nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

How to make grass patch for rabbits on a deck?

mac2026

I have two rescue rabbits who are free roam inside my house. There is a small deck area that I would like to build a grass patch that they can access. It needs to made out of rabbit safe materials (untreated wood) and also ensure that the deck underneath isn’t damaged.

I’m wondering if anyone has done something similar and/or can advise on the safest way to build it.

Thanks so much!

Find more posts tagged with

Tools and Materials

Craft and Hobbies

Building and Construction

Accepted answers

All comments

JacobZ

Hi @mac2026,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

Before I continue, I thought I'd suggest having a look at this https://www.bunnings.com.au/real-grass-puppy-potty-grassifier_p0861670 which is a premade product that is essentially what you are looking for. It is designed to allow you to grow a small patch of grass in a container, which can sit on a deck without causing any issues. It will not rot and it allows for drainage, which is one of the main issues you'd experience. It is definitely worth considering.

Now, how big a grass patch are you hoping to have? Also, do you have any photos of the area where you are hoping to build it? This could certainly help to guide our thinking when designing something for your furry friends.

Obviously, the health of your rabbits is the most important thing, but it is important to understand that untreated timber used directly against soil, which will need moisture to grow grass, will eventually rot. Even if we line the box with something to protect the timber, if there is any exposure to moisture, which on a deck is extremely likely, the timber is at risk of rotting. Ultimately, this is not a huge issue as long as you are aware of it, but I thought we need to set reasonable expectations before proceeding.

The next thing to consider is that to retain the soil in your grass patch, it will need to have a bottom, which will have to sit on the deck. If it sits directly on the deck, then moisture will get trapped between that base and the deck, which overtime, will almost certainly cause staining on the decking boards, and will increase the risk of rot.

So, to reduce the risk of damage to the deck, you would need to raise the box up, so that the base is not in direct contact with the deck. This is not too difficult, but the size of your patch of grass will come into play because there is going to be a bit of weight due to the soil and moisture it is holding. We'll have to design something that can support that weight effectively.

I am thinking something along the lines of this -

Let me know what you think. I can certainly expand on this idea if you'd like.

Also, allow me to tag some of our helpful members to see what they would do - @twocutekelpies, @Dave-1, @Noyade, @projectmumdanni.

Jacob

Dave-1

Good Afternoon @mac2026

My mind is leaping to ideas lol Tho really if we could see some photos of the decking area that we could figure out if they are doable would make it easier.

Im thinking of Garden Basics 35cm Seedling Tray so you can add scoria and soil to grow grass (have 4 or 6 of them) With some steel mesh Rapid 900 x 1200mm 25 x 25mm Silver Wire Mesh Panel made into a frame that fits over these containers. As the grass grows you can place it out on the deck so the rabbits can munch without the roots being ripped up and then rotate the trays throughout the days.

Dave

mac2026

Thank you so much for your responses! Sorry for the delay…had a couple rabbit dramas!
Love these ideas. Here is a photo of the deck currently (needs a tidy up!). It’s 4 x 3 in size (with the width 4m if that’s not clear from the photo). Not wed to the current layout so happy to shuffle around.

As a side note, I’d also love to build them a dig box too. Basically similar to the grass patch but with soil in it!

Dave-1

Good Morning @mac2026

:) That is a nice space to work with.

I actually like the suggestion by @JacobZ with the pallet with raised edges, you could have that as a dig spot for sure. It does take a fair footprint (I think the standard is 1.2m square but you can get half sized ones if you want a smaller area. I would have a plastic base inside to stop soil sifting out through the jones, tho not a plastic sheet as ypou do want the soil not to become water logged. I was thing of some re purposed coreflute from electioneering :) as a base, timber edges and then soil inside.

I really like the rotating grass tubs for your rabbits. And was thinking of something ready made that you could use.

Brunnings 22 x 41 x 108cm Black Tyson Metal Plant Stand There are others about or you could make one yourself. Its just something that is sepperated enough to allow sun to hit the grass beds. Then you can just roate them through as fast as you want. I would still have some mesh over the top of the tubs when you place one on teh deck so the rabbits dont rip up the roots as this will help with the turnaround time.

Dave

JacobZ

Hi @mac2026,

It certainly looks like we could work something out with that space.

The main concern I have though, is how to deal with drainage for the soil as you don't really want water to be sitting stagnant in the soil or expelling on the deck because it will stain and potentially lead to rot.

Is there anywhere you could run a piece of agi pipe off of the deck into a garden or a similar drainage point?

If so, we should look at how to work some drainage into the design.

Do you have a spot that is near the edges of the deck that you could run a pipe through?

