Do marigolds keep rabbits away?

While marigolds might keep rabbits away from your garden when their odor is strong, if rabbits get hungry they will still chew on the marigolds. To more reliably keep rabbits out, use marigolds in combination with spicy herbs such as oregano or thyme to mask the appealing plant odor and distract rabbits' foraging behavior.

Marigolds simply cannot produce strong scents in dry climates like we have in California. Use drought-resistant lavender to partner with marigolds. A gardener in New Mexico used this combination and noted 50% fewer rabbits visiting their garden after adding the lavender. Make sure to only water marigolds a little. If they are watered too much, this dilutes their ability to produce odor.

To thwart the ongoing underbrushing of cavalier rabbits, further fortify marigold borders by attaching hardware cloth fencing to the borders. This visual barrier works as a deterrent against rabbits digging. A gardener in the Midwest used marigolds, spaced around 3 feet apart, combined with motion-activated sprinklers, getting 80% less damage by the rabbits. Copy the marigold-rabbit design and switch plant pairings every year, so they do not adapt to it.

Just a reminder for safety reasons: Marigolds are nontoxic; thyme, however, not an ideal plant where pets may graze. Don't forget to share your marigold success stories online! A family from Texas has had success protecting their beans with marigolds and rosemary. Your adaptation could help other families dealing with similar pest challenges.

Read the full article: 10 Effective Ways to Deter Rabbits in Your Garden