Homemade spray to keep animals out of the garden is the easiest way to get rid of unwanted animals. These recipes are made from simple ingredients you might already have at home; they are quick and easy to make and offer a cost-effective way of ensuring bugs remain away from our gardens rather than consuming our vegetables or flowers.
The remedies are effective against common problem insects such as aphids or caterpillars. They are made of natural ingredients and are usually more environment-friendly than most traditional plant pests solutions.
With the right combination of these homemade bug sprays in your garden, you can trust natural pest control’s power rather than diluted chemical cocktails. In this article, we are sharing the most effective homemade spray with you.
Table of Contents
Here are 12 Homemade Spray to Keep Animals Out
1. Ultrasonic Pest Repellent
Ultrasonic pest repellents are a great way to protect your garden beds from pests such as raccoons, skunks, deer, foxes, dogs, cats, and other animals. Often found in a solar-powered device, these repellents have strobe lights and emit high-frequency sounds whenever an animal detects motion.
When the noise and light show startles the animals, it could successfully condition them to stay away from your plants after only a few exposures. Thus providing a humane solution for getting rid of unwanted pests without using toxic materials like chemical pesticides or traps.
This type of electronic pest control casts a wide net to ward off many small animals but can be ineffective against larger critters such as bears. Ultrasonic pest repellents should also not be used near swimming pools due to their potential effect on marine life.
The device’s size must also be considered when purchasing one, as larger devices offer greater coverage than smaller ones. Overall, ultrasonic pest prevention devices are easy to operate and work fairly well in keeping pesky animals away from your property line.
2. Hot Sauce Spray
Hot sauce is the way to go if you’re looking for a simple yet effective DIY animal repellent. This method works particularly well on cats and small animals like squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks.
All you need to do is mix some hot sauce with water and spray it on plants or areas you want to avoid these critters. The hot sauce will irritate the animals’ sense of smell and taste, so they’ll stay away from your garden.
You should keep in mind that this spray won’t work on larger animals like deer or bears. As an added bonus, the hot sauce will also help keep other bugs away from your plants.
3. Garlic Spray
Garlic is an effective way to protect your garden from animals. All you need to do is mix garlic with water and spray it around your garden’s perimeter or on plants you want to keep away from pests.
The strong smell of garlic will be repulsive to small animals like cats, rabbits, and squirrels but can also work against larger animals like deer or bears.
The downside to using garlic as an animal repellent is that you must reapply the mixture after heavy rain. As an extra bonus, garlic acts as a natural pesticide to help keep bugs away from your plants.
4. Castor Oil
Castor oil can provide a natural and effective way to repel pests from your garden. This versatile substance is a vegetable oil originating from the castor bean plant and has been used for centuries for medicinal, cosmetic, and industrial purposes. It has also proven successful as a pest repellent due to its unpleasant flavor.
When combined together with soap and water, castor oil makes an effective spray for controlling burrowing pests like skunks, ground squirrels, gophers, moles, and voles.
The soap helps the solution stick to leaves, lawns, gardens, sidewalks, or any other areas frequented by these animals, while the castor oil provides a strong odor and taste that keep them away.
To make your homemade repellent mix three tablespoons of castor oil with one tablespoon of dish soap in one gallon of water and spray directly onto affected areas near the garden or anywhere else you have noticed activity by burrowing animals.
5. Predator Urine
Predator urine is a great way to keep other animals out of your garden without using any harsh chemicals. The smell of the urine is a natural deterrent for many types of pests as it mimics real predators such as foxes and coyotes. You can use either store-bought predator urine or collect your own from a friendly neighborhood pet store.
For best results, apply the urine around the perimeter of your garden, and be sure to reapply after rain or heavy winds. This will ensure that the smell remains strong enough to keep pests away.
6. Egg Spray
Egg spray is an effective method to keep animals away from your garden without relying on harsh chemicals. To make this homemade animal repellent, crack four eggs into a blender and mix until they are fully blended and resemble a thick paste. Transfer the paste to a spray bottle and coat the area around your garden.
The strong smell of the egg will repel animals such as cats, rabbits, and squirrels from your garden. For best results, apply the egg spray after rain or heavy winds to ensure the smell remains strong enough to keep pests away.
7. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds can be used to keep animals out of your garden naturally. The strong smell of this home-brewed pesticide will deter animals such as cats, rabbits, squirrels, and even deer from entering your garden.
To make a coffee ground repellent, sprinkle the grounds around the perimeter of your garden and in any areas where you have noticed animal activity. As a bonus, the grounds will also discourage pests from eating your plants.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Another natural way of keeping animals out of your garden is to use apple cider vinegar. The strong smell of the vinegar will deter animals from entering your garden while also serving as a natural pesticide against bugs.
Dilute two cups of apple cider vinegar in one gallon of water and spray it around the perimeter of your garden or on plants you want to protect from pests. Reapply after rain or heavy winds to ensure the smell remains strong enough to keep animals away.
8. Use A Milk Spray
Making a milk spray to keep deer away from your garden is an easy and natural solution that can be made with simple ingredients. All you need is milk, dish detergent or soap, water, and a spray bottle to mix all the ingredients. Combining these items creates an unpleasant smell for animals like deer, keeping them away from areas it’s sprayed.
