When you look at your garden, you see the payoff of hours spent digging, weeding, and watering. But to wildlife, it's a feast, a jackpot, and a buffet. So, how do you protect your garden from local wildlife without harming them?
This article will discuss humane ways to ward off critters using boundaries, scents, plants, decoys, flashing lights, motion-activated sprinklers, and more.
In this article:
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Identify the culprit(s)
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Barriers and boundaries
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Natural deterrents and repellents
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Compost correctly
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Other options
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FAQ
Identify the culprit(s)
Here in Texas, we have some impressive wildlife, each with its unique footprint, bitemark, and droppings. Research your local pests, and If you can't catch them in the act, look for these "tail-tell" signs to answer, "What's eating my garden?":
Raccoons: These nocturnal bandits are messy; they tear leaves, dig things up, and leave a trail of half-eaten plants. Raccoons leave tracks that look like tiny handprints, and their droppings are dark and tubular.
Deer: If you live in Hill Country, you know deer are majestic creatures of habit. Look for trampled pathways with heart-shaped footprints, ragged bite marks in foliage, and damage from ground level to 6 feet high. Males will rub bark off the trees with their antlers.
Squirrels: Be on the lookout for uprooted bulbs and nut shells.
Birds: Many times, birds pick fruit before it is ripe enough for us to eat.
Armadillo: This Texas icon loves to dig and burrow in sandy, loamy soils. Watch out for uprooted plants and holes in your yard. They love grubs and bulbs.
Rabbits: These timid animals make clean cuts in foliage and leave distinctive markings on tree bark with their large front teeth. Rabbits usually graze at dawn and dusk.
Gophers: Like armadillos, the Texas and Plains pocket gophers destroy gardens by tunneling underground as they eat roots and bulbs.
Chipmunks: These ground squirrels eat fruits, veggies, bulbs, and nuts. They also burrow underground.
Barriers and boundaries
What do a healthy relationship and a bountiful garden have in common? Boundaries! Depending on which critters are coming to your yard, you can explore fencing and wire combinations to create a wildlife-proof barrier.
For deer, the net or fence should be 6-8 feet tall. Remember to bury the fence roughly a foot underground to keep burrowing pests at bay.
Rabbit fencing, hardware cloth, and chicken wire are easy-to-install barriers for rabbits, chipmunks, armadillos, and other small animals. Many gardeners combine these shorter fences with deer fencing for maximum protection.
Birds swooping in to steal your berries? Skip the fowl play with a bird net or wire cloche.
Whether you use hedges, stone walls, picket fences, or chainlink, you can find a boundary to fit your aesthetic.
Pro tip: use raised beds to ward off burrowing pests. (Your back and knees will thank you.)
Natural deterrents and repellents
Some gardens are extensive, so netting and fencing are too costly. However, you can use animal instincts to keep scavengers away.
Plants: Prickly, aromatic, and fuzzy plants dissuade animals from chowing down. You can research what is grazing your garden and mix in plants accordingly. For example, I use Texas sage as a perimeter plant because it grows in poor soils, and deer hate it.
Mint, rosemary, and marigolds repel animals too.
Pro tip: Native plants make the best natural deterrents.
Holographic streamers: If birds are the culprits, use holographic ribbons (scare tape) to ward them off. The movement and flashes of color are unnerving to birds overhead.
Decoys: Owl, hawk, fox, and falcon decoys are effective if placed in a realistic place. Even a bird brain can tell an owl decoy on the ground is fake.
Plastic snakes, scarecrows, and reflective CDs let animals know your garden is off-limits.
Consider adopting a barn cat to patrol your lot at night.
Scents: Most animals follow their noses. These are the scents that keep animals away from your yard.
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Cayenne pepper
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Spearmint
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Eucalyptus
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Deer scram
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Coffee grounds
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Predator urine
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Dried animal blood
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Repellant spray and granules
Pro tip: If you have dogs, let them mark around the perimeter of your garden.
Compost correctly
If you're like me, you compost all the organic material you can. But how and what you compost could be attracting scavengers to your garden. Here are some quick tips to keep wildlife out of your compost.
Use a sturdy, wildlife-proof compost bin with a secure lid. Avoid composting meat, dairy, and oily foods that attract animals. Regularly turning or aerating the compost will speed up decomposition and minimize odors that draw wildlife.
Pro tip: Use a tumbling compost bin for easy turnover.
Cover fresh scraps with leaves or straw to absorb moisture and keep smells down. Additionally, placing the bin on a raised platform or fenced-in area will help keep wildlife at bay.
Other options
Cohabitating with nature takes some trial and error. Feel free to experiment with various techniques until you find what works.
Ultrasonic stakes use solar power to emit high-frequency sounds and strobing lights when motion-activated. Motion-activated sprinklers work, too.
Grate Irish Spring around your garden to keep mammals and insects away.
Windchimes are pleasant to people but not to wildlife. Add one to your garden for warning and whimsy.
Mixing 3 tablespoons of castor oil and 1 tablespoon of dish soap into a gallon of water makes a powerful homemade repellent.
FAQ
I read about creating an alternative feeding setup away from my garden. Is this a good idea?
No. Luring wildlife to your property is never a good idea. You are training animals to migrate to you. After they eat from the setup, they'll find your garden.
Do electric fences harm animals?
Most sources say no, but a shock level meant for a deer seems too high for a chipmunk or sparrow. With so many humane alternatives available, I'd save the electricity for my air fryer.
I tried decoys, which worked for a while, but now they seem less effective. What should I do?
Animals spend hours observing. Try moving your decoys around. Deer are wise, so you'll need to switch up your approach and experiment with additional deterrents.
Which plants keep rodents away?
Pungent herbs like peppermint, basil, oregano, sage, rosemary, and flowers like daisies and marigolds will keep rodents away.
Got Pests? Wildlife x Team International specializes in wildlife & pest removal and may provide a free inspection. Call 855-WILDLIFE or visit www.wildlifexteam.com for more information.
Caleb Leonard is a freelance writer and marketing professional. A graduate of the University of North Texas, his interests include gardening, podcasts, and studying Spanish.