How to Keep Rabbits Away From Strawberries

Trap the rabbits to rid them from your strawberry patch. Place a few traps around and between the strawberry plants, along with bait such as a few slices of apples or carrots inside. While brush and cottontail rabbits are relatively easy to trap, jackrabbits are slightly difficult because of their reluctance to enter confined spaces. Inspect the traps two to three times a day and release rabbits or other pests far from the strawberry patch.

Apply a contact repellent over the strawberry planting to deter rabbits. Depending on personal preference, spray or pour a taste or smell repellent around and over the berry patch to offend the browsing critters and keep them from indulging in the fruit. Alternatively, apply hot sauce over the strawberry plants to keep rabbits from eating them.

Dig a 2-foot-deep trench all around the planting site. Pour wet cement into the trench until 5 inches below the edge and leave to cure for a week. When cured, arrange flagstones over the concrete to form a 2- or 3-foot-high wall. Depending on personal preference, apply mortar or dry stack the stones. Alternatively, install chicken wire supported by 3-foot-tall stakes inserted every 6 feet along the length of the area. Use chicken wire made from mesh 1 inch or smaller.

Install scare devices such as a pinwheel or an effigy of an owl or snake strategically in the strawberry patch to scare browsing rabbits. Alternatively, hang shiny plates, aluminum strips or colored balloons from low-hanging branches of surrounding trees and plants to deter the critters. Punch a hole through the top of each plate or strip and thread wire or string through it before suspending. The threatening presence scares the critters and sends them away.

Grow plants such as marigolds, onions and chives around the strawberry bushes to repel rabbits naturally. Also consider hanging mesh bags filled with dog or human hair to repel rabbits.