What to Use to Keep Animals Out of Vegetable Gardens

Little else is better for the gardener who grows vegetables than having a ready supply of delectables at hand--and it's important to keep you four-legged friends away from them. Protect your monetary investment and sweat equity, and keep animals out of your vegetable garden. Using a variety of natural and homemade remedies is preferred over harsh chemicals.

Homemade Spray for Squirrels

Mix and spray a homemade hot sauce mixture to get squirrels out of the garden. Combine 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper with 1 quart of hot water. Steep the mixture until it is cool. Strain it through a cheesecloth, then put it into a spray bottle. Spray around plants liberally. Reapply after a rain.

Repelling Rabbits

Soak corn cobs for five minutes in vinegar, and then place them throughout the garden. Resoak them after two weeks.

Deer Deterrent

Discourage the presence of deer by planting vegetation that deer find unappetizing, such as Madagascar periwinkle, blackberries and common foxglove. Plant them where deer enter your property. Take additional measures by making a barrier. Install a traditional deer fence made of woven wire that stands 8 feet tall. Bait the fence with peanut butter to attract the deer to the fence, rather than to the vegetable plants behind it.

Mole Repellant

Mix 3 ounces of castor oil, 4 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid and 1 cup of warm water in a blender. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the affected area of the garden, or find the mole's tunnel and pour about 1 cup of the mixture into it.