17 Apr How to keep unwanted animals out of your garden

Keep finding your plants and vegetables trodden and half-eaten? Stray animals can cause a huge nuisance in your garden, which is why many people take steps to keep them out. If you’d like to protect your plants and keep your garden looking polished, discover how to keep animals out of your garden with our tips and tricks below.

Keep animals out of your garden

1. Block entry points

To keep animals out of your garden, the first plan of action is blocking off any areas where they can sneak in. Installing fences and a driveway gate is the best way to ensure you have strong boundaries around your garden that won’t allow access to animals. Avoid fences or gates that have large gaps in them, as smaller animals will be able to climb through these. 

Try a solid wooden driveway gate like this one that leaves minimal space at the bottom to keep out those pesky animals. When paired with brick walls or some solid fencing, a setup like this will be almost impossible for most animals to access. If you’d like to see more ways that you can style your property’s border, see eight styles of driveway gates to take inspiration from.

2. Invite in other animals

This might sound counterintuitive, but hear us out. Bringing other animals into your garden can be one of the best ways to keep unwanted animals out of your garden. If you’ve wanted a pet for a while, now is the perfect time to get one. Dogs and cats can be very helpful for warding off wild animals, as they won’t want to trespass onto another animal’s territory. Not only will the scent of another animal deter trespassers, but pets may also chase wild animals away from your garden.

If having a pet isn’t a feasible option, there are other animals that can be used to minimise pests. For example, owls and other birds can eat insects and rodents that are causing trouble in your garden. Learn how to attract birds to your garden for a simple way to keep your plants protected, but still have a garden that’s bustling with wildlife. 

3. Use sound and light to your advantage

Pretty much any animal will be disturbed by sudden lights or noises. There are a range of motion sensors that can automatically scare off curious critters with bright lights or noises. This is one of the best methods to keep foxes out of your garden, as they enjoy the dark and quiet. However, if you don’t want any disruptive noises or lights, hanging a wind chime is a peaceful way to ward off animals with some gentle sounds. 

4. Plant repellents

Many animals will be put off by certain smells and plants. Whether it’s prickly brambles or strong-smelling flowers, there are a few plants you can make use of to keep animals out of your garden. Most strong-smelling plants will help to deter animals, but the type of plants you use will depend on the animals that are causing a nuisance in your garden.

Rabbits

Rabbits tend to stay away from onions and the majority of herbs, so growing these crops can keep them away from your other plants. Plus, you get the added benefit of fresh ingredients growing in your own backyard! Marigolds and lavender are some examples of gorgeous flowers that rabbits don’t enjoy chomping down on. This is perfect if you want an attractive yet low maintenance garden that won’t appeal to hungry rabbits. 

Deer

Deer aren’t huge fans of daffodils, so planting these around the border of your garden will make your garden of plants a much less attractive place to stop for a snack. Catmint – not to be confused with catnip – is another plant that deer don’t want to eat. Although catmint doesn’t usually stimulate cats, some cats may be attracted to it – so keep this in mind.

Squirrels

Squirrels can be easily deterred by planting daffodils, geraniums, and hyacinths in your garden. Similarly to rabbits, they also don’t enjoy onions and garlic, so these can be very advantageous to plant in your garden.

Cats

Cats don’t like strong citrus scents, so try planting citrus-y variations of plants such as lemon balm and lemon thyme. For the most effective results, the aptly named scaredy cat plant (coleus canina) is very unpleasant to cats and other animals. However, the scent of this plant is pretty unpleasant to humans as well. If you don’t fancy a nasty smell in your garden, try planting lavender and rosemary for a more enjoyable way to keep cats out. 

5. Place human hair around the garden

Many gardeners swear by using human hair as a natural repellent for keeping animals out of a garden. If you trim your own hair often, collect this in a bag and place it around your garden to ward off animals. Alternatively, use hair from a hairbrush and hang from branches or bushes around your garden. The scent of human hair can be very effective in dissuading animals from coming near your garden. However, make sure the hair hasn’t been washed with heavily scented products, as these smells could actually attract more animals. 


If your garden is a top priority, then a driveway gate is a must for improving privacy, security, and enhancing how your garden looks. Find the best driveway gate for your home and contact one of our team today.