13 Humane Ways to Protect Your Garden from Animals

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If your garden is something you take great pride in, it can be very frustrating when animals chew on your plants and developing fruit, or dig around and create a mess. Although there are numerous ways to prevent animals from entering your garden, fewer options are available that ensure you don’t harm or kill rabbits, squirrels, moles, birds, or raccoons. Several natural pest control techniques can keep animals away from your garden, and they can be just as effective as poisons and traps.

The initial step in learning how to prevent animals from entering your garden is to recognize the specific animal you’re dealing with. Once you have this information, use it along with the following humane animal repellents to achieve your objective of cultivating thriving plants while prompting animals to avoid your flowers, fruits, and vegetables without causing them harm.local wildlife.

1. Employ ultrasonic devices to deter pests.

A good method to prevent raccoons, skunks, deer, foxes, dogs, cats, and other creatures from entering your garden area is to employ aultrasonic pest repellent, similar to those that can manage insects inside. Ultrasonic pest deterrents such as thisBroox solar animal repellentFeature strobe lights and emit high-pitched sounds when triggered by an animal’s movement. The noise and visual effects deter animals and, after a few instances, can train them to avoid your plants.

2. Install garden fencing.

Building a fence around the gardencould address your pest issue and safeguard your plants. You must decide on the appropriate fence height depending on the kind of animals that are entering your garden. For instance, if you’re only dealing with rabbits, squirrels, or other small garden creatures, a low fence should be adequate. However, if you wish torepel deeror other large animals, choose fencing that is no less than 5 feet in height, such as thisSta-Green black plastic netting fence. 

3. Put in place a subterranean barrier.

If the pests you’re dealing with live beneath the surface (such as moles and gophers), you can dig a trench and install a subterranean fence using mesh hardware cloth, similar toSEBOSS galvanized 1/4 inch mesh. Dig a trench that is 2 feet deep and position the mesh vertically so that it extends up about 6 inches. If you need to prevent deer and gophers from entering the garden, this may involve setting up both underground and above-ground fences in close proximity. You can also install a horizontal galvanized mesh barrier beneath the garden bed, but it should be placed at least 12 inches deep. For raised beds that are at least a foot high, position the barrier at ground level.

4. Position mint within or close to the garden area.

Deer, bugs, and certain other outdoor pests are repelled by the scent or flavor of mint. If they detect mint while exploring your garden, they may attempt to avoid the area. There are several methods to utilize mint in keeping animals away from gardens. These include creating a mint border around the garden; placing peppermint near plants that are often targeted by pests; and spreadingFresh Peppermint herbal tea bagsnear the vicinity; or applying mistMighty Mint Rodent Repellent, which includes peppermint essential oil, applied to fencing, rocks, or other solid surfaces.

Be cautious that mint grows quickly and will require some upkeep or planting in buried plastic containers to stop it from taking over other plants.

5. Apply castor oil around the garden area.

Many underground garden pests, including skunks, ground squirrels, gophers, moles, and voles, dislike the taste of castor oil. To use castor oil as aburrowing pest repellent, mix 3 tablespoons of an organic product such asBotanic Hearth Castor Oil, 1 tablespoon of dish soap, and 1 gallon of water to create your own homemade spray or follow the instructions for a commercial spray such asPetra 100% Castor Oil for Removing Moles and Voles. Apply the solution to areas around the garden and any other spots where you have observed pests, and make sure to apply it every 10 to 14 days or following significant rainfall.

6. Shield individual plants using wire-based covers.

Wire cloches are an effective option if garden pests are focusing on specific plants. They can also help new plants establish themselves without being damaged by chewing or trampling. Just put these plant covers in place.Premlity rust-free garden cloches, constructed from iron and chicken wire, placed over delicate or specific plants in your garden. Make sure to fasten them using garden stakes or staples such asFEED 6-inch zinc-coated garden stakes. They will assist in protecting animals such asrabbitsand deer being prevented from accessing the area beyond the protective fence to eat leaves and stems.

