If you've got a garden, then your vision of rabbits is less Peter Cottontail and more Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog. Rabbits can absolutely devastate a garden; they'll eat the plants and vegetables and leave nothing behind. The most successful way to keep rabbits out of your garden is by putting up proper fencing. But, your run-of-the-mill, idyllic suburban fence won't always do. Instead, you need a rabbit-proof fence. Avoid spending a fortune on someone's latest gadget and put together your own rabbit fences to keep your garden bunny free.
Characteristics of the Best Rabbit-Proof Fences
You're not alone if your harvests have been ruined by little bunny teeth. Gardeners have had bunny problems for centuries. But, rabbit fences will come to the rescue. While you can purchase pre-fabricated rabbit-proof fences, there are ways to construct your own. Either way, be sure to find or make a fence with these important characteristics.
- Bunny-proof garden fences are wire mesh, and the smaller the better. Chicken wire works best, as even baby bunnies cannot squeeze through its openings.
- Rabbits are capable of digging under most fences, so you should bury the wire. It's important to bury your fence at least a foot to prevent rabbits from simply digging under it. The most effective way to bury your fence is to dig a trench about eight inches wide. Lay the wire in the trench forming an L shape with the L facing outward. Then fill in the trench. This L shape is most effective at keeping rabbits from burrowing into your garden.
- Another deterrant is putting in a "hot wire" or electric fence. You need two hot wires, one that's two inches from the ground and one that is four inches from the ground. When the rabbits touch the two wires, it closes a circuit and shocks them. Just make sure to use a charger meant for a garden fence; it won't kill the rabbits, simply repel them.
- Put in a tall fence and rabbits'll balk. Rabbits can't climb well and can't jump too high. A fence that's a yard in height is quite adequate to keep rabbits out.
How to Build a Rabbit-Proof Fence
If you're a savvy gardener with massive plots, then you've probably got some materials and know-how in your corner. If you're interested in putting together your own rabbit-proof fence, we've got a simple solution for you.
Materials You'll Need
When building your own rabbit-proof fence for larger gardens, you're going to need:
- Steel fence posts - one per 10 feet of fence
- 60" wide chicken wire - enough to circle garden
- Fence clips (usually sold with fence posts) - five per post
- Shovel - to dig trench
- Wires and garden electric fence charger, optional
Instructions
- Purchase chicken wire that's at least 60" high. This'll ensure the fence is at least 36" tall when it's finished.
- Dig a trench one foot deep and eight inches wide at the bottom of the whole fence.
- Lay the chicken wire in the trench forming an L shape that faces out toward the outside of the fence. Think of the wire as the bottom shorter slash on the L and the fence line as the taller one.
- Attach the wire to the poles, pulling it tight. Use five wire clips per post to attach the wire, one at the top, one at the bottom, and the rest evenly distributed between those two clips.
- Fill in the trench with dirt.
- For extra security, you may attach two wires, one at two inches and one at four inches from the ground and electrify them with a garden electric fence charger.
When building a rabbit-proof fence, place your steel fence posts every ten feet. Any further apart, and the wire sags in the middle letting the rabbits get through it.
How to Build a Portable Rabbit Fence for Small Gardens
If rabbits are a problem in a small garden area or you want particular plants to reach a mature level before allowing them to grow unprotected, making portable rabbit-proof fence panels will do the trick. You can store the panels when not in use and pull them back out when needed. They're relatively simple to make and require minimal supplies. And, if your green thumb can't be tamed, you can always make additional panels to fit your growing garden's size.
Materials You'll Need
To make some portable rabbit-proof fencing, you'll need:
- 36" long x 2" wide wood strips, 4 for each panel created (ex.: 16 for a small square)
- 36" long x 36" wide pieces of chicken wire, 1 per panel
- Heavy duty stapler and staples
- Small nails
- Hammer
- Gloves
- Wire cutter
- Shovel
- Flexible wire
Instructions
Follow these six simple steps to bring your portable rabbit fencing to life:
- Depending on the thickness of the wood strips, nail or staple them together to form a square panel that is 36" x 36". You need at least four panels to secure an area.
- Wearing gloves, cut the chicken wire into 36" x 36" pieces with wire cutters.
- Lay the piece of prepared chicken wire on top of the wood panel and staple it in place. Make sure to pull the wire tight so there aren't any gaps.
- Dig a trench that's 6-7" deep and as wide as the number of panels you've made around the small garden area you're protecting.
- Place a panel into the trench and cover with soil, firming it up with your foot so it stays in place. Make sure at least 6" of the panel's bottom is covered. Continue until you have all your panels installed around the small garden area.
- Use flexible wiring and attach to the top, middle, and bottom side portion of two panels, wiring them together so they stay in place. Continue until you have all the panels wired together at the sides.
Commercial Rabbit-Proof Fences
There aren't very many commercial rabbit-proof fences available, which is why most people make their own. However, there are a few you can rely on. Two fences that're specially made to keep rabbits out of your garden are:
- YARDGUARD 28 inch by 50 ft, 16 gauge Rabbit Fence- This green wire is specifically designed to keep rabbits out of the garden, with small mesh squares at the bottom and larger ones at the top. However, it's not tall enough to bury a foot in the ground and still have it be tall enough to keep rabbits from going over it, so they may burrow under it. It costs just over $40.
- Everbilt Green PVC Coated Welded Wire 4 ft by 50 ft - This wire is made of heavy-duty galvanized steel yet is light and easy to use when creating your barrier. The mesh is small enough to keep rabbits and other pests out while large enough for you to get a view of your garden. It should be installed with U-posts and at a reccommended depth of at least one foot in the ground. A roll is about $100.
Protect Your Garden From Wild Bunny Teeth
Rabbits are disarmingly cute, bouncing around your yard until they attack and sink their teeth into your veggies. Instead of waiting for them to mount an attack on your garden, take these simple precautionary measures and build a rabbit-proof fence. The rabbits might not be happy, but your flowers, fruits, and veggies totally will be.
