If you’re a gardener, you’ve probably asked how to keep chipmunks out of garden. These small, striped creatures can cause surprisingly big problems, digging up bulbs and nibbling on your favorite plants. But don’t worry, you can protect your hard work with methods that are both effective and humane. This guide will walk you through practical strategies to deter chipmunks without causing them harm, so you can enjoy a thriving garden all season long.
How to Keep Chipmunks Out of Garden
The key to managing chipmunks is understanding their behavior. They are looking for three things: food, shelter, and safety. Your garden, with its loose soil, seeds, and plants, is a perfect chipmunk paradise. By making your yard less inviting, you can encourage them to move elsewhere naturally. The following methods focus on deterrence and exclusion, creating a peaceful coexistence.
Understanding Why Chipmunks Visit Your Garden
Chipmunks are primarily seed eaters, but they’re not picky. They will happily munch on seedlings, fruits, vegetables, and flower buds. Their burrowing can also damage plant roots and disturb the soil structure. They are most active during the day, so you’ll often see them scurrying about. Knowing this helps you target your efforts when they are most likely to be around.
- They are foraging for easy food sources like fallen birdseed or berries.
- Loose mulch and soil are perfect for digging burrows and hiding food caches.
- Gardens provide plenty of cover from predators, like birds of prey.
Physical Barriers and Exclusion Tactics
This is the most reliable way to protect specific plants or areas. By creating physical blockades, you prevent access entirely.
Hardware Cloth Cages and Fencing
For valuable plants or small raised beds, build a simple cage. Use 1/4-inch hardware cloth, as chipmunks can squeeze through larger gaps. Bury the edges at least 6 inches deep to stop them from digging underneath. For a larger garden perimeter, a fine-mesh fence buried several inches can be very effective, though it’s more work to install.
Protecting Bulbs and Seeds
Chipmunks love to dig up newly planted bulbs and seeds. To stop them, place a layer of hardware cloth or chicken wire just below the soil surface over your planting area. You can plant right through it, and the mesh will act as a barrier. Alternatively, plant bulbs inside wire cages or use commercially available bulb baskets.
Humane Habitat Modification
Make your yard less chipmunk-friendly by removing their comforts. This reduces the incentive for them to stay.
- Remove woodpiles, rock piles, and dense ground cover near garden beds where they like to nest.
- Use gravel or stone mulch instead of soft wood chips, which are easier for digging.
- Keep the area tidy by picking up fallen fruit, nuts, and seeds regularly.
- Switch to a bird feeder that catches dropped seeds, or stop feeding birds for a short period to remove this easy food source.
Natural Repellents and Deterrents
These methods rely on smells and tastes that chipmunks find unpleasant. You’ll need to reapply them frequently, especially after rain.
Spice-Based Sprays
Chipmunks have sensitive noses. Create a homemade spray using water and a few tablespoons of cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, or garlic powder. Add a drop of dish soap to help it stick. Spray it on plants and around the garden borders. Remember to reapply every few days.
Predator Scents
Granules or sprays containing the scent of predators like foxes or coyotes can be purchased. These can make chipmunks feel unsafe. You can also sprinkle used cat litter (from a non-toxic, clumping variety) around the garden’s edge, as the scent of a cat can be a strong deterrent.
Live Trapping and Relocation
If you have a persistent chipmunk or two, live trapping is an option. However, it requires careful planning and knowledge of local wildlife laws. Relocating animals is often illegal and can be a death sentence for them in an unfamiliar territory.
- Use a small, humane live trap baited with peanut butter or sunflower seeds.
- Check the trap frequently, at least every few hours.
- Before trapping, contact your local wildlife agency to learn the legal and recommended procedures for your area.
- Never relase a chipmunk in a park or on someone else’s property.
Planting Strategies They Dislike
While no plant is completely “chipmunk-proof,” some are less appealing. Interplanting these with your more vulnerable crops can offer some protection.
- Daffodils and other narcissi bulbs are toxic and usually avoided.
- Strongly scented herbs like mint, garlic, and lavender can sometimes mask the smell of more desirable plants.
- Alliums, such as onions and ornamental alliums, are often left alone.
Accepting a Shared Space
Sometimes, a balance is the best solution. Chipmunks are part of the local ecosystem and can help with insect control and aeration. Consider setting aside a small, less-tended area with native plants they enjoy, away from your main vegetable or flower beds. This can distract them from your prized plants. A little tolerance can go a long way in maintaining a healthy garden environment.
FAQ: Chipmunk Control in Your Garden
What is the most effective chipmunk deterrent?
Physical barriers, like hardware cloth buried around beds or over bulbs, are the most effective long-term solution. They provide a permanent block that chipmunks cannot easily bypass.
Does Irish Spring soap keep chipmunks away?
Some gardeners report success with shavings of strong-smelling soap like Irish Spring. The scent may deter them for a short while, but it washes away quickly and is not considered a highly reliable method on its own.
Will coffee grounds repel chipmunks?
Used coffee grounds are a popular garden amendment, but there’s little evidence they effectively repel chipmunks. They are better used for improving soil texture and acidity for your plants.
How do I stop chipmunks from digging holes?
To stop digging, you need to block access to the soil. Use gravel borders, lay hardware cloth under mulch, or place large rocks or wire mesh over freshly sown seed areas until plants establish.
Are ultrasonic repellents good for chipmunk control?
Ultrasonic devices have mixed reviews. Their effectiveness can vary widely, and they may affect other wildlife or pets. They are often not as reliable as physical or scent-based methods in an open garden setting.