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

Dave-1

Good Morning @mac2026

Mmm @JacobZ has me thinking about where the water will go from the soil bed…

You could place a 20mm thick piece of timber underneath the rear of the pallet to create a small slope (I dont think it has to be huge as it will always be there.
Place a [iece of 50mm by 50mm (or larger) aluminium angle on the front of the pallet underneath. This is to channel the water to left or right edge of the pallet.
A hole drilled in your deck say a 30mm hole for the water to go through easy. I havnt thought of how to get the water from the angle (make it a little longer than the pallets width) other then modifing a funnel. Im trying not to raise teh pallet off the deck by to much. Mmmm you could cut the high sides off the funnel so you end up with a very shallow dish and just have the neck going through the deck with the pallet sitting on the edge of the funnel. Saxon 4 Piece Funnel Set

Dave

EricL

Hello @mac2026

Just to add to the excellent ideas suggested. Here is a rendered image using AI to give you an idea of what it might look like when the framed lawn is installed. I propose making it bigger and wider to maximize the lawn playground for the rabbits. Apologies for having to move all your appliances off the deck. 😁

Eric

ChatGPT Image Aug 25, 2026, 05_06_43 PM.png

Noyade

"Here is a rendered image using AI "

How do ya do it @EricL - is it a special program?

EricL

Hi @Noyade

It's just ChatGPT. You need to be very specific about what you want changed in the image. You have to provide all the materials and specific items you want included in the image when the AI modifies it. It sounds very involved at first, but you get a sense of how the program will behave after practicing with it.

Eric

Noyade

Thanks @EricL - I have an IT son - I'll get him involved, as my pencil and paper is rather amateurish.

EricL

Hi @Noyade

Don't let it dissuade you, despite its agility it has limitations, and pen and paper still outmatch it when it comes to idea generation.

Eric

mac2026

Hi all,

Apologies for the delay….i hadn’t actually realised you had all replied 🤦🏼‍♀️ thank you so much!!

I’m pretty keen on the idea of building a base for the grass outdoors but I might consider the puppy potty for inside actually.

The drainage is my concern too but there is a gap at the very bottom of the fence (I’ll need to cover that up so they don’t get under but can make a gap work for a tube). So if I build the base as you have suggested @JacobZ, how do I manage the drainage and what do I line it with noting @Dave-1 comments about the soil and waterlogging?

One other thing I need to consider is a ramp/step of some sorts onto the platform. When the rabbits were found abandoned, one had a dislocated hip 😔 the rescue centre paid to have it fixed as soon as they found him but they could only remove the femoral head so he basically doesn’t have a hip joint and the leg splays out to the side. He can jump but I need to limit that as much as possible so he doesn’t damage the rest of his leg.

As a side note, I’m not an experienced DIYer so the simpler the better!! That being said, I need it to work and have a friend who is very “handy” and he can help me if needed!

Thanks again

ps I’ve added some pics of the rabbits for inspiration/bribery for ongoing help!

JacobZ

Hi @mac2026,

Thanks for the photos, they are very cute and you are doing a really great thing taking care of them.

I think Dave's suggestion of building some fall into the box is a good one. You could raise one end with a strip of timber like this https://www.bunnings.com.au/18-x-18mm-5-4m-h3-treated-pine-fj-dar-primed-losp_p0052832 so any excess water naturally moves towards the lower end rather than sitting in the bottom.

I'd also seal the inside of the box with Crommelin Exterior Grade Brushable Waterproofer. This will help protect the timber from the constantly damp soil. Just make sure it has fully cured according to the manufacturer's instructions before adding the soil and allowing the rabbits access.

For drainage, it might be easiest to simply slope the box towards one end and drill some holes in the framing timber along the low side to allow water to drain through them. You could put some drain matting or mesh over these holes to prevent soil from eroding through them. I'd also suggest it would be best to coat the inside of these holes with the brushable waterproofer above to help protect the timber.

You could then add a simple gutter to the outside of the box using something like the aluminium angle @Dave-1 mentioned, or even a piece of PVC pipe cut in half. As long as you can direct it towards a discharge point on your deck, it should be perfect.

I think with those additions you'll have a pretty workable little grass patch that can drain properly while also protecting the timber and the deck underneath.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

Dave-1

Good Evening @mac2026

@JacobZ has described what I had in mind in detail :) I like the angle of aluminum as iI think it will be easiest to use as a gutter to channel the water away.

For the base, Id drive around your local light industrial areas as they will generally have pallets for free outside their businesses :)

You will only need to modify a little for a spot for the rabbits, and to help them out with getting on the platform Id just make a low step maybe 30cm wide that covers half the height from scrap timber.

:) Very photogenic rabbits I must say.

Dave

mac2026

This all makes a lot of sense! Thanks so much @JacobZ and @Dave-1! I reckon I’ve worked out where on the deck I’ll do and with your advice, think I can make this work!