5 Steps to Keeping Animals Out Of Your Gardens This Summer

It’s gardening season in Ontario! Time to get outside, enjoy the sun, and tend to your beautiful plants. Whether they’re flower or veggie gardens, you have to make sure to take preventative measures to avoid local animals from having a feast on all your hard work! Here are 4 ways to prevent critters, from spider mites to bunnies, from invading your gardens this summer:

1. Sprinkle Dog Fur

If you or your neighbour has a dog, you’re in luck! Dogs' fur is a unique way to create a preventative barrier from other animals entering your gardens. When the fur is put around the gardens, the scent will fear other animals from coming close, as it communicates that a dog has already claimed territory there.

2. Plant Marigolds

Edge your gardens with marigolds to create a natural barrier for animals such as deer and rabbits from entering your gardens due to their strong scent.

3. Spray Cayenne Pepper

Sprinkle some cayenne pepper around the base of your plants to prevent rabbits, deer, and other animals from having a snack in your garden. You can also create a cayenne pepper spray for the plants by adding some of the spice and a touch of dish soap to a spray bottle filled with water. Cayenne pepper is a deterrent for critters like bunnies and squirrels. This spicy tip will surely keep those critters away from your gardens.

4. Install Chicken Wire

Add some chicken wire fencing around your gardens. This is a classic way to help keep critters out of gardens - pair it with one of the methods above, and those little guys will be nowhere near your gardens!

5. Create a DIY Spray for Spider Mites

Spider mites can be a pain to deal with on both indoor and outdoor plants. They multiply quickly and can eventually overcome your plants which cause them to look dull, and in the worst case, can kill them. Check out this DIY remedy from ‘Greenhouse to Garden’ to kill spider mites:

What you need:

• Spray bottle
• 1 L of cold water
• Mild dish soap (i.e., Dawn)

Instructions:

1. Fill the spray bottle with 1 L of cold water.
2. Pour 1 tbsp of the mild dish soap into the spray bottle with water.
3. Liberally spray your plant. Make sure to spray both the top and the bottom of the leaves.
4. Repeat every 2-3 days until the spider mites are gone (could take up to 2 weeks).