Rabbits may be adorable, but they are a major nuisance to anyone attempting to cultivate a garden. If you have a garden and have tried to grow vegetables but have been thwarted by rabbits, it is important to know the best method to keep rabbits from eating your vegetables. At Edge Wholesale Direct, we provide fencing and farm equipment solutions to protect and contain your property, and we can help you find the best solution to keep rabbits from destroying your crops.
How to Keep Rabbits Out of Your Garden
Rabbits will eat nearly any kind of tender vegetation, and vegetables are some of their favourite victims. As is the case with any pest or predator, the best way to keep rabbits out is to install a suitable fence. There are alternatives to fencing in a garden, such as foul-smelling sprays and chemical repellants, traps, and a good guard dog or hunting cat, but nothing tends to be quite as effective as a properly installed wire rabbit fence.
How to Build a Simple Rabbit Fence
Building a rabbit fence is fairly simple with the proper equipment. You will need rabbit wire or chicken wire, treated wooden boards (2×2 and 2×4 will do fine) or fence posts, and screws. The fence should be at least 2 feet tall in order to prevent rabbits from jumping over it.
1. Measure and Cut the Fence
Measure each side of your garden and cut lengths off of your roll of rabbit wire accordingly.
2. Dig a Trench Around Your Garden
Rabbits will be able to burrow under anything that is at ground level, so it is important to ensure that your fence is set at least 6 inches into the ground. If you are working with a raised garden box, this step can usually be overlooked.
3. Set the Fence Posts
At each corner of the garden, set 2×2 fence posts into the ground deeply enough that they will not wobble too much. There should be at least 2 feet of each post still above ground.
4. Fasten the Wire Fence to the Posts
Line up one panel of wire rabbit fencing up with the fence posts and sandwich it between the post and another piece of wood. Use screws to fasten the wood and the post together with the wire fencing between them. Do this for each piece of wire fencing at each corner of the fence, making sure that the wire rabbit fence is set all the way into the trench that was dug.
5. Fill in the Trench and Finish the Fence
Fill in the trench to bury the bottom of the fence. If the fence is too tall for you to step over, consider putting in a small gate.
If you would like to find out more about how to keep rabbits from eating your vegetables, or if you would like to learn more about our farm fencing products, please contact Edge Wholesale Direct at 604-857-2436.