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Do Marigolds Really Repel Rabbits? Better Strategies for Garden Pests

Marigolds: Partial Truth

Marigolds deter some insects and suppress nematodes, but they rarely stop hungry rabbits. After 15+ years of interplanting, rabbits still visited.

More Effective Rabbit Controls

Scent barriers: Interplant garlic, onions, aromatic herbs (combined scent helps).
Commercial repellents: Work but are pricey and wash off in rain.
Cats: Two outdoor cats eliminated rabbits entirely (scent alone deters).
Live traps (Havahart): Bait with peanut butter + lettuce. Check local laws before relocating.

Bonus: Marigolds Still Worth Planting

They reduce nematodes and flying insects — keep them for soil health even if rabbits persist.

Growing Vegetables: Rabbit Nesting in Yard: Fence, Don't Trap; Deer and Rabbit Protection: What Actually Works; Rabbit-Resistant Plants & Repellents for 5-Acre Property; Cilantro = Coriander: Names, Varieties, and Growing Tips; Why Marigolds Stop Blooming: Heat, Nitrogen, and Soil Biology; Marigold Blackening: Botrytis Blight Identification and Organic Treatment; Cold-Climate Vegetable Gardening (Zone 2A): Best Low-Maintenance Crops; Rodents Eating Celebrity Tomatoes in Arizona: Deterrent Strategies; Why Zucchini Plants Flower But Don't Produce Fruit; Protecting Vegetable Gardens from Rabbits

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