How Can I Stop Animals from Eating My Plants?

When it comes to vegetable gardening and plants, gardeners aren’t the only ones who enjoy the fruits of their labor. Local critters and deer often love to make their way into gardens to gnaw on the vegetables and fruits growing there.

This can be incredibly bothersome when you spend so much time and effort in your garden. In 2018 alone, American gardeners spent up to $47.8 billion on their gardens and lawns.

So how can you safely deter local critters who have outstayed their welcome? Here are a few tips you can use to keep deer and other animals from eating your garden plants.

Use a DIY hot sauce spray

There two different DIY sprays you can make at home to help keep deer and other animals away from your garden plants. The first spray is a homemade hot pepper mixture you can use to help make your plants taste bad.

You’ll want to mix 1 cup of aromatic leaves from plants that animals avoid such as marigolds, 1 ounce of hot pepper sauce, 4 drops of natural dish soap, and 1-2 cups of water. Place this mixture into a blender and blend until it’s smooth.

Strain the mixture and place it into a spray bottle. You can add more water to fill the bottle up the rest of the way. You’ll then spray this hot sauce mixture onto your plant vegetables and fruits about once a week.

Use a DIY milk spray

The second DIY spray you can use is great for deterring deer. You’ll mix 4 drops of natural dish soap with 1/4 cup milk (dairy, almond, soy, or oat). Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and fill up the rest of the bottle with water. Stir the mixture until the ingredients have combined. Spray your DIY milk spray onto your vegetables and other garden plants about every 10 days. Keep the spray refrigerated.

Plant bad-tasting flowers

Rabbits don’t like the taste of marigolds and deer don’t like the smell. You can use this to your advantage by planting marigolds around the perimeter of your vegetable and fruit garden. Marigolds are also great plants to have because they attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies that prey on pests like nematodes.

Do you need garden supplies to help keep critters away from your garden? Schwartz’s Greenhouse can help! To learn about deterrents for keeping animals away from your garden plants, contact Schwartz’s Greenhouse today!