How to Keep Animals Out of Garden Without Fence (8 Ways)

Written by

William Golder

FACT-CHECKED BY

Dorian Goodwin

how to keep animals out of garden without fence

Whether you want to grow vegetables for eating or beautify your home with flowers, it is necessary to keep animals from invading your yard. After all, you don’t want your plants to be trampled or chewed on.

But how to keep animals out of garden without fence? You can use a DIY spray, plants that insects dislike, soap bars, and more. Read on for more details.

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Best Way to Keep Animals Out of Garden

1. Use a pepper homemade spray

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It’s easy to create a natural insect deterrent with items you can find at the supermarket. To do so, prepare the following:

  • Hot pepper sauce
  • Dish soap
  • Marigold leaves
  • Water
  • Blender
  • Spoon/sieve
  • Spray bottle

Step 1: Make the solution

In a blender, add ⅛ cup of hot pepper sauce, 1 cup of marigold leaves, 1 cup of water, and four drops of your dish detergent. Then, blend everything until you get a smooth liquid.

If you notice some big pieces of leaves left after blending, remove them with a spoon or sieve, then pour the mixture into a spray bottle.

Step 2: Spray the mixture

Using the bottle, spray the mixture on the plants in your garden. Make sure to do this regularly, as the smell will naturally wane over time. If you live somewhere with frequent precipitation, expect to respray even more frequently.

2. Use plants that repel animals and insects

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Some plants deter animals from garden, which is why you should put these plants in your yard. For example, lavender and mint can keep out fleas, mosquitoes, and rodents, while rosemary is naturally unpleasant to cabbage moths.

Aside from these wonderful herbs, you can also use flowers like petunias to trap insects like leafhoppers. Also, chrysanthemums can ward off roaches, ticks, and beetles. These herbs will make your garden not only smell good but look spectacular as well.

3. Install ultrasonic pest repellent

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If you’re wondering “what to put around garden to keep out animals?”, the answer is an ultrasonic device. It works by emitting sounds that unsettle unwanted critters, so they’ll leave your plants alone. Just insert it into the ground, and you’re done.

There are some things to keep in mind when selecting such a tool, though.

  • First, determine how big your yard is. Most ultrasonic repellents have an 800-1200 square feet range, so you may need one or several of them to protect your garden fully.
  • Second, think of your preferred power source. Some eco-conscious consumers will pick devices with solar panels; others will go for battery-powered designs.
  • In my opinion, these types should be your choices as well, since electronic repellers will need to be close to an outlet and limit where you can put them.
  • Finally, make sure to avoid ultrasonic repellents that bother dogs and cats (in case you’re a pet owner).

4. Hang soap bars

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Believe it or not, soap bars can be a great tool to fend off rodents, chipmunks, and squirrels, and it’s very straightforward to use them. Just prepare the following items and do the steps we describe.

  • Soap bar
  • Mesh bag (optional)
  • Wooden stick
  • Rope

Step 1: Drive the stick into the ground

Find a soil area in your garden that’s not embedded with plants or seeds, and drive the stick into it. Make sure the wood is pushed deep enough into the ground so that it stays secure.

Step 2: Hang the soap bar

Put the soap in a mesh bag and close it. Then, wrap the rope around the mesh bag and tie it to the wooden stick. Alternatively, you can forgo the bag, knot the rope around the soap bar and stick directly.

That’s it! You’ve given your garden protection from animals.

5. Sprinkle coffee

natural-way

One of the best garden ideas to keep animals out is to sprinkle coffee on the ground.

It’s been proven that caffeine puts off cats and hampers the development of mosquitoes, tobacco hornworms, and mealworms. What’s more, the nitrogen in coffee also serves as an acid fertilizer for plants like blueberries and rhododendrons, so if you have these in your garden, you’re getting two benefits at once with this method.

On the downside, coffee won’t be effective as an animal deterrent for deers, which is why we suggest using it alongside an ultrasonic device.

6. Use a milk spray

If you prefer a natural way to keep deers away from your garden, try using a milk spray. To create one, have the following items ready:

  • Milk (any kind)
  • Dish detergent
  • Water
  • Spray bottle
  • Mulch

Step 1: Make the spray

In a spray bottle, pour in 4 drops of dish soap, 1 part milk, and 3 parts water, then shake the bottle to blend everything together.

Step 2: Apply the spray

Spray the solution on your plants, preferably every 10 days. It is best to do this in warmer weather, even in winter, so that the spray can dry.

Moreover, put mulch under your plants to prevent the milk solution from affecting the soil microflora.

7. Use a castor oil solution

Many people use castor oil for skin and hair care, but do you know it can also keep critters out of garden? Indeed, castor oil can deter squirrels, voles, and skunks. All you have to do is combine it with a few other ingredients.

You’ll need:

  • Castor oil
  • Dishwashing solution
  • Water
  • Spray bottle

Step 1: Make the castor oil spray

Put 3 tablespoons of castor oil, 1 gallon of water, and 1 tablespoon of your dishwashing solution in the spray bottle. Then, shake the container well to combine all ingredients.

Step 2: Use the solution

Now, all that’s left to do is apply the solution to the soil once a week.

8. Hang wind chimes

home-remedies

It’s known that many animals will stay away from areas with noises. That is why using wind chimes is one of the best home remedies for your garden pest problem.

They are available in various designs and colors, which can beautify your yard. Plus, the price of these products is reasonable (around 10 dollars), so you won’t have to worry about spending too much money to protect your garden.

Just get a tall lantern to hang the wind chime, or, if you have trees, use a rope to tie the wind chime to a branch.

Frequently Asked Questions

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1. How can I keep cats away from my plants?

You can lay some prickly mats on the ground or place catnip in a location away from your garden. Cats don’t like to step on these mats because they don’t like instability. As for the catnip, felines will be attracted to it instead of your plants.

2. How do I keep birds away from my garden?

You can stick flashy tape to a pole and put it in your garden. The tape will reflect sunlight, and when birds see it, they won’t land in your yard. Pick a product with UV and wind resistance, so it’ll last longer.

3. Are there some deterrent methods I should avoid?

Some methods have disadvantages, but it’s up to you whether to implement them or not.

For example, installing floodlights in your yard can repel animals but might attract insects and bats. Using automatic sprinklers may also scare critters, but you risk flooding your garden with water.

Finally, predator urine can keep squirrels and rabbits away from your plants, but people with sensitive noses may find it repulsive.

Conclusion

Learning how to keep animals out of garden without fence is essential, especially if you want to harvest fruits and vegetables for consumption. Clearly, you don’t want your efforts in watering and fertilizing the soil to go to waste.

Here are some typical animals that destroy your garden and how to prevent them:

We hope this article gives you the information you need. Thanks for reading!

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