The small openings in rabbit wire keep rabbits from slipping between the wires.
Building a rabbit wire fence can be an effective yet cheap way to keep rabbits out of a garden or flowerbed. Often called small stock or lawn and garden fencing, rabbit wire is a mesh, 20-gauge galvanized wire with 1-inch rabbit-proof openings at the bottom and 2-inch openings at the top. Typically measuring 24 inches to 30 inches high, rabbit wire is more substantial than chicken wire but shorter and less sturdy than woven wires. Barbara Damrosch, author of The Garden Primer, recommends burying the bottom 6 inches of the fence during installation to minimize potential digging issues if you have severe rabbit problems.
Instructions
1. Install the corner posts for fence. Pound steel T-posts into the ground at each corner, sinking them to a depth of 9 inches to 12 inches with a manual post driver. Tie sturdy twine to the first corner post and stretch it along the fence perimeter to the remaining corner posts one at a time to serve as a guide for installing the line posts.
2. Sink metal rebar posts 6 inches to 9 inches into the ground along the outside edge of the guide wire to serve as line posts. Hammer them into the ground in 10-foot to 12-foot increments. Unroll the length of rabbit wire fencing along one side of the fence perimeter on the outside edge of the fence posts.
3. Stand the beginning of the roll of rabbit wire upright and wrap its end around the first corner post. Keep the bottom of the roll flush with the ground. Secure the end of the roll on the first corner post using three 6-inch to 9-inch lengths of 17-gauge galvanized fencing wire. Use one length of the fencing wire at the bottom of the roll of rabbit wire fencing. Also use one at the top of the fence and put the last strip in the middle.
4. Pull the rabbit fencing upright and verify that the bottom of it is flush with the ground. Tie the fence to the line post with three lengths of the 17-gauge galvanized fencing wire and repeat this entire process with the remaining line posts.
5. Wrap the fencing material around the outside edge of the second corner post to create a right angle that allows the fence to follow the second straight line of the fence perimeter. Tie the fencing in place on the second corner post with the strips of galvanized wire. Continue tying the rabbit fence to the remaining line and corner posts, tying the wire off on itself when you return to the first corner post.
Tips Warnings
If you have a large area to fence and need to splice two lengths of rabbit wire together, simply overlay the last 2 inches of the first length with the first 2 inches of the second length. Secure the two strips of fencing together with five to six short pieces of the galvanized fencing wire.
Consider supplementing your rabbit fence with deterrents to further discourage invasion. Possible options include sprinkling bone meal or black pepper around the perimeter of your fence. Another option is to plant a rabbit garden (usually featuring rabbit-attracting leaf lettuce or carrots) outside the perimeter of your garden.
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