At 5:00 am this morning I had a visit from some masked marauders. Seems like it may be time to implement an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to keeping these guys at bay!

Here are 7 Proven Ways to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Vegetable Garden

Raccoons can be a real nuisance for gardeners, digging up your freshly planted seeds and munching on your prized vegetables. If you’ve had issues with these masked marauders, don’t worry – there are plenty of effective deterrents to keep them out of your veggie patch. Try one or more of these methods for a raccoon-free garden this season.

1. Fencing Fortress One of the most reliable ways to raccon-proof your garden is by installing a sturdy fence. Make sure it’s at least 4 feet tall and bury the bottom few inches into the ground so they can’t squeeze underneath. An electric fence can add an extra deterrent if you have a persistent problem.

2. Sprinkler Surprise Motion-activated sprinklers are a great option for scaring raccoons away without you having to be present. Position a few around the perimeter of your garden and let the sudden burst of water do the trick when those bandits come prowling.

3. Shiny Scare Tactics Raccoons are wary of new and unfamiliar objects, so hang up some shiny items that will move and reflect light to startle them. Old CDs, metallic windchimes, or strips of aluminum foil blowing in the breeze can make an inexpensive and effective deterrent.

4. Keep It Clean Raccoons have a keen sense of smell and are attracted to any potential food sources, so be diligent about cleaning up fallen fruit, vegetables, and seeds from your garden beds. Also secure compost piles and trash cans properly.

5. Ammonious Aroma The pungent smell of ammonia is extremely off-putting to raccoons. Try soaking rags in ammonia and placing them around the borders of your vegetable beds.

6. Spice It Up Raccoons don’t appreciate strong flavors either. Sprinkling some cayenne pepper, garlic powder, or other offensive spices around your plants can make them seriously unappetizing.

7. Last Resort: Live Trapping If you’ve tried multiple deterrents without success, live trapping and relocating persistent raccoons may be an option, but be sure to check your local regulations first. With some creativity and diligence using these methods, you should be able to outsmart any raccoons trying to plunder your precious harvest.

Let me know which tactics worked best for you!

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