Do coffee grounds keep a rabbit out?

How do you keep a rabbit out of your garden? You may find many methods online, but some are more effective than others. One such way is using coffee grounds. Click for more Rabbit MACE product information...

Rabbits love various scents, but they dislike the smell of coffee. That is why people have been known to sprinkle coffee grounds in the morning around their premises or mix them a bit with the topsoil, especially in those areas where rabbits tend to frequent. Furthermore, coffee grounds may seem like an inexpensive solution to keep rabbits out. This is because coffee is a natural fertilizer and may help improve the health of the soil in your garden. But what risks are associated with using coffee grounds as your go-to rabbit repellent?

Should you use coffee grounds to keep a rabbit out?

The short answer is no. Coffee is a stimulant and contains caffeine, which makes it toxic to rabbits. Like nicotine and alcohol, caffeine is a psychoactive compound that causes changes in thoughts, feelings, moods, and behavior. Although the smell of coffee grounds generally puts off rabbits, there’s always a risk of ingesting the substance, which may cause many issues. Moreover, if you have pets, you want to supervise them strictly to avoid accidentally ingesting the coffee beans, which can cause caffeine poisoning. If you suspect your pet has accidentally eaten coffee grounds, look out for symptoms of caffeine poisoning. Usually, symptoms emerge within the first one or two hours and may range from vomiting, panting, severe thirst, rapid heartbeat, steady or regular urination, and more.

Another challenge you might have with using coffee grounds to stop rabbits is that you will be required to sprinkle lots of them around your premises frequently.

Other techniques to keep rabbits out

In place of coffee grounds, there are other measures you can use to ensure that rabbits don’t have their way with your garden.

1.  Install netting barriers

You can create protective cages around your plants made from materials like chicken wire mesh or deer netting. This protective barrier should be about 6 inches into the ground and over two feet tall.

2.  Add plants that rabbits dislike

Rabbits dislike plants like garlic, rosemary, onions, and basil. So you can use these plants to make your garden unwelcome. Other rabbit-resistant plants include garlic, geraniums, lavender, wax begonias, and onion.

3.  Vinegar

Vinegar is also a powerful deterrent to keep a rabbit out of your property. You can mix parts of white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray liberally. Alternatively, you can soak some rags and use them around targeted areas to kick rabbits out.

4.  Predator urine

Predator urine is a great way to keep the rabbits guessing. You can purchase the urine of rabbit predators such as wolves, bobcats, coyotes, and lynxes to make them feel unwelcome in your yard.

 5.  Use commercial repellents

Commercial repellents combine multiple scents proven to keep rabbits away. An all-natural, non-toxic formula like Nature’s Mace is one of the best solutions to stop rabbits from entering your garden. With this formula, you don’t have to worry about harming yourself, pets, and plants. Nature’s Mace helps you install an effective protective barrier against rabbits in record time. Click for more Rabbit MACE product information...