As I write this, I have a holiday movie playing in the background. It is the nineteenth holiday movie I have watched so far this season, and that does not count the ones I watched for Christmas in July or just randomly throughout the year. I love holiday movies. If you are wondering how I know this is the nineteenth one I have watched this year, it is because I keep a spreadsheet with notes so that I can check off which movies I watch each year and can determine which movies are worth watching again in the future. I mean, who doesn’t do that? 

This year, my month-long movie marathon got me thinking about how much fun it would be to host a themed movie night in my backyard complete with a screen, projector, comfy seating, and party favors. Because, as some of you know, I love to host a themed gathering just as much as I love holiday movies and spreadsheets. 

So, I thought I would share my winter backyard movie night party plans with you in case you might also want to create a fun, cozy get-together this winter. 

1. Set up an outdoor movie theater. 

The first step is to set up your backyard movie theater. My setup includes a pull-down movie screen on my covered porch and a portable projector that I bring out for movie nights and store in the garage when not in use. There are lots of options for both screens and projectors, so you could also install a drop-down projector on the ceiling or have a permanent screen that is always ready to go. Test your system before your guests arrive to make sure it is set up correctly and that you know how to use it. Most projectors are easy to use, but some can be a little tricky.

2. Consider seating. 

Next up will be considering seating. If it is a small group, which most of the best get-togethers are, then you might have enough comfortable patio furniture to accommodate your guests. If not, you can bring out furniture from inside, dust off your camping chairs, or invest in comfy, outdoor floor cushions. If you plan on hosting your movie night on your lawn, be sure to turn off your irrigation system that day and check the forecast to make sure it is not going to rain, since mud and wet grass are not going to improve your party. 

3. Keep your guests warm. 

Outdoor movie nights need to take place after dark, which means it will likely be cold. Prepare to keep your guests warm with baskets of throw blankets, portable or permanent patio heaters, and setting up seating near fire features. To treat your guests even more, you might consider also setting out cozy slippers and mittens, which could even be party favors. 

4. Set up a hot beverage bar. 

My ideal hot beverage bar for a movie night would be a hot chocolate bar with cinnamon sticks, whipped cream, chocolate chips, marshmallows, toffee bits, peppermint chips, and chopped nuts. 

Of course, you could also set up a hot adult beverage bar with hot toddies, mulled wine, mulled cider, or coffee and hot chocolate that can be spiked with vodka, tequila, whiskey, or kahlua. You can set out an assortment of ceramic mugs, travel mugs, or thermoses for your guests to use or to use during the party, and then take home with them, which is my top choice for party favors for this soiree. 

5. Set up a popcorn and candy bar. 

Nothing says movie night like popcorn and movie theater candy. You can either buy the small boxes of candy like those sold at theaters or fill bowls and baskets so that your guests can create their own movie candy mix. Depending on just how committed you are to being the most amazing party host ever, you can buy bags of pre-popped popcorn, pop and bag homemade popcorn before the party, or rent or buy a popcorn machine. 

Winter home maintenance reminder: If you have not yet changed your HVAC filters and cleaned your gutters, now is the time. We can expect lower temperatures and more rain in the coming months. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, it is also a good idea to have your chimney cleaned and inspected before you start using it this winter.  

Chemical pesticides are an easy, quick way to achieve bug-free outdoor living spaces, but is it really worth having your family, pets and guests exposed to toxic chemicals when you can achieve this goal with natural methods?

The exterior space around your home is where your children and pets play, where you grow vegetables to feed your family, where you steal away for a peaceful moment of meditation or yoga, and where you gather with friends to celebrate holidays and milestones. Even if green living or eco-friendly yard care isn't your thing, I'm sure you want your yard to be a safe place where your family and friends will not be exposed to unnecessary, harmful substances -- particularly if almost everything you need for pest-free outdoor living is probably already in your pantry.

If you want to avoid using chemicals where your kids and pets play, try these nine easy, inexpensive, natural methods to rid your yard -- and home -- of unwanted pests. 