Mix two cups of milk with one teaspoon of liquid dish detergent or soap in a spray bottle before filling it halfway with water. Shake the bottle well until all the ingredients are mixed, and then fill it with more water so the solution is ready to spray.
Afterward, cover any plants or trees you want to protect on your property with this mixture for the best results. Making a milk spray will help keep deer away without harming them since it only uses natural elements.
9. Hang Soap Bars
Hang soap bars are one of the least complicated and most effective methods for keeping pests such as rodents, chipmunks, and squirrels away from your property. This is an easy process that requires no complex tools or supplies. You only need a soap bar, mesh bag (optional), wooden stick, and rope to set up a successful hang soap bar system.
You start by tying the rope around the middle of the wooden stick, with enough length on each side, to ensure that the entire wooden stick will hang just above ground level. You then tie one end of the rope around the left part of the soap bar.
Next, place the soap bar in a mesh bag (if available). Finally, tie the other end of the rope around the right part of the soap bar. Place several hang soap bars near any potential ingress points leading up to your property to provide maximum coverage.
The scent from these hanging soaps is known to deter rodents and keep them away from your property effectively.
10. Mint
Mint is a great way to help keep pests away from gardens. Mint has a strong smell and taste that deer, insects, and other outdoor critters are not fond of.
Planting a mint border around the garden, planting peppermint alongside plants targeted by pests, spraying peppermint essential oil on fencing, rocks, or other hard surfaces, or even scattering mint tea bags around the area can all provide an effective deterrent to unwanted critters.
Once the mint is planted or sprayed in areas close to the garden, it should not need to be replaced, at least seasonally, as its aroma far surpasses that of humans. The pungent scent helps to keep away foraging pests such as deer with its distinct odor and taste.
Plants like wild onion (Allium spp.), garlic (Allium sativum), lavender (Lavandula spp.), and pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) also give off distinctive smells that can help repel deer from your garden. However, none have quite the presence of mint.
11. Vinegar
Vinegar is a great homemade spray that can be used to keep animals out of your garden. It is an all-natural, non-toxic way to deter pests from entering and damaging your plants. Vinegar has a strong smell that most animals are not fond of, so spraying it around your garden’s perimeter will help repel them. It also has acetic acid, which can help kill or repel certain pests.
To make a vinegar spray, mix one part vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle and then spritz the areas around your garden that you wish to protect.
You may need to reapply the mixture once a week or so for the best results. If you want to give it an extra kick, add some garlic or hot pepper flakes to the mixture to make it even more effective.
12. Fencing
A fence is a great option for keeping pesky critters out of your garden. Installing one doesn’t take much planning or effort, but it can provide long-term protection for your plants and crops. The key is to choose the right type of fence and the correct height based on the type of pests you’re trying to keep out.
A short fence will likely be enough to deter rabbits, squirrels, and other small animals; however, if dealing with larger animals like deer, consider installing one that’s at least five feet tall.
Additionally, fencing a few feet down with hardware cloth or ¾-inch chicken wire can help protect root vegetables from underground damage if you have moles or gophers in your area.
No matter what type of garden fencing you choose (e.g., woven wire, split rail, post and rail, vinyl) make sure it’s strong. Enough to do its job—keeping those little critters (voles, too.) away from your garden.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
1. What Can I Spray On Tomatoes To Keep Animals Away?
Various methods exist to prevent squirrels from harming plants, including applying pepper or peppermint oil or using commercially produced repellent sprays that contain chili peppers or capsaicin.
2: Will These Homemade Sprays Harm The Animals Or Plants In My Garden?
Answer: No, these homemade sprays are primarily designed to repel animals without causing harm to them or your plants. The ingredients used, such as cayenne pepper, garlic, onions, Epsom salt, and hot pepper, create scents and tastes that animals find unpleasant. The sprays are meant to deter animals from entering your garden rather than causing them any harm.
3: How Often Should I Apply These Homemade Sprays To Keep Animals Away?
Answer: The frequency of application depends on various factors, such as the specific animals in your area and their persistence. As a general guideline, spraying these homemade solutions once every week or after rainfall is recommended to maintain their effectiveness.
However, if you notice animals returning to your garden despite the spray, you may need to increase the frequency of application or try alternative methods to reinforce the deterrent effect.
4: Are These Homemade Sprays Effective Against All Types Of Animals?
Answer: While these homemade sprays can be effective against many common garden pests, their success may vary depending on the specific animals in your area. These sprays are typically effective against animals like rabbits, deer, squirrels, raccoons, and some insects.
However, some animals may become accustomed to the sprays over time, requiring you to switch or combine different deterrent methods for better results.
5. Can You Spray Vinegar On Tomato Plants?
It is possible to use vinegar as a homemade spray to keep animals away from your garden, including tomato plants. Vinegar is a natural repellent that many animals and insects dislike the smell of.
To make a vinegar spray, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and shake it until combined. Then, spritz your tomato plant leaves with the mixture. You may need to reapply the spray after rainfall or heavy dew.
Conclusion
Homemade sprays are a great way to keep animals away from your garden without causing harm. These sprays typically contain ingredients like cayenne pepper, garlic, onions, Epsom salt, and hot pepper that create scents and tastes animals find unpleasant. Vinegar is another natural repellent to protect your plants from animal damage. The frequency of application will vary depending on the specific animals in your area.
