Rabbits are small, sweet, furry animals that never make a peep. Their quietness is admired if you have them as pets, but getting rid of them can be challenging when they’re freely roaming and destroying your garden. If you have tried the cotton ball hack that involves vinegar but you hasn’t seen much improvement, you might want to try reaching into your spice cabinet, as rabbits despise the smell of cinnamon. While we enjoy using cinnamon in tea, baking, and cooking, rabbits run in the opposite direction when they get a whiff of the spice.
Cinnamon is a potent spice that has a warm, comforting smell for humans. However, it’s not enjoyed by most animals including rabbits because they have highly sensitive noses. Rabbits rely on their noses to help them find food and let them know if they’re in danger, so when they smell anything slightly unusual, they turn the other way. Further, even if they do venture close, rabbits are sensitive to cinnamon in every way. They can get allergic reactions, stomach pains, and irritated skin if they inhale, eat, or even touch cinnamon. Sprinkling this spice around your carrots, lettuce, or other vegetables or plants in your garden will prevent rabbits from invading and eating everything in sight. Additionally, the spice is non-toxic to your plants and could even benefit them, as it helps heal vegetation’s cuts due to its antibacterial properties.
How to use cinnamon to repel rabbits
The simplest way to add cinnamon to your garden is by sprinkling the powder around your plants. However, if you don’t want to use too much powder in your soil, a homemade spray could be an alternative solution for deterring rabbits. To make this, mix 2 teaspoons of cinnamon with 4 cups of water, then allow it to soak overnight. The next day, strain the mixture, add it to a spray bottle, and include a small amount of rubbing alcohol and dish soap, which will help it adhere to plants. Spray the mixture around your yard where you don’t want rabbits to go near and watch your plants thrive.
Another excellent way to use this spice around your yard is with cinnamon bark. Tear off pieces of bark and place them around the base of any tree or plant you don’t want rabbits invading. While the pieces can get lost among dirt, woodchips, or grass, the smell will still scare rabbits away. Finally, you could also apply drops of cinnamon essential oil around your yard, as the rabbits will smell it and head in the opposite direction. Always apply enough bark, powder, essential oil drops, or spray to ensure the scent lasts a long time and that the rabbits can smell it from miles away. Also keep in mind that, whatever method you choose, rain, wind, and other natural elements can remove the scent, so reapply often.
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