Animal repellent for gardens
What is the most effective animal repellent for gardens? Like every other gardener, you may wonder about the best animal repellent for garden use. This guide will help you separate the myth from the fact to prevent animals and birds from damaging your thriving landscape.
Having unwanted animals or birds in your garden is an awful experience. These critters will trample on your precious flowers, eat every vegetable insight and even transform them into a litter box.
This is why you might consider using animal deterrents to help deal with the situation. You will find various animal deterrent products in the market and just as many homemade remedies out there. But then, are these animal repellents genuinely effective? How do you make the best choice for your garden?
What are animal repellents? How do they work?
Animal repellents or deterrents work by scaring away that animal. These substances work by irritating that animal, so that it feels threatened and is therefore discouraged from the area. Animal repellents are different from pesticides which poison and kill the critters. Therefore, animal repellents are a humane solution to your critter problems. But each kind of animal repellent comes with its unique set of benefits and drawbacks. Let’s talk about these different kinds of animal repellents to help you make the best choice.
Ultrasonic repellents
Ultrasonic pest resellers are electronic devices that claim to emit high-frequency sounds that humans cannot hear but repel, kill or injure animals. These devices claim to emit a sound that causes a disruptive physiological response in these animals. These devices seem appealing, but several studies have shown that these devices may not work. While there might be some brands out there with decent success, there are a lot of controversies and FTC legal actions surrounding these products. Users have also found that these deterrents may only work for a while, but animals adapt to them quickly. Even so, products with some success have also been disturbing to other animals, especially pets. Many such ultrasonic repellents are also notoriously expensive.
Pest deterrent plants
By nature, animals generally don’t love every plant out there. Every animal has its favorite foods and plants that appear to irritate them. Depending on your environment, you can also consider using deterrent plants. Generally, most animals do not like highly aromatic flowers, plants with fuzzy stems or leaves, and natural toxins. However, suppose you have to consider more than one pest problem. In that case, you may have difficulty selecting plants that can deter all unwanted critters from your garden.
Chemical repellents
Chemical repellents generally fall into the odor or taste categories. Odor chemical repellents repel animals through their potent smell, while taste repellents only ward off animals after eating. There are also odor chemical repellents that repel animals by inducing fear in the target animal. While there are many known homemade chemical repellents out there, many may not offer protection for a long time. This is why you should consider a commercially formulated chemical repellent created to target and repel these animals from your garden. Regardless, you may come across two general forms of chemical repellents including;
- Liquid repellent sprays; Liquid repellents are specially formulated liquid mixtures that can repel animals. These sprays come in ready-to-use cans, which means you only have to shake the mixture and start spraying all over your garden. Liquid repellent sprays also allow you to spray targeted areas in your gardens that are very attractive to animals. However, you may have to re-apply liquid repellents after a heavy downpour.
- Granular repellent sprays; Granular repellents are excellent for creating a protective barrier around vulnerable plants. They work just like building an animal fence but this time, without the added costs of creating those structures. They are incredibly long-lasting during the colder months. However, you can combine liquid and granular repellent sprays to create a solid barrier against these animals.
Mechanical repellents
Not all repellents drive off animals by inducing a chemical reaction. Mechanical repellents include diverse physical barriers you can set up to repel unwanted critters. Some of these systems include;
- Installing a fence around your property
- Creating a fence of fine mesh or chicken wire around vulnerable plants
- Installing tree guards or wraps
- Installing a seedling tubing to protect vulnerable seedlings
Other mechanical repellents that may only provide temporary defense include flashing lights, motion-activated sprinklers, radios, and even a barking dog.
Final thoughts
It’s important to realize that although there are many kinds of animal repellent for gardens, the most effective animal repellent will depend on the animal you wish to repel. Each animal has its behavioral characteristics, and even when two animals act alike, there are possible differences that may create holes in your deterrent strategy. Hence, we recommend that you figure out the animals you wish to deter and build a deterrent or series of deterrent strategies for these critters. Overall, your best defense against unwanted visitors is a mixture of diverse animal repellent strategies with chemical repellents as your first line of defense.
Fortunately, Nature MACE has come to the rescue with a wide assortment of premium animal repellents tailored to repel these unwanted visitors. Our non-toxic liquid and granular animal repellents are practical, economical, and Eco-friendly. They are also safe to use around people and pets and help you build the most robust protection against unwanted critters. One application of Nature MACE animal repellents can last up to 30 days in regular weather. No matter the type of critters you wish to deter from your garden, Nature MACE has a solution for you.