Best Tips: How Do You Keep Raccoons Out Of Your Garden

You can keep raccoons out of your garden by using a mix of strategies. These include removing things that attract them, putting up barriers like fences, using repellents they don’t like, and scaring them away with lights or sounds. The best way to protect garden from raccoons is to use several of these methods together. This makes your garden a hard place for raccoons to visit. It helps with garden pest control raccoons.

Keeping raccoons away from your precious plants and produce is a big job for many gardeners. These smart animals are always looking for easy food. Your garden, full of tasty vegetables and fruits, looks like a free buffet to them. They can cause a lot of harm quickly. They dig up plants, eat ripe crops, and can make a mess. So, learning how to effectively keep them out is very important for raccoon damage prevention.

How Do You Keep Raccoons Out Of Your Garden
Image Source: urbanfarmie.com

Knowing Why Raccoons Visit

Raccoons come to gardens for simple reasons. They want food and water. They might also look for shelter, though a garden is less likely for that than other places. If you have fruit trees, berry bushes, or vegetable patches, your garden is a prime target. Bird feeders, pet food left outside, and even trash cans can also draw them in.

They are most active from dusk till dawn. This is why you often see how to deter raccoons at night. They are skilled climbers and problem-solvers. A simple fence might not be enough. You need clever ways to stop them.

Making Your Yard Less Appealing

The first step in raccoon deterrents is to make your yard less attractive to them. Think about what draws them in. Then, take those things away.

Secure Food Sources

Raccoons love easy meals. Don’t leave pet food bowls outside, especially at night. Store bird seed in strong containers. Make sure your trash cans have tight-fitting lids. Maybe use bungee cords or weights on the lids. You can also buy special animal-proof trash cans.

Store pet food inside.
Bring bird feeders in at night.
Lock down trash can lids.
Clean up fallen fruit from trees.

Remove Water Sources

Raccoons need water to drink. Standing water can attract them. This includes pet water bowls, bird baths, and ponds.

Empty pet water bowls at night.
Refill bird baths in the morning, empty at dusk.
If you have a pond, make the edges steep. This makes it harder for them to get a drink.

Building Physical Barriers

One of the best ways to protect garden from raccoons is with fences. But not just any fence will work. Raccoons are good climbers and diggers.

Building a Raccoon Proof Fence

A fence needs to be tall and hard to climb. It also needs to go into the ground to stop digging.

How Tall Should the Fence Be?

Raccoons can climb over many fences. A fence should be at least 3 to 4 feet tall. But they are great climbers. They can get over even taller fences if there is something to grip.

How to Make it Hard to Climb

Use smooth materials like wire mesh that is hard to grip. Chicken wire is too easy for them. Use stronger welded wire mesh with small holes.
Add an outward-facing overhang at the top. Angle a foot or two of wire mesh outward at a 45-degree angle. This makes climbing over very difficult.
Electric fencing can work. A low-voltage electric wire placed about 6 inches and 12 inches off the ground can give them a mild shock. This teaches them to stay away. Be careful with electric fences. Check local rules and warn people with signs.

Stopping Them From Digging

Raccoons can dig under fences. You need to bury the fence or add extra barriers.

Bury the bottom of the fence at least 6 inches deep. Bend the bottom 6 inches outwards in an ‘L’ shape before burying it. This buried mesh flap stops them if they try to dig next to the fence.
Put heavy stones or bricks along the base of the fence on the inside of the garden.

Other Barriers

Beyond a full garden fence, you can use barriers on individual plants or beds.

Place netting over berry bushes or fruit trees. Make sure the netting is secure at the bottom so they can’t sneak under.
Use cages made of wire mesh to cover vegetable beds. These need to be strong and secured to the ground.

Using Raccoon Deterrents

Raccoons don’t like certain smells, sounds, or feelings. You can use these things as raccoon deterrents.

Natural Raccoon Repellent Options

Many people prefer using things that won’t harm animals or the environment. These are called natural raccoon repellent methods.

What Scents Deter Raccoons?

Raccoons have a good sense of smell. Some smells bother them a lot.

