There are many options when it comes to discouraging unwanted animals in your garden. The 3 best ways to keep animals out of the garden are:

1. Fence them out
2. Scare them out
3. Smell them out

Keep in mind that since every garden is different, and the area surrounding your garden will have its own unique kinds of pests and vermin, you may have to try more than one of the following suggestions in order to find what type of animal repellant works best for your particular garden situation.

Fence them out

Fencing out unwanted animals can be a bit of work, but it is probably your best option in keeping your homegrown vegetables or garden flowers all to yourself. Also, once a fence is built, you need only maintain it and it can last many years.

Fencing suggestion: wire fencing, also called chicken wire, is your easiest and least expensive fencing option.

• Deer supposedly cannot jump any higher than 8 feet unless they have an uphill advantage. Install a fence that is at least 8 feet high – or  at least 6 feet high with a slope outward at a 45 degree angle. The bottom of the fence should be at ground level or below, to prevent deer from getting underneath. They’re wiley, those deer – and smart when it comes to getting free food from your garden buffet. You can also install an electric fence. An 8 foot high solid fence would block the deer’s view from seeing your garden (but they can still smell it).
• Rabbits don’t climb buy they can jump. Luckily, not that high. Rabbits are burrowing animals, but the burrows are rather shallow. Install a wire fence (chicken wire) that rises at least 3 feet high and extends a minimum of 10 inches underground. The 10 inches underground will deter rabbits from digging underneath the fence.
• Woodchucks(aka: groundhogs), like raccoons, are good climbers – but they also burrow. That’s what you call “multi-talented”. If you leave about 18 inches at the top of your fence unattached, it will be ”floppy”, and discourage woodchucks, groundhogs and raccoons from climbing over. Your fence should be a minimum of 4 feet high, and at least 10 inches straight down underground. NO EXTRA CHARGE HINT: Dig your fence trench at least 8 inches wide, then bend the fencing 8 inches forward, making an “L” shape. With the bottom “L” facing outward or away from the gardent, pin it securely to the ground. This is some added insurance to prevent the woodchuck (groundhog) from burrowing under the fence.

Scare them out

• Scarecrows: Fake owl or snakes, also know in gardening circles as “scarecrows”, will work for a while, but eventually animals will figure it out. Then they’ll just snicker as they make off with your lettuce, carrots and rutabagas.
• Beach balls, balloons, reflective mylar tape, pinwheels: Place objects in your garden that will move around as the wind blows. Movement like this scares the hay out of woodchucks (groundhogs) and the like.
• Visit your garden frequently: Woodchucks (groundhogs) are also easily frightened by humans.
• Motion-activated lights, alarms and sprinklers. No one likes that kind of surprise.

Smell them out

Animals depend on their sense of smell to determine what is safe to eat. Strong odors or undesirable scents will deter animals from your garden and encourage them to find another desirable location for food. Here are some of the odors you can actually buy and use to keep animals out of your garden.

Deer:

• Grate Ivory or Irish Spring soap, then sprinkle around your garden. Apparently deer don’t like “clean”.
• Coyote Urine - encircle your garden with it. Coyotes and deer are like oil and water.

Woodchucks (groundhogs):

• Fox Urine or Wolf Urine – encircle your garden with it. If it comes down to eat and be eaten, groundhogs will move on.

Rabbits:

• Collect human hair clippings or hair from your brushes and spread it around your garden. If you don’t have any hair, get some from your neighbor.
• Sprinkle Fox or Wolf Urine around the perimeter of your garden.
• Sprinkle dried blood meal, vinegar or hot pepper flakes around the perimeter of your garden.

For those living in apartments or condominium complexes, cats and dogs might be the pests you deal with. Cats often see gardens, even container gardens, as convenient litter boxes. Not so convenient for the gardener. Click here to see your options for keeping dogs and cats our of your garden.

Click here to let us know if you have a good method for keeping unwanted animals out of your garden. We would love to hear from you. For more information, visit our Pest Control page.

Click here to shop for animal repellants.