1. Salt – Sprinkling salt around the borders of your garden will ward off slugs and snails. Just remember that salt is not good for your soil or desirable plants, so use it with caution. 

2. Garlic – Garlic can deter cockroaches inside and ants outside when hidden under cabinets and in the cracks of decks. 

3. Bay Leaves – Bay leaves tucked into cracks or under chairs will help keep ants, fleas and cockroaches away.

4. Cucumber – Save those cucumber peels and strategically place them in areas where ants are a problem.

5. Rosemary, Sage and Marigolds – Plant one of these insect repellant plants to beautify your yard and keep pests away. Burning a little sage or rosemary on the grill will also help keep mosquitoes away during cookouts.

6. Eucalyptus Oil – Flies tend to steer clear of eucalyptus oil. Place a few drops on pieces of cloth to place around your outdoor living spaces.

7. Birdhouses and Bat Houses – Okay, this one probably isn't in your pantry, but they are easy enough to find at home improvement stores or online. Letting birds and bats know they are welcome in your yard will encourage them to hang around and keep your pest population down.

8. Mint – Mint will take over your entire garden if you let it, but if you keep it confined in containers or behind borders, it can still be an effective insect repellent to ward off ants and other pests.

9.  Lady Bugs – Not all bugs are bad; in fact, beneficial insects – like lady bugs – can help you keep your garden free of aphids. 

AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, and green living. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.  

 Fall is here, which means sweater weather, evenings around the fire pit, switching from iced to hot lattes, and maybe finally getting some rain. It also means it is time for some seasonal home maintenance tasks to keep your home safe, functioning properly, and well maintained. To help you make your to-do list for this season, here are 10 fall home maintenance tasks to consider adding.

1. Service your HVAC system. 
It is just about time to start using our heaters, which means it is time to at least change the air filters in your HVAC system. If your air filters are accessible, this is an easy task you can do yourself. If not, you may need to call in a professional. You might also want to schedule a local HVAC professional to clean your ducts or service your furnace if you have not checked these off your home maintenance list recently.

2. Have your chimney cleaned and inspected. 
Annual chimney inspections are important to keep indoor fireplaces functioning properly and safely. The easiest way to accomplish this task is to schedule a local chimney cleaning company, but some handy homeowners might want to take this task on themselves. If so, be sure to look for damage or wear on the chimney, flashing, crown, cap, adjacent walls, and firebox. You also need to check for creosote buildup and make sure the flue is free from obstructions. 

3. Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. 
Testing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors is usually as easy as the push of a button, so this is an easy home maintenance task that you can do yourself. If you do not have five- or 10-year batteries in your detectors, you should also change the batteries. 

4. Replace weatherstripping and door sweeps. 
Improve energy efficiency and save money by adding or replacing weatherstripping and door sweeps around drafty doors and windows. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, this can save between 5% and 30% on annual energy costs. The U.S. Department of Energy also has a handy page with everything you need to know about different types of weatherstripping and how to apply it. 

5. Inspect and upgrade your irrigation system. 
Critters love to chew through irrigation lines to get to the water inside, so regularly inspecting your irrigation system is an important part of reducing leaks and conserving water. This is also a good time to make sure sprinkler heads are aligned with your watering needs and that your drip system is free of clogs. If you do not already have a rain sensor, consider upgrading your system with one to make conserving water even easier. 

6. Inspect fire features. 
You will likely start using outdoor fire features more often now that the weather is cooling off, so this is a good time to make sure your fire pit or patio fireplace is clean and functioning properly. 

7. Inspect your roof. 
Check your roof for missing shingles, nails that are sticking up and no longer flush with the surface, and any other type of damage. If you find damage that is beyond your skill level, hire a local roofing company to complete the repairs or do a tune-up on your roof. As part of your roof inspection, you should also look for tree limbs that could become an issue if there are heavy winds, rain, or fire. 

8. Exclude rodents. 
Rodent populations are often at their highest in late summer and early fall, which is when many people will notice an increase in activity. This can become even more evident when they start looking for cozy places to live as the weather gets colder, since those cozy places might be in your attic, walls, or kitchen. To keep rats and mice at bay, inspect the exterior of your home for any holes, gaps, uncovered vents, or missing door sweeps where they can squeeze in. 

