Having a beautiful garden filled with thriving plants and flowers is a dream for many homeowners. However, this vision can quickly turn into a nightmare when wildlife invades and begins munching on your precious vegetation. Deer, rabbits, groundhogs, squirrels, and other critters can wreak havoc by eating plants down to the stems or digging up roots. Protecting your landscape from these furry pests takes some planning and strategic deterrents.
Page Contents
Fencing
Installing a fence around your property is the most surefire way to keep animals out of your garden beds and away from your plants. A sturdy fence should be at least 6-8 feet tall to deter deer from jumping over. Bury the bottom 1-2 feet underground to prevent rabbits, woodchucks, and other diggers from burrowing underneath. For smaller rodents like squirrels, a shorter 4-5 foot fence may suffice if made of a slick material they cannot climb.
Some of the best fencing options include:
- Wood privacy fence
- Chain link
- Wrought iron
- Vinyl
- Brick or stone
The downside to fencing is that it can be expensive to install and is not visually appealing for every landscape. It also will not protect plants from birds that can fly over.
Electric Fencing
For added protection, an electric fence can deter animals with a safe but startling shock. Electric fences for gardens involve thin wires strung around the perimeter and charged with a low-voltage current. These systems use alternating currents of short pulses rather than a continuous charge so as not to injure animals. The temporary shock teaches critters to avoid the area.
Repellents
Chemical and natural repellents are another strategy for keeping animals away from plants. These strong scents, tastes, or sensations irritate their senses and deter them from sticking around.
Some popular animal repellents include:
- Hot pepper spray
- Garlic oil
- Ammonia or vinegar solutions
- Predator urine (coyote, fox)
- Moth balls
- Citrus or mint essential oils
- Bitter tastes like bitrex
- Sharp odors like ammonia
Apply liquid repellents around the perimeter of planting beds. For individual plants, spray the leaves and stems directly. Repellents will need to be reapplied frequently, especially after rain.
Physical Barriers
Creating physical barriers around vulnerable plants blocks access for nibbling pests. Protect trees and shrubs with trunk guards to prevent damage from gnawing. Place wire mesh cages or tubular plastic guards around seedlings and tender greens.
The following are effective physical barriers:
- Wire mesh or plastic tree guards
- Row covers over vegetable beds
- Wire or plastic plant cages
- Cloches over small plants
- Netting over berry bushes
- Tree trunk spiral guards
Be sure barriers are firmly staked or secured so animals cannot knock them over or burrow underneath. Monitor regularly for any plants poking through that may need adjustment.
Scare Tactics
Frightening pests with scary sounds and objects often provides temporary relief in the garden. Combining multiple scare tactics together works better than a single approach. Strategically moving devices every few days helps prevent critters from getting used to them.
Auditory Scares
For animals that startle at loud noises, auditory scare devices may keep them at bay.
- Motion-activated sprinklers
- Sonic spikes that emit high-frequency sounds
- Ultrasonic devices
- Banging pots and pans
- Radios tuned to talk shows
The main downside to auditory scares is the noise nuisance for homeowners and neighbors. Also, some animals eventually adapt and ignore the sounds.
Visual Scares
Visual scare tactics include:
- Fake predators like plastic owls or snakes
- Shiny metallic ribbons or pinwheels reflecting light
- Old CDs hung to create reflective flashes
- Scary Halloween decorations
- Fake eyes painted on rocks
- Aluminum pans beaten to look like critters
These methods mainly deter birds rather than mammals. Place visual scares near vulnerable plants, moving occasionally so pests don’t adjust. Combine with other deterrents for best results.
Physical Scares
The feeling of physical discomfort or consequences can frighten some animals away. Tactics include:
- Sharp prickly sticks positioned around plants
- Rough gravel, sea shells, or mulch around gardens
- Taste deterrents like hot sauce-coated fences
Avoid harmful measures that could injure animals. Focus physical deterrents along travel paths and resting spots to make them uncomfortable lingering near plants.
Animal Resistant Plant Varieties
In addition to protective measures, choosing naturally animal resistant plants can create a more wildlife-proof garden.
Some plant traits that discourage pests:
- Thorny branches and stems
- Fuzzy, hairy leaves
- Spiky or tough foliage
- Strong scents
- Salty sap
- Bitter, astringent tastes
Here are some hardy varieties to try:
| Plant Type | Animal Resistant Varieties |
|---|---|
| Trees | Oak, Pine, Bald Cypress, River Birch, Kousa Dogwood |
| Shrubs | Barberry, Boxwood, Butterfly Bush, Lavender, Rosemary, Sumac |
| Flowers | Daffodils, Dahlias, Lavender, Salvia, Snapdragon, Zinnia |
| Vegetables | Asparagus, Eggplant, Onions, Potatoes, Rhubarb |
Aim for a mix of different heights, growth habits, and resistance strengths to protect against all types of wildlife.
Physical Removal
When all else fails, physically removing problem animals from your yard may be necessary for plant protection. This should always be a last resort effort.
Trapping
Humane trapping involves capturing animals alive in cage traps baited with food. Once trapped, the animal can be transported and released safely away from homes and gardens. Some key considerations for trapping include:
- Checking and emptying traps frequently to avoid injury
- Releasing animals far away to prevent return
- Abiding by local laws and regulations
- Avoiding the overpopulation of pests in new areas
Seek professional help to humanely trap larger wildlife like groundhogs, raccoons, or deer.
Targeted Removal
As a very final option for persistent and destructive pests, some communities allow the lethal removal or hunting of problem animals that have failed to respond to all other interventions. Examples include:
- Deer culling programs to reduce populations
- Municipal removal of problem beaver dams
- Hunting permits for species like rabbit and squirrel
This should only be considered in extreme cases with proper oversight. Focus on preventative controls first before attempting removal.
Integrated Pest Management
The most effective animal control strategies use multiple layers of deterrents and exclusion measures. Combining fencing, repellents, scare tactics, and appropriate plant selection makes your landscape as unattractive as possible to wildlife intruders.
Follow these tips for integrated pest management:
- Start controls before animals become established and cause damage
- Use multiple tactics targeting sight, sound, smell, and touch senses
- Adapt approaches based on the weather, season, and animal pressure
- Focus defenses on the most susceptible plants first
- Persistently maintain defenses and reapply deterrents
- Tolerate some level of nuisance damage as wildlife is unavoidable
With vigilance and persistence, you can achieve a healthy balance that protects your garden plants while maintaining a humane respect for wildlife.
Conclusion
Protecting your plants from hungry animals requires diligence but is very possible. Physical barriers like fencing provide reliable exclusion if installed properly. Repellents, scare tactics, and plant selection add supplementary layers of defense. Trapping and removal should only be used as a last resort if all other methods fail. The key is being proactive with integrated pest management techniques before damage occurs. With some clever adaptations, your garden can flourish while keeping wildlife at bay.