How to Keep Animals Away from Pot Plants

If you have a lovely potted plant collection, it is not unusual to find them infested with a variety of pests from time to time. However, one of the most frustrating things you may have to deal with is finding your precious plants destroyed by animals such as squirrels, rabbits, deer, and countless others. This can be discouraging, especially if you’ve spent a lot of time grooming and caring for your plants. In this article, we delve into some of the best solutions to keep animals away from pot plants.

Use Traps

If you’re one of those people who feel strongly against leaving animals harmed, but you still need to keep them away from your plants, traps can be a good option. Live-capture traps are designed to catch animals without causing them any harm. These traps can be purchased at a pet store or made at home with a few supplies. Place these traps in strategic locations, such as near your potted plants or at the base of nearby trees where animals like to chew. Once captured, you can release the animal far away from your garden or plant collection.

Use Strong-Scented Repellents

Animals have a keen sense of smell, and certain odours can act as a potent repellent. There are numerous animal repellent sprays and granules available in stores that emit strong, unpleasant odours that animals can’t tolerate. These products are usually made from natural ingredients like cloves, oil of mustard, garlic, and vinegar. Additionally, sprays made from hot pepper can be applied directly to the plants as a protective measure against animals. Make sure to apply these repellents in heavy doses, and frequently for more effective results.

Install Fencing

Fencing is an excellent strategy for keeping animals away from your plants. Ensure that you place the fencing around the area that you want to protect from these animal intruders. Fencing should be tall enough and strong enough to prevent animals from jumping over, or knocking it down. The type of fencing should also be carefully selected. Some animals can gnaw through fencing materials like plastic, so consider using something sturdier like chicken wire, which animals are unlikely to penetrate. To deter animals from climbing up the fence, apply a slick or sticky solution on the fence wall or top. This can be done using a simple mixture of soap and water, or petroleum jelly.

Use Predator Urine

It may sound unorthodox, but using predator urine can be highly effective in keeping animals away from pot plants. When animals detect the pheromones contained in predator urine, it triggers their flight or flight response making them stay away from the area. Lion, bobcat, and coyote urine can be purchased online or from hunting shops. You can sprinkle the urine around your plants, or alternatively, you can place urine-soaked cotton balls in various locations, especially close to the plants. Be sure to reapply regularly because the scent will eventually fade away with time.

Final Thoughts

Protecting your potted plants from animals can be a challenging task, but with the right tools and strategies, you can keep your plants safe and thriving. Using products like repellents or fencing should be done in tandem with other techniques like traps or predator urine to ensure maximum effectiveness. Make sure to switch up your strategies frequently to stay ahead of the animals and protect your beautiful plants from destruction.