9. Test your home for radon.
We are more likely to keep our windows and doors closed in fall and winter, which makes this a good time to test radon levels in our homes. Radon is a clear, odorless gas, so there is no way to know if the levels in your home are unsafe except by testing for it. If your budget allows, you can hire a professional to test for radon and other air quality issues. California residents can also purchase a low-cost, DIY radon test kit. Information is available on the California Department of Public Health website.

10. Clean your gutters. 
You didn’t really think I was going to forget to mention cleaning your gutters, did you? I think this might be the single-most recommended home maintenance task in this column, but it is for good reason. It is one of the simplest ways we can reduce fire risk – which is why I mention is so much – but it is also important for fall home maintenance, since we might finally start getting some rain. One of my clients just had to repair the eaves at three corners of their house because of leaking gutters, which was a good reminder that it was about time I mention this to you again. So, clear any leaves and debris, make sure your downspouts are clog free, and make sure your rain barrels are ready for action.  

Plastic products can change – and even save – lives, so they certainly have their place, but much of the plastic we use in our everyday lives is just for convenience. It is so ubiquitous in consumer products and packaging at this point that most of us don’t even realize how much plastic we use. 

Because of this, there are hundreds of big and small ways we can reduce plastic in our lives that include such simple changes as buying reusable sandwich bags and making our own salsa. 

Here are 10 of the easiest ways you can start reducing your plastic consumption today.

1. Reusable shopping bags – I think almost everyone is already doing this one, but it is worth mentioning, since it is such an easy way to quickly reduce your plastic consumption. 

2. Reusable produce bags – These have not caught on quite as well as reusable shopping bags, but I am starting to see them a bit more when shopping in produce and bulk sections. These inexpensive, mesh bags can be used for fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, and nuts. 

3. Reusable water bottle – There are still a lot of people regularly using single-use, plastic water bottles. Switching to a glass or stainless-steel water bottle that you can refill on the go encourages you to stay hydrated and saves you money while also reducing the demand for plastic bottles. 

4. Reusable coffee cup – The hardest part about this one is remembering to bring it with you when you head to the coffee shop. Most coffee shops use paper cups with plastic lids, and most folks who go to coffee shops go regularly, so more of these folks bringing their own travel mugs would significantly reduce waste. 

5. Glass food storage containers – Plastic food storage containers are common, but glass options are so much more durable that your children and grandchildren can inherit them and continue reducing the demand for plastic long into the future. 

6. BYO to-go containers – Once you stock up on glass food storage containers, bring a couple with you to pack up the leftovers when you go out to eat instead of using the to-go containers at the restaurant. 

Between running all over the county when I’m working and road trips with my partner, I end up eating on the go quite a bit. Rather than use the plastic cutlery that comes with to-go orders, I carry reusable cutlery sets in my purse. I prefer metal, and that is what I carry daily, but I also have a bamboo set for when I fly or know that I am going to the courthouse that day. 

8. Bar soap – Bar soap gets your hands just as clean without the plastic packaging that comes with liquid hand soap and body wash. If you want to go a step further, there are also shampoo bars, conditioner bars, and lotions bars. 

9. DIY body powder – Body powder and baby powder are so easy to make that there is really no reason to be purchasing powders that come in plastic containers. I mix one-half cup cornstarch, one-quarter cup arrowroot powder, and one-quarter cup baking soda to make my daily body powder. For home use, I use a glass sugar shaker from the dollar store. For travel, I use a glass spice jar. 

10. Trash can inserts – Invest in a few affordable trash cans with removable inserts for your bathrooms and stop using trash bags. You can easily remove and dump the inserts, which makes trash bags a waste of plastic and money. 

Your guests get their first impression of your home before they ever set foot on the property. As soon as they pull up, they will notice details that you may have grown so accustomed to you don’t even see them anymore. Things like the broken flowerpot at the corner of the porch or the fading paint on your mailbox or the overgrown bougainvillea you have to step around on your way to the front door. 

