Can Rabbits eat Basil? (& Ways to keep them out of your Garden)

Can Rabbits eat Basil? (& Ways to keep them out of your Garden)

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Are you growing basil in your garden? If yes, then you will be aware of its amazing uses and benefits. It gives a good scent and can be used in various dishes too for the taste. But don’t you think your basil plant is getting spoiled? If yes, then you should find the reason behind it. There might be chances that you have not grown them properly or some other reasons like animals are eating them. Can Rabbits eat Basil?

Quick takeaways:

Yes, you are right some animals eat the plants and vegetables grown by the farmers. One of the famous animals known as the rabbit eats plants and vegetables in the garden. Rabbits love to eat the basil and roam around the plant so that they can eat it and enjoy its taste. Rabbits are a great part of wildlife. 

But why do rabbits eat the basil plants? Do they like them or what? All your queries regarding this will be cleared in this article. You need to keep the rabbits away from your garden area so that they do not spoil your garden. But do you know how you can do that? If not, then keep connected as you will see the way to keep the rabbits out of your garden. So let’s start this guide to know if rabbits can eat basil and also some of the ways for keeping the rabbits out of your garden.

Can Rabbits Eat Basil? 

Rabbits are good looking but they are notorious too and can poke you. But how? They do so by eating the vegetation from your garden area. But some people get confused. Is it true that rabbits eat basil? Yes, they eat the basil plants and they tend to eat the seeds of the plant and the fully-grown plant too. Then you can eat all the varieties of basil such as lemon basil, seedlings, sweet basil, Thai basil, etc.

You can check first which variety you should grow, it should not affect the rabbits. Rabbits eat various herbs, shrubs, plants, vegetables, fruits, etc. It is also important for you to protect your vegetation from rabbits. Basil can be eaten by the rabbits if they take it in small quantities. As you know, excess of everything is bad, so eating them fully can harm the rabbits too. 

So, in short, rabbits eat basil as they are herbivore animals, they need nutrients for their survival. They can not intake cooked food or not even processed food.

Ways to Keep Rabbits out of Your Garden

It is crucial to protect the fruits and vegetables in your garden area from animals such as rabbits. But do you know the ways which can keep them away from your garden? If yes, then it is good but if not, then you have to look below to know about the ways to keep them out of your garden:

1. You can even use the small deterrents

You should know that the rabbits are drawn toward the smell. They sense the smell and with the help of it, they catch their food anywhere. Some people are over-scented, so rabbits avoid those plants to eat as they can irritate them.

So, you can use some of the scents that they do not like so that they stay away from your garden area. Some of them are chili powder, lavender, vinegar chives, garlic, and others. By spraying them in your garden, rabbits won’t come into your garden area. 

2. Try not to plant the varieties they like 

Have you ever wondered why rabbits are attached to your garden? It is so as they receive a good amount of food there. If you plant the varieties that rabbits like then they eat them and your efforts go in vain.

So, make sure to plant those plants which are not liked by the rabbits. Some of the varieties that rabbits like are petunia, juneberry, iris, sweet peas, pansies, and others, so try not to plant these varieties. 

3. You can make the fences 

Fences can be a great addition to your garden. A gardener maintains his grown plants very well. So, they get hurt when animals destroy them by eating them. You can make fences around your plants so that the rabbits won’t be able to touch them. 

4. Make use of raised beds 

As you know rabbits are those small mammals that tend to go close to the ground. So, if you use any raised bed then you can prevent them from coming to your plants and eating them.

It will keep the plants out of their reach. Even pre-made wooden beds can be a solution. Rabbits won’t be able to touch your basil plant. 

5. You can make chicken wire cages 

Some people build fences to keep rabbits away from the garden which is no doubt a good idea. But what about chicken wire cages? It will protect your plants from rabbits. You have to wrap the chicken wire around your plants so that the rabbits do not come to them and don’t kill them. 

Covering up the context 

In this guide, you see that rabbits eat basil. Rabbits eat various herbs, shrubs, plants, vegetables, fruits, etc. so, it is also important for you to protect your vegetation from the rabbits. Basil can be eaten by the rabbits if they take it in small quantities. As you know, excess of everything is bad, so eating them fully can harm the rabbits too.

FAQs

1. How does one get rid of rabbits in the garden naturally?

You can easily get rid of the rabbits in the garden anyway. The best way is to do it naturally. You can use chili flakes which should be mixed with garlic in water. You can spray it in your garden so that the rabbits smell them and run away from your garden.  

2. Do Rabbits like plants that smell?

When rabbits visit the vegetable garden, they get used to the plants and the vegetation. The smell of the plants does not bother the rabbits.  

3. Will rabbits eat your vegetable garden?

Yes, folks, rabbits can eat your vegetable garden as they lose a lot of food for themselves there. They will eat your seeds, fruits, vegetables, and other plants. It is better to plant some of the companion plants on your lawn so that at least some of your plants remain safe. 

Becky Decker

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