Capsaicin (Hot Pepper): The heat from chili peppers is very irritating to raccoons. You can buy sprays with capsaicin or make your own by mixing hot pepper flakes with water and a little dish soap (to help it stick). Spray this around the garden edge or on plants they are eating. Reapply after rain.
Ammonia: The strong smell of ammonia is like the smell of urine from other animals. Raccoons see this as a sign of danger. You can soak rags in ammonia and place them in cans or containers around the garden. The cans keep the smell focused and protect pets/children from touching the rags directly. Do not pour ammonia directly on plants as it can harm them.
Garlic and Onion: Strong-smelling plants like garlic and onion can bother raccoons. Planting them around the garden edge might help a little, but this is usually not enough on its own. You can also make sprays from crushed garlic or onion.
Peppermint Oil: Some people have luck with peppermint oil. Soak cotton balls in pure peppermint oil and place them around areas raccoons visit.
Epsom Salts: Sprinkling Epsom salts around plants or garden beds is sometimes suggested. Raccoons don’t like walking on the crystals.

Using Sound and Light

Raccoons are wary animals. Sudden noise or light can scare them away. This is especially useful for how to deter raccoons at night.

Motion Activated Sprinklers: These are very effective. A motion activated sprinkler raccoons trip will spray water when they come near. The sudden spray and noise startle them. This is often one of the best short-term solutions. Place them in key entry points or near vulnerable plants.
Motion Activated Lights: Bright lights that turn on suddenly can scare them off. Place these lights facing areas where raccoons enter the garden. For best results, use bright LED lights.
Radios: Some people leave a radio playing in the garden at night. The sound of human voices can make raccoons nervous. Use a talk radio station. This works best if you change the station or turn it off sometimes so they don’t get used to it.
Ultrasonic Devices: These devices make high-frequency sounds that humans can’t hear but are supposed to bother animals. Their effectiveness is debated. Some people find they work, others don’t. Raccoons might get used to the sound over time.

Combining Different Methods

Raccoons are smart. They learn quickly. Using only one method might work at first, but they will figure it out. The best approach is to use several deterrents at the same time. This creates a confusing and unpleasant environment for them.

Use a strong fence.
Add a motion activated sprinkler or light.
Place scent repellents around the edges.
Make sure there’s no easy food or water.

This layered approach makes it much harder for raccoons to get into your garden.

Keeping Raccoons Away From Specific Vegetables

Raccoons love corn, melons, berries, and other sweet or juicy plants. If you’re trying to keep raccoons away from vegetables, focus your efforts on protecting these favorite targets.

Protecting Corn

Corn is a major target when the ears are ripe. Raccoons will strip the ears clean overnight.

Fence off your corn patch completely. The fence needs to be strong and potentially electric.
Tie bags around the ears of corn once they start to ripen. Use fabric bags that allow air flow but make it hard for raccoons to get to the kernels.
Apply hot pepper spray directly to the corn stalks and developing ears.

Protecting Melons and Squash

Melons are also a favorite. Raccoons will bite into ripe melons.

Cover ripening melons with cages or heavy netting.
Place spiky or rough material around the base of the plants. Raccoons don’t like stepping on uncomfortable surfaces. Pine cones or thorny branches can work.
Use scent repellents around the melon patch.

Protecting Berries

Berry bushes like raspberries and blueberries are easily stripped.

Drape bird netting over the bushes. Secure the netting tightly at the bottom so raccoons can’t lift it up.
Consider building simple frames to support the netting and keep it off the fruit.
Pick berries as soon as they ripen. Don’t leave ripe fruit on the bushes.

Other Tips and Considerations

When Are Raccoons Most Active?

Raccoons are mostly active at night. This is why methods for how to deter raccoons at night are so important. Put out repellents or turn on sprinklers before dusk.

Are Repellents Permanent Solutions?

No. Most repellents, especially scent-based ones, need to be reapplied often. Rain washes them away. Raccoons might also get used to them over time. Rotate different types of repellents so they don’t become too familiar.

What About Trapping?

Trapping raccoons can be tricky. Laws about trapping vary greatly by location. It is often best to contact local animal control or a wildlife expert. Trapping might remove one raccoon, but others might move in. Focus on making your garden unwelcome rather than just removing animals.

Using Commercial Products

There are many commercial raccoon deterrents available. These include granular repellents, sprays, and electronic devices. Read reviews and follow instructions carefully. Some products use predator urine smells (like coyote urine) to scare raccoons.

Be Consistent

Whatever methods you choose, be consistent. Check your fences regularly. Reapply repellents. Keep your yard clean. Raccoons are persistent. You need to be more persistent than they are.

