Tips for Deer & Rabbit Repellant for the Homeowner

“Question:  What do you recommend to stop Rabbits from eating everything in your yard.  They are eating everyting:  hostas, azaleas, roses, even some potted plants on the deck! I don’t want to trap them or kill them—just repel ‘em. Any thoughts?”
D.S.
Kingspont, Williamsburg
April 2008

Dear D.S.
If I could answer this question definitively I’d have retired a millionaire by now. Read on and I’ll tell you what we use in our treatment programs and what you can do yourself.

We have used a product called Tree Guard for many years and been quite pleased. The active ingredient is Bitrex. The chemical itself is harmless but has a long lasting bitter taste. I’ve heard that it was originally developed in the 1950’s as an alternative to Novocain but was not successful because of the bitter side effect. It sat on the shelf for years until someone said, “Hey, we can use this to keep animals off plants!” (I’ve not confirmed that this is true, but it makes for a good story.)

The problem with any repellant is that it must remain on the plant to be effective. Two things happen: 1) rain will wash off the repellant either immediately or over time, and 2) the plant grows new leaves which are unprotected. Tree Guard contains latex that dries and holds a layer of Bitrex on the leaf. As the plant grows, however, additional applications must be made to protect new growth.

You can get this product at any home and hardware store. I recommend you buy a container with a built-in sprayer for easier use. If you use your own sprayer, the product needs to be cleaned out after each application or it will severely gum-up. Apply the product on a regular and on-going basis. You can also have us handle the whole thing for you. In this case we would set up a series of periodic visits to make repeat applications.

- Joe Hertzler

Posted by , Friday, April 18, 2008 at 8:33 am in Products & Services We Offer Tips