15 Ways to Protect Your Garden from Wildlife Damage

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Gardening is a rewarding hobby but poses challenges, particularly in protecting crops from wildlife. Animals like deer, rabbits, birds, and insects can be attracted to gardens and potentially damage plants by eating leaves, fruits, and vegetables or uprooting them.

While wildlife can benefit the garden’s ecosystem, it must be managed to prevent plant harm. Implementing preventive measures safeguards your produce and ensures sustainable gardening practices that respect the natural environment.

Install Fencing

Choose a material and height that matches your area’s wildlife type. For example, deer require tall fencing to prevent them from jumping over, while smaller critters like rabbits and groundhogs can be kept out with shorter fences or chicken wire.

Use Motion-Activated Sprinklers

Motion-activated sprinklers provide an unexpected but harmless deterrent to wildlife. When an animal enters the garden, the sudden water spray startles them and encourages them to move on. This method works particularly well for deer, birds, and rabbits.

Apply Natural Repellents

Natural repellents like garlic, hot peppers, or predator urine effectively deter animals such as rabbits, squirrels, and deer from gardens by irritating their senses. Regular reapplication, especially after rain, is necessary to maintain effectiveness. Combining these methods with physical barriers or noisemakers can further enhance wildlife deterrence efforts.

Choose Wildlife-Resistant Plants

Some plants are naturally less appealing to animals. Deer, for instance, avoids plants with strong scents like lavender, mint, or rosemary. Incorporating these plants into your garden can help reduce the chance of wildlife munching on your flowers and vegetables.

Install Bird Netting

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If birds are damaging your fruit and vegetable crops, bird netting is an affordable and effective solution. Drape the lightweight mesh over fruit-bearing plants to prevent birds from pecking at your harvest. Secure the edges so birds can’t find a way in.

Use Raised Garden Beds

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Raised garden beds can defend against burrowing animals like gophers and moles. Lining the bottom of the bed with mesh or hardware cloth further prevents these pests from tunneling up and reaching your plants.

Install Garden Lights

Nocturnal animals like raccoons, deer, and skunks often avoid well-lit areas. Solar-powered lights around the perimeter of your garden can be an effective deterrent for these nighttime visitors. Motion-activated lights can also work well to startle animals and keep them away.

Cover Plants With Row Covers

Row covers are lightweight fabric sheets you can place over your plants to protect them from insects and larger pests. These covers allow sunlight, air, and water to reach the plants while keeping animals like rabbits, birds, and squirrels from accessing your crops.

Create Barriers With Mulch and Gravel

Animals, like snails and slugs, dislike rough surfaces. To deter these pests from reaching your crops, create a barrier around your plants using mulch, gravel, or crushed eggshells. This method is especially useful for keeping crawling pests away from low-lying plants like lettuce and strawberries.

Attract Natural Predators

Encouraging the presence of natural predators in your garden is a great way to keep smaller wildlife in check. For example, attracting owls or hawks can help control rodent populations, while encouraging ladybugs and praying mantises can reduce insect pests. Provide habitat and water sources to make your garden a welcome spot for beneficial predators.

Install Scare Devices

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Reflective tape, wind chimes, or scarecrows can help deter birds and small mammals from entering your garden. These devices work by surprising or confusing animals, but they may lose their effectiveness over time. Rotate or change the devices periodically to keep the wildlife guessing.

Use Companion Planting

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Companion planting is a natural method of pairing plants together that can help repel pests. For example, marigolds planted around your vegetable garden can deter nematodes and rabbits, while basil can help protect tomatoes from insects. This approach provides a dual benefit: protecting your plants while enhancing their growth.

Block Entry Points

Identify and block any potential entry points that burrowing animals may use to access your garden. Gophers and moles can be persistent, so installing underground barriers, such as mesh or wire, around the perimeter of your garden can help stop them.

Protect Trees and Shrubs With Tree Guards

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Deer, rabbits, and other animals often target young trees and shrubs, especially in winter when food sources are scarce. Protect these vulnerable plants by wrapping them in tree guards or using mesh to shield the bark from being eaten or rubbed by animals.

Create Wildlife Distractions

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Sometimes, the best way to protect your garden is to offer wildlife a distraction. Set up a separate feeding station away from your garden with easy-to-access food, like seeds, corn, or nuts, to keep animals occupied. While this approach may not work for everyone, it can divert animals from your plants.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.