Review of Common Deterrent Methods

Here is a look at some common ways to keep raccoons out:

Method	How it Works	Pros	Cons	Effectiveness
Removing Attractants	Takes away food/water sources	Addresses root cause, good first step	Doesn’t stop determined raccoons seeking garden food	High
Strong Fencing	Physical barrier	Very effective if done correctly	Can be expensive, time-consuming to build	High
Electric Fence	Mild shock teaches avoidance	Effective training, good deterrent	Can be costly, potential safety risk, requires care	High
Burying Fence Bottom	Stops digging under	Prevents a common entry method	Requires effort to install correctly	High
Outward Fence Top	Stops climbing over	Makes getting over the top very hard	Requires specific fence design	High
Hot Pepper Spray	Irritates their senses	Natural, easy to apply	Needs frequent reapplication, washes off in rain	Medium to High
Ammonia-Soaked Rags	Mimics predator scent	Strong smell, can be effective initially	Smell fades, needs refreshing, careful placement	Medium
Motion Activated Sprinkler	Startles with water/noise	Very effective, immediate reaction	Needs water source, might not cover large areas	High
Motion Activated Lights	Scares with sudden light	Good for nocturnal animals	Raccoons may get used to them, needs power	Medium
Ultrasonic Devices	Emits high-frequency sound	Non-invasive, easy to set up	Effectiveness varies, raccoons may ignore over time	Low to Medium
Predator Urine Products	Mimics danger scent	Can scare them away	Smell fades, expensive, effectiveness varies	Medium

Putting Your Plan Together

So, how do you create a plan to keep raccoons out?

Inspect Your Yard: Look for what might be attracting raccoons. Is there pet food out? Are trash cans easy to open? Are there water sources?
Remove Attractants: Clean up potential food and water sources. This is step number one for raccoon damage prevention.
Build Barriers: Decide if a full garden fence is right for you. If not, plan to protect specific plants with cages or netting. Think about a raccoon proof fence if possible.
Choose Deterrents: Pick one or two deterrents to start. A motion activated sprinkler raccoons don’t like is a great option. Combine it with a scent repellent. Use methods for how to deter raccoons at night.
Apply Consistently: Put your plan into action and keep at it. Reapply repellents. Check your barriers.
Observe and Adjust: Watch to see if the raccoons are still getting in. If they are, try a different deterrent or make your barriers stronger. Add more methods to your garden pest control raccoons plan.

Remember that raccoons are smart and adaptable. What works for one gardener might not work for another. Be patient and willing to try different things. The goal is to make your garden a place raccoons would rather avoid. Using a mix of raccoon deterrents is usually the most successful path. This helps in keeping raccoons away from vegetables and other valuable plants.

Deep Dive into Raccoon Habits

To truly protect garden from raccoons, it helps to understand their habits better. Raccoons are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. Their peak activity is usually right after sunset and just before sunrise. This is why focusing on how to deter raccoons at night is key.

They are very clever and have nimble paws. They can open latches, unscrew lids, and climb with ease. Their intelligence is one of the main reasons simple solutions often fail. A truly raccoon proof fence needs to account for their ability to climb and manipulate things.

Raccoons follow scent trails. This is why what scents deter raccoons is an important area of focus for repellents. They remember where they found food before. If they had a successful raid on your garden, they will likely return. This means you need to act quickly when you first notice signs of them.

They use dens for sleeping during the day and for raising young. Dens might be in hollow trees, under decks, in attics, or even in abandoned buildings. While your garden isn’t a den site, knowing they might be living nearby helps explain why they are visiting. Securing any potential den sites near your home (like under a porch) can also help reduce their presence.

More on Specific Deterrent Types

Let’s look closer at some deterrent types and how to use them effectively for garden pest control raccoons.

Refining Scent Repellent Use

When using scents, placement matters. Place rags soaked in ammonia or cotton balls with peppermint oil around the edge of the garden. Put them where raccoons are likely entering. You can also put them near specific plants they target.

Don’t put repellent directly on food plants unless it’s a food-grade safe spray like a weak hot pepper solution. Always check product labels.

Rotate scent types. If you use ammonia for a few weeks, switch to a hot pepper spray. This keeps the raccoons guessing and prevents them from getting used to one smell.

Maximizing Motion Activated Devices

A motion activated sprinkler raccoons approach is very effective because it combines sudden movement, noise, and an unpleasant spray of water. Place these where raccoons jump over a fence or cross an open space. You might need more than one for a larger garden. Adjust the sensitivity so they aren’t set off by small animals or wind.

Motion activated lights work best if they are very bright and cover the area where raccoons enter. Position them so the light startles the raccoon directly. Again, check placement so they aren’t triggered by innocent things like blowing leaves.

