Use Repellents

Apply scent-based or taste-based animal repellents to plants and around the garden border. Commercial products use ingredients like predator urine, rotten eggs, capsaicin, or essential oils that animals find unpleasant. Homemade alternatives include hot pepper spray, soap shavings, or scattered human hair. Reapplication is necessary after rain and every few weeks.

Why It Works

Repellents exploit animals' strong sense of smell and taste aversion. Predator urine triggers a fear response, while capsaicin and bitter agents make plants unpalatable. Rotating between different repellent types helps prevent habituation.

Tips

• Reapply after heavy rain or irrigation
• Rotate between scent-based and taste-based products so animals do not adapt
• Apply before damage starts for best results -- early-season use is key
• Homemade hot pepper spray works well on rabbits but requires frequent reapplication
• Avoid applying taste-based repellents directly to edible portions close to harvest