Protect Your Garden From Pets and Pests

What are nature-loving, generally peaceful gardeners to do when cats, dogs, bunnies, and other furry little mammals wreak havoc in our gardens?

Come the spring and summer months, once beloved family pets like cats and dogs can sometimes turn into a nuisance in your garden. Between dogs loving to dig and cats using your gardens as their own personal litter boxes, you might be looking at safe ways to keep your pets and plants healthy and happy.

Stray animals are also attracted to areas where your pets have been using your garden as their bathroom. To discourage this make sure you regularly remove any of your pet’s waste from your yard.

Products like “Go Away Rabbit, Dog, and Cat Repellent” are made specifically to help keep pets out of your gardens. These granules protect your lawn, flowers, ornamental gardens, trees, shrubs, and other areas from unwanted animals. These products contain natural ingredients including cinnamon oil and thyme oil which humanely repels dogs, cats, rabbits, and a variety of other animals. MVG’s carries a variety of pet and pest repellents. Stop in to pick yours up today.

To use sprinkle a band 4 feet wide next to the area you wish to protect. One pound will treat a band 4 feet wide by 50 feet in length. After 2 weeks, if you do not see any additional animal damage then you can use a maintenance application of 1 lb. per 300 sq ft. You do want to reapply after heavy periods of rain or every 2 weeks to continue to keep animals away.

Another possible natural animal deterrent would be capsaicin aka cayenne peppers. Capsaicin is a natural chemical isolated from red peppers. It is most often found in animal repellents, but some products kill mites and insects or keep them from feeding on plants. Most wildlife will avoid capsaicin because it has such a strong odor and taste. Though cayenne peppers will not harm your dog, it will irritate its eyes, nose, and throat. You can sprinkle pepper flakes or powder directly onto your plants and soil. You can also cut up several dried cayenne peppers, then add them to water in a squirt bottle with a squirt of dish soap to help the solution adhere to plant leaves.

Please note that capsaicin is toxic to bees and other beneficial insects, so please do not use in your pollinator gardens. Birds cannot taste capsaicin and will not be repelled by it, so this safe to use around hummingbirds.

Additional Resources:

https://www.aspca.org/news/pets-and-produce-top-tips-vegetable-garden-safety

http://npic.orst.edu/