barrier. But not just any fence will do.

  1. Choose the Right Material: Use a sturdy, galvanized chicken wire or hardware cloth with openings no larger than 1 inch.
  2. Get the Height Right: The fence should be at least 2 feet tall to prevent rabbits from jumping over it. For jackrabbits, consider 3 feet.
  3. Go Underground: This is the step many people miss! Rabbits are excellent diggers. You must bury the bottom of the fence at least 6 inches deep or bend it outwards into an L-shape along the ground to stop them from tunneling under.

Plant Protection & Barriers

If fencing your entire garden isn’t practical, you can protect individual plants or rows. This is an excellent, targeted approach.

  • Cylinders for Young Trees: Create cylinders of hardware cloth to place around the trunks of new trees and shrubs. Ensure there’s a few inches of space between the guard and the trunk.
  • Cloches and Row Covers: Protect vulnerable seedlings with individual cloches (you can even make them from plastic milk jugs) or lightweight floating row covers.
  • Raised Beds: Planting in raised beds can sometimes deter casual browsing, though a determined rabbit can still hop in if the bed isn’t high enough.

Natural & Eco-Friendly Deterrents

For a more sustainable what do rabbits eat in the garden strategy, you can employ repellents that work with nature, not against it. The key is consistency—reapply them after heavy rain or watering.

  • Scent Repellents: Rabbits dislike strong, unpleasant smells. You can sprinkle dried blood meal, human hair, or Irish Spring soap shavings around the perimeter of your garden. Commercial repellents using predator urine (like coyote) can also be effective.
  • Taste Repellents: A simple spray made of garlic, hot pepper, and a drop of dish soap can make your plants taste terrible to rabbits. Be sure to test it on a small leaf first.
  • Scare Tactics: Motion-activated sprinklers can be surprisingly effective at startling rabbits away. Shiny objects that move in the wind, like pinwheels or Mylar tape, can also make them nervous.
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Common Problems with Rabbit Damage and How to Solve Them

Even with the best plans, you might still encounter issues. Let’s tackle some of the most common problems with what do rabbits eat in the garden and get you back on track.

Identifying Rabbit Damage vs. Other Pests

How do you know for sure it was a rabbit? Look for these tell-tale signs:

  • Clean, Angled Cuts: Rabbits have sharp upper and lower incisors that leave a neat, 45-degree angle cut on stems, almost as if snipped with tiny scissors.
  • Damage Height: The damage will be low to the ground, typically under 2 feet.
  • The “Evidence”: Look for small, round, pea-sized droppings (pellets) scattered nearby.

This is different from deer damage, which looks torn and ragged, or insect damage, which usually appears as holes in the leaves.

My Plants Are Already Damaged! What Now?

Don’t despair! Many plants are resilient. First, immediately implement a protective measure like a fence or cage to prevent further damage. Then, use clean pruners to snip off any jagged, damaged stems. This clean cut will help the plant heal faster and encourage new growth. Give it a little water and be patient; you might be surprised by its ability to bounce back.

When Repellents Don’t Work

If your repellents seem to be failing, it’s usually for one of two reasons. First, they need to be reapplied frequently, especially after rain. Second, rabbits can become accustomed to a single scent. The solution is to rotate your repellents. Switch between a blood meal-based one and a hot pepper spray every few weeks to keep them on their toes.

Frequently Asked Questions About What Rabbits Eat in the Garden

Will rabbits eat my tomatoes?

Generally, rabbits avoid the tomato fruit and mature, fuzzy leaves. However, they will absolutely devour the tender, young seedlings. It is crucial to protect your tomato plants with a small cage or collar until they are well-established and at least a foot tall.

Do coffee grounds keep rabbits away?

This is a popular garden myth, but unfortunately, it’s not very effective. While some animals dislike the smell, it’s not strong enough to be a reliable rabbit deterrent, and it quickly loses its scent and washes into the soil.

What time of day are rabbits most active in the garden?

Rabbits are crepuscular, which means they are most active during the low-light hours of dawn and dusk. This is when they feel safest from predators and will do the majority of their feeding. A quick garden patrol during these times can help you spot them in action.

Are there any benefits of what do rabbits eat in the garden?

From a purely gardening perspective, the damage rabbits cause usually outweighs any benefits. However, in the broader ecological sense, they are a vital part of the food web. Their droppings are also excellent, nutrient-rich “cold” manure that can be added directly to the soil. But let’s be honest—we’d rather they left their “gifts” somewhere other than our decimated bean patch!

Your Garden, Your Sanctuary

Gardening with rabbits in the neighborhood doesn’t have to be a constant battle. By understanding what they want, planting strategically, and using humane, effective protection, you can tip the scales back in your favor.

Remember the three key steps from this what do rabbits eat in the garden care guide: Identify their favorites, plant resistant varieties, and protect your most vulnerable crops. It’s a simple but powerful framework for success.

So take a deep breath, grab your gardening gloves, and look at your yard with new eyes. You have the knowledge and the tools to create a garden that is both stunningly beautiful and wonderfully resilient. Happy gardening!

Rimon Chowdhury
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