How to Make Pepper Spray for the Garden

Overview

If some of the neighborhood critters are wrecking havoc in your garden, it's possible to deter them with pepper spray. Make it with hot chili peppers and it will contain the same chemical that is the active ingredient in commercially available pepper spray, commonly used for self-defense. Small animals will leave your plants alone after they experience the heat of the pepper spray.

Step 1

Chop one cup of medium size hot peppers, any variety, but the hotter the better. Put into a blender with about 2 ounces of water. Puree.

Step 2

Strain out the solids through a piece of cheesecloth, keeping only the strained liquid. Add this to 1 gallon of clean, fresh water and let the mixture sit overnight.

Step 3

Mix ¼ cup of the mixture from Step 2 with another gallon of fresh, clean water and one tablespoon of horticultural insecticidal soap.

Step 4

Fill a plastic spray bottle with the mixture mixed in Step 3. Spray on plants. Repeat every few days or after rain.