With a few afternoon projects that won’t take much time or money, you can significantly improve the curb appeal of your home by this weekend. So, whether you are expecting guests or preparing for an open house, consider these small projects that can have a big impact on the first impression folks will have of your home. 

Clear the clutter.
Every time I write about curb appeal, this one is always first on the list. In most cases, this is the easiest, quickest, and most affordable way to quickly increase curb appeal. Decluttering your front yard, driveway, and porch will instantly make your property look bigger, more inviting, and more attractive. 

Take care of basic landscape maintenance tasks. 
Along with clearing clutter, catching up on basic yard care tasks should be at the top of your list to quickly improve the look of your front yard. Pull weeds, mow and edge your lawn, prune bushes, deadhead flowering plants, and remove leaves from landscaping and hardscapes. 

Clear your walkways. 
Trim low-hanging branches and overgrown plants to clear your walkways and make them easier for guests to traverse. 

Refresh ground covers. 
It takes only a couple of hours to head to a local garden center to purchase wood chips, mulch, bark, or gravel, and then take it home to cover areas of bare dirt and spread it between plants. This will instantly make your yard look cleaner, add color and texture, and enhance its overall visual appeal. 

Wash your windows. 
While we usually think of cleaning windows as a way to improve how our home looks from the inside, this is also a quick and easy way to improve curb appeal. 

Paint or replace your mailbox. 
If your mailbox is looking a bit worse for the wear, paint it or replace it to freshen the look of your home. 

Change the color of your front door. 
If you have a bit more time for projects, or your budget allows you to hire a contractor, you can give your home a whole new look by changing the color of the front door. If you are preparing your house to sell, look up which colors are trending for front doors. You can also just go with your favorite color, or you can do a bit of research to choose a color based on feng shui or historic trends. 

Pressure wash your house and hardscapes. 
Pressure washing is a quick way to achieve a deeper cleaning for solid surfaces. You can rent a pressure washer and make this a DIY project, but if you are not experienced with using power washers, it is best to hire a professional. Using the wrong pressure or the wrong nozzle can cause significant damage to your home’s exterior, windows, walkways, or driveway. 

Add color and texture with plants.
Plants are the best way to quickly add color and texture to your porch or yard. You can freshen a border with annuals, plant succulents along your driveway, or place a few well-positioned pots on your porch. Just make sure you do not overdo it and make it look cluttered. 

Go for a walk. 
Take a walk around the block, and as you approach your home, see what draws your attention. Is it your welcoming front door color and your well-manicured landscaping? Or is it the faded paint on your mailbox and the dent in the garage door you haven’t had a chance to repair?

Looking at your property from different angles brings a new perspective on what people see when they approach your home. When you are always walking from your car to the front door or from the front door to the mailbox but never really see your home from across the street, you are missing important information that can help you easily increase your curb appeal.  

Spring and summer are the best seasons for selling a home, but that does not mean you cannot have a successful sale in fall or winter. This is particularly true in areas like Ventura County where we enjoy pleasant weather and outdoor entertaining throughout the year. You may even have an advantage with fewer homes on the market and buyers looking to close before the winter holidays. 

There are some things that remain the same no matter when you are putting your home on the market. Clearing clutter, depersonalizing, deep cleaning, completing repairs and maintenance, and enhancing curb appeal are important parts of preparing your home to sell any time of year. 

There are also some autumn-specific home selling tips that can help position your home for a successful sale, which we will go over here.

If your landscaping includes deciduous trees, regular raking should be at the top of your list when preparing for showings. You do not want potential buyers to see work they will have to do when they look at your house, so stay on top of leaf removal. 

There may also be fall-related clutter to keep under control, including rain boots, umbrellas, and jackets that can overwhelm porches and entries. Set out a boot tray and umbrella rack to keep rain gear corralled if it is too wet to put away in your coat closet. It is also a good idea to put out doormats for guests and potential buyers to use when they come to your home on rainy days. You might also consider placing a basket of disposable shoe covers by the door to keep your floors clean without asking buyers to take their shoes off. 

