Getting Rid of Garden Pests

It can be incredibly frustrating to have your garden invaded by pests.  You’ve spent weeks, months, even years creating a beautiful oasis only to see it being destroyed by animals.  Deer, raccoons, armadillos, squirrels, dogs, cats and skunks can wreak havoc on your plants and make your garden look messy.

The good news is there are ways to battle these pest problems without chemicals.  By creating an environment that is not appealing to pests, you can help eliminate them from your yard.  Here are some suggestions for keeping pests at bay.

Sound Deterrents

Some animals find sounds so disturbing they will stay away.  Choose an ultrasonic or sonic device that has built-in change involved, where the frequency, duration or sequence of sounds is variable instead of a device that simply repeats the same sound.  This is a fantastic long-term solution for pest problems that requires minimal maintenance.

Visual Devices

Many small animals are considered prey to an owl, so installing a visual device that resembles an owl is a great choice.  Opt for something that includes movement, as opposed to a stationary plastic owl, to work long term.  One option is a large orange sphere that has holograms on both sides.  It appears to move when small critters look at it from different angles.  It’s also mounted on a spring that causes the entire device to move and bounce in the wind.

Another great option is reflective foil strips.  Cut them out and attach to fence posts, trees or rooftops to scare animals away.  They blow in the wind and catch sunlight, which produces changing colors and patterns and the metallic rattle is unpleasant to most animal pests.

Physical Barriers

Installing physical barriers is a good choice to deter animal pests.  Netting can protect a particular area from invasion.  Make it easier for you to access, however, by creating access panels using Velcro.  Spiked needles can prevent a squirrel from accessing a tree, air conditioner, roof or flagpole.  There’s even a motion-activated scarecrow water sprinkler that sprays intruders as soon as it detects them.  Ask at your local garden center or check online to find a vendor near you.

Taste Repellents

If something tastes bad, the pests will avoid it.  Red pepper spray is a great choice for deterring deer, squirrels, and rabbits from eating your vegetables and plants.  Castor oil formulas are good for moles, as worms get coated in the oil and the moles can’t keep their food down, making them seek other sources.

Odor Repellents

Urine of predators is another great solution for keeping animals at bay.  Powered formulas are better than liquid since they won’t evaporate, sink into the ground or wash away.

Although it’s hard to eliminate garden pests completely, you can keep them under control by employing a combination of the methods described above.  Not only will you keep the pests at bay, you’ll also keep your garden free of toxic chemicals by choosing one of these natural solutions.