One Spicy Vegetable Plant Is Sure To Keep Skunks Out Of Your Garden

It's hard to enjoy a nice day in the garden if the air reeks of skunk. The little creatures can be a nuisance, especially if they get near the family dog or cat. No one wants the hassle of trying to wash skunk musk from the fur of a pet. If you've got a skunk that wants to move in, try spicy jalapenos to keep the nocturnal mammals at bay. 

Getting rid of skunks can be important because they don't just smell bad. They can carry rabies, and they often dig up patches of grass looking for grubs. You can tell if a skunk is digging in your yard because the holes will be shaped like a circle about 3 to 4 inches wide. Skunks love to burrow under sheds, too. Whatever you do, don't try to poison a skunk. That stomach-turning skunk musk can last long after it's dead, and if it dies somewhere difficult to reach, then you might be stuck with a terrible smell for a long time. 

There are many ways to learn how to eliminate raccoons and skunks from a yard, but a holistic approach might be the best. Jalapenos are a good place to start. Skunks don't like the smell of capsaicin, the chemical in jalapenos that makes them spicy.  Fresh jalapenos work best, and you can sprinkle them directly around the yard or make your own skunk repellent spray using boiling water, an onion, two jalapenos, and a tablespoon of cayenne pepper.

While you can chop up fresh jalapenos and toss them around to try to repel skunks, the downside to this method is that you'll have chunks of jalapenos in your garden that can take time to break down. If you prefer an invisible barrier, you can make a concentrated jalapeno spray instead. Simply boil two quarts of water in a pot on your stovetop. Chop up at least two large jalapenos, seeds and all, and add them to the water. 

If you want to make the spray extra potent, add a yellow onion and one tablespoon of cayenne pepper. Cover your pot and simmer for about twenty minutes, and then let it cool. Strain out the bits of pepper and onion. Pour the liquid into an empty spray bottle, and spray generously around areas where you've seen skunks to encourage them to move on.

If you want a fresh source of jalapenos for your spray, then consider growing them in your garden. Jalapeno plant care is fairly straightforward. They love temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees with lots of sun and grow in flower beds or containers. Do not overwater your pepper plants, though, and make sure the soil is dry before watering again. To get started, you'll need to sow seeds for between 8 to 10 weeks inside before transplanting them outside. Follow these and a few other easy steps to learn how to prepare jalapeno seeds for planting.