• Rabbits and hares can kill plants by ring-barking them. Hares are less likely to damage your plantings if they are larger when planted (see plant size), whereas rabbits will attack all young plants if hungry enough.
• Plastic sleeves placed on the bottom 25 cm of plant stems are the most cost effective and efficient means of protection from rabbits. Another option is clipped gorse branches.
• Note: barriers are not always practical when planting lots of plants, due to the time it takes to put them on, and in some cases take them off, the plants.
• Repellents, when sprayed on plants, can discourage browsing for up to 3 months depending on the rainfall during this time. Apply immediately after planting and monitor to check if re-application is needed. Egg-based repellents are some of the most effective. Try Liquid Shotgun, Thiroprotect or Treepel. You can make your own repellent by mixing 5 fresh eggs, 150 ml of acrylic white paint and 600 ml of water.
• Shooting, trapping and poisoning are other options for pest control.

A technique for protecting young plants from rabbits and spray drift

The following technique was developed by Stephen Brailsford, a restoration consultant. The technique, which he calls “Combi-guard”, comprises a wool mulch mat and a 300 mm high plastic sleeve supported by 4 bamboo stakes. Stephen also places 2 slow-release fertiliser tablets under the soil in the bottom of the planting hole.


Mobile gig for installing stakes. Useful on stony ground.



Barrier provides protection from rabbits and acts as a spray guard. You can also lift up the plastic sleeve to pull out weeds that have grown underneath. Note, the small square of wool mulch to control weeds within the barrier.


A rabbit-prone hillside that has been established using Stephen Brailsford’s method.

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