Enhanced lighting – natural and otherwise – is important when the days are shorter and the dark settles in earlier. You can enhance natural light by cleaning your windows, opening curtains and blinds before showings, and trimming trees near windows. Make sure all the lights in your home are on before showings and open houses and make outdoor spaces more welcoming and festive by adding string lights. 

Adding fall décor can make your home feel warmer and more inviting, but don’t overdo it. Keep it simple and elegant, such as a seasonal wreath on the door or pumpkins on the porch. It is always a good idea to freshen and add a bit of color to living areas and entertaining spaces with new throw pillows or rugs, so, if you are selling your home in fall, consider autumn colors to update these spaces and make them feel cozy. 

You can also bring the feeling of fall into your living spaces with aromas reminiscent of fresh-baked cookies or hot cider. You can achieve this with a simmer pot, wax warmer, or by actually baking cookies before showings. Think cinnamon, cardamom, pumpkin, persimmon, vanilla, and warm spices for your scent profile. Be sure to keep it on the subtle side, since some folks are sensitive to fragrances. 

While we are on the topic of smells, if you have not yet run your heater this year, now is a good time to do that. If your ductwork has been sitting dormant for months, you may need to change the filters and run the system so that it will not smell dusty when you turn it on for a showing or open house. 

If you have fire features inside or outside, make them a focal point. Fall is all about being cozy, so now is the time for your fireplaces and fire pit to shine. While your swimming pool is always going to be a selling point, now is the time to put away the pool toys and replace them with baskets of cozy throw blankets and seating vignettes that make potential buyers want to curl up on your patio sofa with hot chocolate and a good book. 

And, finally, if you have an outdoor living space with a fire feature and outdoor lighting, talk to your real estate agent about hosting a twilight caravan or open house with mulled cider or a hot chocolate bar complete with marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, whipped cream, chocolate chips, and toffee bits. 

Mostly, focus on making your home feel warm, inviting, and cozy, since coziness and comfort is what most folks associate with home in the fall.  

Evaporation can account for the loss of an average of one-quarter inch of pool water per day, which, depending on the size of your pool, can add up to thousands – or tens of thousands – of gallons of water lost each year. Since we are generally in some state of drought here and are currently in a severe drought, everything we can do to save water is a step in the right direction. 

If you have a swimming pool and would like to save money and conserve water by reducing evaporation, here are six tips to try.

Get a pool cover. 
This one is too obvious to not be first on this list. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), using a pool cover prevents up to 95 percent of evaporation. There is a variety of choices available, including manual and automatic options. Using a cover also keeps your pool cleaner, keeps the water warmer, and, depending on the type of cover you install, a cover can also make your pool safer. 

Try a liquid pool cover. 
Liquid pool covers (aka liquid solar covers, liquid solar blankets) create an invisible barrier on top of the water the reduces evaporation, heat loss, and chemical loss. 

Turn off water features when not in use. 
Waterfalls and fountains are beautiful and relaxing, but they also make the water in your pool evaporate faster. So, when you are not using them as a focal point during a dinner party or to enjoy the look and sound of moving water while lounging by the pool, turn them off. 

Lower the temperature on your pool heater. 
The warmer the water is, the faster it will evaporate. That makes simply lowering your pool temperature by a few degrees an easy way to reduce pool water evaporation this summer. You will also benefit from using less electricity to heat your pool. 

Add shade and windbreaks around your pool. 
Since heat and wind are two of the main causes of evaporation, reducing these elements around your pool can help you save water. Consider privacy fencing, trees and shrubs, or a shade structure to protect your pool from the elements. 

Maintain pool chemicals. 
Test the chemical balance of your pool regularly to ensure that you are maintaining proper pH and alkalinity. When chemical imbalances occur, the water is less stable, which increases evaporation. 

Using a local pool maintenance service is the best way to ensure that your chemicals are regularly tested and balanced. If you need a professional to help with any of these other tips, such as installing a fence or planting trees, make sure to use local contractors and vendors to support the local economy. 