7. Distribute cayenne pepper near the plants.

Even if you are uncertain aboutWhat kind of animal is creating tunnels?in your yard, attempt to deter them by using cayenne pepper or a commercial repellent that contains capsaicin. The smell of cayenne pepperis one of the factors that keep garden pests away. Numerous animals, such as raccoons and squirrels, dislike its spicy flavor. If you apply cayenne pepper on and near the plants you wish to safeguard, creatures will likely reconsider after experiencing an unexpected fiery bite. Nevertheless, be aware that capsaicin may injure certain animals if it enters their eyes or breathing passages, and it is harmful to bees, so it should be used in limited amounts.

8. Generate sound when animals are present.

When garden pests continue to bother your fruits, vegetables, and flowers, think about introducing some sound into your garden. The noises might make animals believe a person or predator is present, causing them to avoid your plants. Attempt hanging wind chimes or leaving aradioMoving around the garden or nearby areas. Similar to the motion-activated ultrasound discussed earlier, you can blow whistles or use horns when you spot pests on your property to scare them off. However, be cautious that the animals could get used to these noises.

9. Position a few plants within elevated garden beds.

If you have some plants that you value the most and are under threat, like herbs for your kitchen or flowers for cutting, consider cultivating them in a raised bed. A raised garden bed, or even anelevated wood planter box, can also safeguard plants from animals, especially when rabbits or other small animals are causing the damage.

If you have just a small number of plants that draw in pests, consider using araised garden bedto keep plants away from the access of small animals and burrowing creatures. Keep in mind that you can incorporate a horizontal barrier such as wire mesh under raised beds that have an open bottom to prevent underground pests.

10. Offer a different type of food source.

You may be able to prevent certain animals from chewing on your plants by providing alternative food sources for them. For example, if you set up abird feederclose to your garden, a few of the smaller creatures may choose to nibble onbird seedrather than your plants’ leaves and blossoms.

11. Place soap close to plants that draw in insects.

Whether you believe it or not, soap, especiallyIrish Spring bar soap, can be an effective option if you’re considering ways to safeguard a vegetable garden from wildlife using odors. Mice, rabbits, deer, and other creatures tend to avoid the scent of this soap and will likely stay away from it. Hangdrawstring poucheswith a bar of soap or shavings placed around your garden or near plants that attract pests usingwooden stakes.

12. Encircle your garden with fragrant herbs and plants that have varied textures.

Once you identify the insect that is harming your plantsYou can enclose your garden with plants that possess scents, flavors, or textures which the animal dislikes. Along with mint, consider plants that have tough, prickly leaves or powerful smells. For instance, deer tend to avoid plants with sap or specific odors, like milkweed and salvia (which belongs to the mint family). Rabbits steer clear of herbs such as thyme, chives, and oregano, among other similar plants.

Choose plants that grow well in your climate zone and local environment (such as sunlight and rain) for optimal outcomes. If you create a barrier of natural deterrents between the animals’ route and your vegetable or flower garden, they may choose to go elsewhere.

13. Temporarily shield plants that are producing fruit.

Numerous plants remain unseen by animals until they start producing fruit.Bird nettingis a lightweight and thin mesh with openings no bigger than ¾ inch that prevents beaks and teeth from accessing the fruit. Covering a fruit tree as it finishes flowering can stop birds from eating the young fruit. The same idea can be applied to small fruit-bearing shrubs such as blueberries, as well as vegetables or other plants that are being targeted and are too big for wire cloches.

If you notice puncture marks and significant holes in your tomatoes, for instance, envelop the whole plant in bird netting, fastening the covering using clips or ties that are affixed to poles or supports. A comparable approach isplant row cover, a lightweight fabric that forms a crunching shield but lets sunlight, air, and water pass through. If your tomato or zucchini produce is almost ready for picking, spread or place the fabric over them and secure it in a manner that offers temporary protection to the ripe produce while enabling you to lift the cover for harvesting.