If you are like me and you have gone through the hard work of planting and tending to a vegetable garden this Summer, you want to get to eat those vegetables too! Nothing is more frustrating to many gardeners than coming out to find that the local wildlife has been snatching up your vegetables. There are several ways you can try to keep critters out of your garden, so here are a few suggestions.

The first step in keeping unwanted animals out of your garden is to determine what kind of animals ones are getting in. You may want to sit outside one or two evenings and watch your garden to see what kind of wildlife is getting in. You also just may know from the area you live in what wildlife is common, and therefore you can narrow down your options for deterring them. Some of the most common pests in my area of the world are rabbits, raccoons, cats and deer. All of them love vegetables, so it's time to close the buffet!

Fencing: Yes, it seems obvious to use fencing to keep animals out of your garden, and that is why I would suggest this technique first. Chicken wire is the most preferred because it is lightweight and easy to use. The downside is that it will not keep out burrowing animals such as opossums or groundhogs, and many animals will jump the fence or eat through it anyway.

If you are feeling adventurous when using fence, you can try laying it down on its side along the perimeter of your garden. This has the effect of keeping animals out because they do not like the feel of the fencing on their hoofs or paws. I have used this technique in the past and it has worked!

Make a homemade spray to deter animals: This is going to sound so easy, and can really work! This spray that I have used is organic and will not harm your vegetables in their growth. In a spray bottle, fill with 1/3 water, one 8 oz. jar of chopped garlic (usually packed in water), and 2-3 TBS of jalapeo juice. If you allow this to sit for a few weeks, it gets even more powerful for keeping critters out of your vegetables, and it is completely harmless.

Plastic Animals: You may find that your local garden center carries plastic statues in the form of owls or other large birds. Try these if you want to spend a few dollars to deter squirrels or rabbits. Place the statue in an area that you are having difficulty. You may want to keep moving the object around your garden, as it will get overgrown and not fool animals.

Planting Deterrent Plants: There are many things that you can grow in your vegetable garden that will also deter wildlife. Garlic is an excellent thing to grow around the perimeter, as it repels cats, dogs and raccoons. You may also try creeping thyme or catnip if you are trying to deter deer. These are weeds, though, and you really have to keep up on the trimming to use this as your only animal deterrent.

If none of these suggestions have helped so far, you may want to try some of the more expensive remedies for critter problems that are available in most home and garden centers.

Learn more about this author, Laura Kleban.
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