If you would like to have a food garden but are not sure where to start or don’t have much room to work with, a patio herb garden might be a good first step. There are lots of options for herbs that grow well in containers and small spaces, and herbs generally require less care than other food plants. This makes them an appealing choice for busy people or folks who don’t think they have much of a green thumb. 

You can grow a variety of herbs for culinary, medicinal, or ritual purposes, or you can create a themed herb garden for specific purposes, such as a cocktail herb garden, herbal tea garden, pasta sauce herb garden, or space clearing herb garden. 

Here are some examples: 

Cocktail or Mocktail Herb Garden – Almost any edible herb can be used in some type of drink recipe, but if you would like to start a cocktail herb garden that allows you to harvest fresh herbs for cocktails and mocktails at your next party, some good options to start with are sage, basil, mint, and lavender. These herbs all grow well here and lend themselves well to an array of food and drink recipes. 

Herbal Tea Garden – Camellia sinensis (tea) takes too much space and too much time for most backyard gardeners to bother with, but you can grow herbs for herbal teas – more accurately called tisanes or herbal infusions – that you can harvest and enjoy for their medicinal properties or simply their taste. Herbs to consider for an herbal tea garden include mint, chamomile, lemon verbena, lemon balm, lavender, parsley, and coriander. Most of these herbs can also be used in culinary recipes, which makes this a versatile patio herb garden option. 

Pasta Sauce Herb Garden – If you love cooking Italian foods that include flavorful sauces, consider growing basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, and oregano. 

Ritual Herb Garden – If your goal is to grow herbs for cultural, spiritual or ritual purposes, the best herbs for your garden will depend on the practice or ritual for which you are growing them. For example, if the purpose of your garden is to grow herbs for space clearing, smudging, or saining, you might consider growing juniper, elder, rosemary, lavender, mugwort, thyme, or sage. 

I feel pretty strongly that anyone who has the ability to grow at least a small amount of their own food should give it a try. Even if it is just a single pot on a kitchen windowsill, it can at least help us stay a bit more connected and mindful about our food, can help children learn where food comes from, and reminds us to appreciate the efforts of the farmworkers who make it possible for us to have food on our tables each day. 

Herbs are some of the easiest food plants to grow, so if you are looking for an easy way to start or expand your backyard garden, give a patio herb garden a try. 

Well, here we are going into summer once again with the U.S. Drought Monitor map (droughtmonitor.unl.edu) reminding us that we are in a severe drought and the National Interagency Fire Center (nifc.gov) forecasting above normal significant wildland fire potential starting next month. 

According to California Water Watch (cww.water.ca.gov), our region has received about 43% of the average amount of precipitation for the current water year, which began October 1, 2024, and, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA.gov), the wet season for this water year ended in April. Plus, our snowpack across the state is only at 13% of the average peak. If you are not familiar with snowpack, this is an important measurement that helps us forecast how much snow melt will be adding water to reservoirs and rivers this year. 

All of this means that we can expect that our drought situation and wildfire risk will not improve as we move into the hot, dry months of summer. This also means it is up to us to do as much as we can to conserve water and harden our homes to reduce fire risk. 

I have talked a lot about water conservation in this column over the years, and I know Ojaians are well-versed on this topic, so I will just mention a few water conserving efforts you might consider if you are not yet doing them. One of the biggest water-saving steps you can take is to replace some or all of your natural grass lawn with a no-water or low-water alternative, such as gravel, wood chips, mulch, decomposed granite, hardscape patios and walkways, or native plants. This, alone, can save tens of thousands of gallons of water per year. 

You can also save water by installing a pool cover to minimize evaporation, installing a gray water system to reclaim household water, upgrading older toilets to high-efficiency toilets to save as much as five gallons per flush, checking your irrigation system for leaks, installing a rain barrel, taking shorter showers, washing your car at the car wash instead of in the driveway, or skipping eating meat just one day per week to save hundreds of gallons of water every year. 

