Keep Animals Out of Your Garden

Motion activated water deterrents are available, which chase deer and other animals away with jets of water. These automated deterrents work by using infrared sensors to detect movement, releasing three-second bursts of water from an attached garden hose when deer are in proximity.

Advanced motion activated water repellents can broadcast a jet of water up to 35 feet in order to protect a 1,000 square-foot area. These devices also allow you to adjust their sensitivity, and they use a random spray pattern to prevent animals from becoming accustomed to the water.

If deer are in your garden, water repellents are ideal since they don’t harm the animal, but provide enough of an unpleasant experience so they learn not to return to the location. These devices are also eco-friendly, since they only using 2-3 cups of water per spray.  (Havahart Spray Away)

Spray repellents are normally either applied to the perimeter of your garden, or are sprayed directly on your plants, depending on if the repellent deters by taste or smell.

The most effective repellents use a powerful combination of ingredients that target both taste and smell, which deer find repulsive. These effective repellents also deter rabbits and squirrels. Because of the repellent’s high potency, you only have to spray about once every three months, but more frequent application may be necessary after heavy rainfall.

If you grow vegetables in your garden, make sure the spray you use is safe to apply. Check if your spray repellent is approved for use in organic gardening by checking for the OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) logo.

These effective repellents contain capsaicin, garlic, and putrescent egg scent. Capsaicin is the source of “heat” in chili peppers. When you spray repellents using capsaicin on your garden plants, pests, such as deer and rabbits, will be turned off by the biting sensation when they taste it.

However, the putrescent egg smell alone will often be enough to deter deer if they are in close proximity. The putrescent eggs mimic the scent of decaying protein, causing deer, rabbits, and squirrels to flee because they are fooled into thinking predators are close. Thankfully, this smell isn’t detectable to humans once the spray dries.

Garlic oil also repels deer from your garden through its long-lasting scent, so repellents that use this ingredient don’t have to be reapplied as frequently.

Often used as a ground cover in gardens, sweet Asylum, or Sweet Alison, is an annual flower. Because of its sweet smell, most rabbits don't like this plant.  Plant some in your garden as a natural rabbit deterrent by sprinkling the seeds among your other garden plants. They bloom easily and reseed themselves.

Keep in mind that hungry animals will be forced to dine on your plants if no other food sources are available. Sweet Asylum only works with animals that are not hungry. Therefore, this isn’t a foolproof method. (Protecting Plants From Rabbits)

Many homeowners overlook the environment as a form of natural animal control. Deter animals from inhabiting your backyard by removing brush, stone piles, weed patches, junk and other debris since smaller animals love to hide in these areas. You may even want to encourage predators, such as hawks, owls, snakes, dogs, and cats.

For many cities, parks, and suburban areas, live traps are a convenient way to remove small animals, especially during the winter. These traps are also ideal for trapping squirrels and rabbits that are raiding your garden.

Lure the animals with food and place the trap near their nest. Remember to keep the area under cover, so predators can’t attack the trapped animals. During the wintertime, place traps carefully so leaves or snow won’t plug the entrance and prevent the trap from shutting. Monitor your traps daily to replenish bait and remove any captured animals.

Move the traps or change the bait if they don’t catch an animal after a few days. In warmer weather, use apples, peanut butter, and fresh vegetables. In the winter, try cob corn or dried apples. The best bait to use is usually similar to what the animal population is currently eating. (Rabbits in the Garden)

Protecting Plants From Rabbits. 17 May 2007. 23 April 2010 <http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf441523.tip.html>.

Rabbits in the Garden. 12 July 1996. 23 April 2010 <http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1996/7-12-1996/rabscuttle.html>.

Havahart Spray Away. 31 5 2010 <http://www.havahart.com/store/animal-repellents/5265>.