Other Sensory Deterrents

Some gardeners use sound machines that make predator noises or sounds that are unpleasant to raccoons. Just like with lights and basic sound, raccoons can get used to these. Using them only at night and maybe changing the sound helps.

Foil pans or reflective tape hung from stakes or plants can move in the breeze and reflect light. This can be mildly startling to raccoons. While not a primary deterrent, it can be one small part of a layered defense.

Thinking About Long-Term Prevention

Effective raccoon damage prevention is not just about scaring them away now. It’s about making your garden less appealing long-term.

Choose Raccoon-Resistant Plants: Some plants are less likely to be eaten by raccoons. Strong-smelling herbs like mint, rosemary, and basil are often left alone. Thorny plants can also be a deterrent. While they might still dig, they are less likely to eat these types.
Harvest Promptly: Do not leave ripe fruits and vegetables on plants. Harvest them as soon as they are ready. This removes a major food source.
Clean Up Debris: Fallen fruits, vegetables, or even plant trimmings can attract raccoons. Keep your garden clean.
Secure Composts: Open compost piles are very attractive. Use closed compost bins. Make sure the lids are secure.

Summary of Key Actions

To recap, the best way to keep raccoons out of your garden and achieve effective garden pest control raccoons is to:

Eliminate food and water sources in your yard.
Install a strong, raccoon proof fence that is hard to climb and dig under.
Use raccoon deterrents like scent repellents (what scents deter raccoons are strong smells like hot pepper, ammonia, or garlic).
Employ scare tactics such as a motion activated sprinkler raccoons dislike or bright motion lights, especially focusing on how to deter raccoons at night.
Protect specific vulnerable plants with cages or netting for keeping raccoons away from vegetables.
Use multiple methods together for a layered defense.
Be consistent and persistent in your efforts.

By taking these steps, you can greatly reduce the chances of raccoons raiding your garden. You can enjoy the fruits of your labor without sharing them with these clever nighttime visitors.

FAQ: Common Questions About Raccoons in Gardens

h4: What time of night are raccoons most active?

Raccoons are usually most active right after the sun goes down and just before it comes up. These are prime times for them to look for food.

h4: Will coffee grounds deter raccoons?

Some people believe coffee grounds work as a deterrent due to the smell, but there’s not much strong proof it’s effective against determined raccoons. It might work for very minor problems or as a very small part of a larger plan.

h4: Does human urine deter raccoons?

The idea here is that human urine acts like a predator scent. Some people claim it works, but it’s not a widely proven method. It might scare them temporarily, but is unlikely to be a long-term solution. Ammonia (which smells like urine) is a more common repellent used.

h4: Are raccoons dangerous to pets?

Yes, raccoons can be aggressive if cornered or if they feel threatened. They can injure pets, especially smaller ones. They can also carry diseases like rabies or distemper. It is best to keep pets away from raccoons.

h4: How high can a raccoon climb?

Raccoons are excellent climbers. They can climb fences, trees, walls, and even downspouts. A fence needs features like an outward overhang or electric wires to truly stop a determined climber.

h4: Do mothballs keep raccoons away?

Mothballs contain naphthalene, which is toxic and has a very strong smell. While the smell might repel some animals, mothballs are not approved as a wildlife repellent by environmental agencies. Using them outdoors can be harmful to pets, children, and the environment. It is not a recommended method.

h4: How long do raccoon deterrents last?

The lifespan of a deterrent varies. Scent-based repellents need frequent reapplication, especially after rain. Motion-activated devices work as long as they have power and are not ignored by the animal. Physical barriers like fences are long-lasting if maintained. Consistency is key.

h4: Should I feed raccoons away from my garden?

No. Feeding raccoons, even away from your garden, teaches them that humans are a source of food. This makes them bolder and can lead to more problems, not fewer. It is best to avoid feeding wildlife.

h4: Can raccoons chew through wire mesh?

Raccoons have strong jaws and can chew through thin chicken wire. They are less likely to chew through strong welded wire mesh, especially thicker gauges. The mesh needs to be sturdy.

h4: What are the signs of raccoon damage?

Signs include partially eaten fruits or vegetables, especially corn where the husks are peeled back. They may also dig up plants looking for grubs or roots. Trash cans might be tipped over, and lids removed. Tracks might be visible – they look like small human handprints.

By applying these tips and staying vigilant, you can protect your garden effectively. Good luck with your garden pest control raccoons efforts!