Ojaians are also well-versed in home hardening to increase the chance of our homes surviving a wildfire. Most folks know to create a defensible space around their home and other structures with hardscapes and fire-resistant plants, stack firewood at least 30 feet away from structures and to maintain a 10-foot, vegetation-free space around the firewood, choose fire-resistant textiles and outdoor furniture, follow weed abatement guidelines, and keep their backyard fire pits and fireplaces clean and functioning properly. 

One practice that I think we can still all get better at is regularly cleaning our gutters. Fire-resistant roofing materials are essential, but they are not enough to save our homes if the roof or gutters are cluttered with flammable debris. 

Everyone with a home in California should also spend some time on the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) wildfire preparation website, ReadyForWildfire.org, which has a ton of resources and easy checklists to help you get your family and property ready for fire season. This includes checklists for creating go bags, making sure your insurance is in order, creating an evacuation plan, and low-cost ways to harden your home, as well as an assessment to create a custom checklist for your home and home hardening retrofit guides in English and Spanish.  

I love seeing wild rabbits hop along the driveway or across the grass when I pull into a property. They are so cute when they are holding food in their front paws and making their little chewing motions. Of course, it is not quite as cute when they eat the food plants or flowers on which we have spent time and money to grow. 

While bunnies will eat plants any time of the year, many of us are currently enjoying the food plants we planted this spring, and we all know how much rabbits like to dine on  spring gardens. So, here are seven ways to deter rabbits from gardens naturally.

1. Tall Garden Beds – My preferred solution for keeping rabbits away from my food plants is to plant my vegetables and herbs in raised garden beds. To be an effective deterrent, your garden beds will need to be at least 24 inches tall, but you might want to make them even taller to keep out more pests and make gardening easier on your body. 

2. Rabbit-Proof Fencing – Putting a fence around your plants or garden beds is another way to keep rabbits away from your food plants or the flowers they love to eat. Hardware cloth, chicken wire, or other wire fencing in an effective deterrent if you bury it about six inches into the soil and have at least 36 inches above ground. You can put a fence around your entire garden or just around the individual plants you want to protect. Some folks recommend using bird netting to protect their gardens from both rabbits and birds, but keep in mind that birds can get caught beneath the netting and become injured or die trying to get out. 

3. Garden Cloches – I love using garden cloches on my new plants to deter all manner of small critters who like to eat them. The problem is, a single garden cloche can be about $25, which is cost prohibitive if you have a larger garden. Since cloches are so expensive, I like to make my own with trash cans and splatter screens from Dollar Tree. I know that might sound a bit odd, but they work! I get wire mesh trash cans and splatter screens that have the handles in the middle of the screen. I then unscrew the handles to remove them from the screens and attach them to the bottom of the trash cans. You can then use the leftover splatter screens for drying herbs. 

4. Owl Decoys – I have not had success keeping any type of critter out of a garden with a fake owl, but other folks report success with them, so they are worth mentioning here. If you decide to try owl decoys to keep rabbits out of your garden, make sure to move it around occasionally or to get a more advanced decoy that moves. 

5. Repellent Sprays – You can purchase all-natural rabbit deterrent at garden centers or make your own with water, cayenne pepper, and garlic. These repellents can be effective, but they need to be reapplied regularly, especially after rain and after you water the garden. Irish Spring soap has a strong smell that rabbits (and rats and mice) do not like, so you could also try placing shavings in mesh bags around your garden.

6. Rabbit-Repellent Plants – You can also try planting rabbit-repellent plants, such as basil, mint, lavender, or marigolds, around the edge of your garden. This option can be effective, but it is definitely not foolproof. These adaptable critters may start eating plants they usually do not like or get used to the smell of plants that they once detested. So, this one might work for you, but you may have to give a few different plants a try or swap out your rabbit-repellent plants as they get used to them and they lose their effectiveness. 

7. Sacrificial Plants – Planting a sacrificial garden to share with your local rabbits will not work as your only deterrent, since they will just eat the sacrificial garden, and then head over to your vegetable garden to continue enjoying the bounty. However, it can work when used with other methods and is a nice way to still provide food and get to enjoy having wild rabbits around while protecting your food garden.