Rabbit proofing garden in Exeter
Professional rabbit proofing garden services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£110-£210
Typical Duration
2-4 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Wire mesh fitted to fence bottoms and gaps to rabbit-proof your garden. I seal all the entry points and bury wire to stop digging - keeps wild rabbits out, saves your plants and vegetables.
Rabbits Will Absolutely Devastate a Garden
They eat everything you've planted. Dig up bulbs. Destroy vegetables. One night's feeding can wipe out weeks of gardening work. And they breed like, well, rabbits - so one becomes five becomes twenty.
💡 Pro tip: Rabbits are crepuscular (active dawn and dusk). You're indoors, they're munching your lettuce.
Why Rabbit Proofing Needs Doing Properly
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Wire buried 6 inches to stop digging | Wire on surface, rabbits dig under |
| 1-inch mesh, no gaps | Gaps they can squeeze through |
| Fixed to posts securely | Wire lifts away from fence |
| Gates sealed at ground level | Obvious entry point left open |
| Mesh 2-3 feet up fence | Too low, rabbits jump over |
Rabbits test perimeters constantly. They'll find your weak spot.
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Survey | Check fence line, find gaps, measure perimeter |
| Prepare | Dig narrow trench along fence bottom |
| Fit Mesh | Wire attached to fence, buried in trench |
| Seal Gates | Bottom gaps filled, mesh fitted |
| Backfill | Trench filled, turf replaced where possible |
📦 You're Left With
- Rabbit-proof perimeter
- All entry points sealed
- Wire buried and secured
- Garden protected
Pricing Guide
| Garden Size | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small section or gate (few meters) | 1.5-2 hrs | £85-£110 |
| Average garden perimeter | 2-3 hrs | £110-£160 |
| Large garden, full perimeter | 3-4 hrs | £160-£210 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Wire mesh is extra if I supply it - budget £20-40 depending on quantity needed.
Perfect For You If...
✅ Vegetables destroyed - rabbits eating everything you grow
✅ Flowers decimated - tender plants munched to ground
✅ Rural or edge of town - fields nearby = rabbit pressure
✅ Pet rabbit containment - need to keep house rabbit in
✅ New fence installed - protect it before rabbits find gaps
Why Choose Us for Rabbit proofing garden in Exeter?
Wire mesh fitted to all fence bottoms
Gaps under gates sealed properly
Buried wire to stop digging under
Garden saved from rabbit destruction
What to Expect
Step 1: Survey & Plan
I walk your fence line finding all the gaps - under gates, where fence doesn't meet ground, broken panels. Work out how much wire we need.
Step 2: Dig & Fit
Narrow trench along fence bottom (6 inches down). Wire mesh attached to fence posts and bottom rail, bent down into trench. Gates sealed.
Step 3: Secure & Backfill
Wire secured every foot or so with staples or ties. Trench backfilled, turf replaced. Perimeter tested for gaps.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to rabbit-proof your garden yourself? Here's how:
🔧 What you'll need
- Galvanized chicken wire or weld mesh (1-inch holes)
- Wire cutters
- U-staples or cable ties
- Spade for digging trench
- Gloves (wire is sharp)
- Wire or zip ties
📋 Installation method
- Measure perimeter - know how much wire you need
- Dig trench - 6 inches deep, right along fence line
- Unroll wire - 2-3 feet high, bent L-shape (upright + 6 inches horizontal)
- Attach to fence - staple or tie every 12 inches, keep taut
- Bury bottom - horizontal section goes in trench, bent outward
- Backfill trench - firm soil back, replace turf
🎯 Critical areas
- Gates - biggest gap usually, needs mesh right to ground
- Corners - overlap wire generously, no triangular gaps
- Old fences - patch broken sections, secure wire to posts not rotten panels
- Where fence meets walls - seal transition points
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not burying wire (rabbits dig under immediately)
- Burying too shallow (determined rabbits dig 4-5 inches)
- Mesh too large (3-inch holes = rabbit highway)
- Not securing taut (lifts away from fence)
- Forgetting gates or corners
- Wire not bent outward underground (rabbits dig straight down)
💡 Pro trick: Bury the wire L-shaped with horizontal section facing OUTWARD from garden. When rabbit digs down at fence, it hits wire and instinctively digs deeper - straight into more wire. Defeats them.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🥕 Vegetable grower? Rabbit proofing pays for itself in one season. Those munched lettuce plants and nibbled beans add up fast.
Exeter's rural edges (Pinhoe, Redhills, Pennsylvania, Whipton) back onto fields - heavy rabbit pressure. If you're near open ground, proofing is essential.
Pet rabbit owners: This works both ways - keeps yours in and wild ones out (breeding between domestic and wild rabbits causes issues).
Established rabbits: If they're already nesting in your garden, proofing seals them IN. Check for warrens first - I can advise on humane removal options.
Old Devon fence? Lots of Exeter properties have wonky old fences with gaps everywhere. I work with what you've got - reinforcing rather than replacing if possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I just fill the gaps myself?
You can - but rabbits are sneaky. They squeeze through 3-inch gaps and dig under obstacles. Proper rabbit proofing means wire buried 6 inches down, secured all along the fence, gaps at gates sealed. Miss one spot and they're in.
What kind of wire do you use?
Galvanized chicken wire or weld mesh with 1-inch holes - small enough they can't squeeze through, tough enough they can't chew it. Attached to fence posts properly so it doesn't lift. Buried at the bottom so they can't dig under.
Can you rabbit-proof my whole garden?
If it's got a fence all around, yes. I work around the perimeter adding mesh to the bottom 2-3 feet of fence, burying wire, sealing gaps at gates. It's a few hours work but totally doable. Open-plan gardens with no fence - that's a much bigger project.
Will this work for pet rabbits or just wild ones?
Works for both - keeps wild rabbits out AND pet rabbits in (if you've got house rabbits you want contained to one area). Same principles: wire they can't chew through, buried so they can't dig under.
How long does rabbit proofing take?
Depends on garden size and how much perimeter needs doing. Average garden with 20-30 meters of fence is 2-4 hours. Just sealing gaps at a gate or problem area - maybe an hour.
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