Quick Answer: How To Save Tomato Plants From Raccoons?
The natural repellents to save tomato plants from raccoons are blood meal, wood ash, garlic+ chili powder, predator urine, and ammonia. The effective physical ways to keep raccoons out of the tomato garden are installing a fence, setting up a cage trap, and using bright lights with a radio. Many commercial rodent repellents are available in the garden store.
This guide will take you through specific methods to save tomato plants from raccoons.
Let us get started!
Contents
- Quick Answer: How To Save Tomato Plants From Raccoons?
- How Raccoons Harm Tomato Plants?
- How To Confirm That Raccoons Is Troubling Your Tomato Plant?
- How To Save Tomato Plants From Raccoons?
- Natural Ways To Deter Raccoons From Tomato Plants
- Physical Ways To Deter Raccoons From Tomato Plants
- Chemical Ways To Deter Raccoons From Tomato Plants
- FAQs
- Summary
How Raccoons Harm Tomato Plants?
Raccoons are opportunistic eaters and are active at night. It will eat low-hanging tomatoes off the vine or from your trash. Eventually, it will eat multiple fruits and harm the plants.
Check this video to watch raccoons eating tomatoes:
How To Confirm That Raccoons Is Troubling Your Tomato Plant?
Look for the damage in the tomato garden. There will be several discarded half-eaten tomatoes in the yard.
Also, holes in the lawn, empty bird feeders, raccoon poop with broken or rounded ends, and track marks near the affected area confirm the presence of raccoons in the garden. Their tracks are 2-3 inches wide on the front feet and 3-4 inches on the rear feet.
You may watch this video on tell-tale signs of raccoon infestation:
How To Save Tomato Plants From Raccoons?
Many natural, physical, and chemical methods can be used to protect tomato plants from invading raccoons. You may use one or many of them to protect your plants.
Here are a few natural, physical, and chemical methods to deter raccoons.
Natural Ways To Deter Raccoons From Tomato Plants
There are many natural deterrents, including blood meal, wood ash, a mixture of garlic and chili powder, predator urine, and ammonia that may work to deter raccoons from tomato plants.
These are cost-effective and harmless to the animals but require constant vigilance.
Method 1-Sprinkle Blood Meal Around The Plants
Blood meal can repel raccoons away from the tomato plants. It acts as a scent deterrent and can also be used as fertilizer to nourish plants. It will work for minor infestations.
- Sprinkle blood meal– Purchase blood meal from the garden store and sprinkle it around the tomato plants.
- Reapply the deterrent– Reapply as required or when it rains to maintain the deterrent effect.
Method 2-Dust Wood Ash Around The Plants
Wood ash can also work as a scent deterrent and deters raccoons from damaging tomato plants. It is used as fertilizer, providing nourishment for the plants.
- Sprinkle wood ash– Sprinkle wood ash around the tomato plants.
- Reapply when required– Reapply wood ash as required to maintain the deterrent effect. Also, apply again after it rains.
Method 3- Spread Garlic And Chili Powder Around The Plants
Raccoons do not prefer the scent of garlic and chili powder. It can be used to deter raccoons from tomato plants.
- Prepare garlic+chilli powder mix– Use equal parts of ground garlic and chili powder. Sprinkle the mix around the tomato plants.
- Reapply the mixture– Reapply the mixture after it rains. Also, spread again when the mixture has been soaked up by the soil.
Here is a useful video on using cayenne pepper and garlic to scare raccoons:
Method 4- Spray Predator Urine
Predator urine, including coyote urine, can be used to repel raccoons from damaging tomato plants. It can be bought in liquid, powder, or capsule form.
- Spray the liquid– Spray the predator urine around the plants to discourage the raccoons. It can also be placed inside a plastic dispensing bottle and hung near a tree. Its scent will deter raccoons.
- Sprinkle the powder around the lawn– Sprinkle the powder around the lawn, and capsules can be planted in the ground to repel the animals.
Check out this link on using predator urine as an animal deterrent:
Method 5- Use Ammonia
Ammonia can be used to deter these critters from your garden. Raccoons hate the smell of ammonia as it believes the area is soiled.
- Use ammonia– Mix 2/3 clear ammonia in 1/3 cup water. Soak rags in ammonia solution, transfer them to a small plastic container, and place them near tomato pants.
- Place ammonia in the yard– You may also use bowls with ammonia and place them near the plants. Its smell will deter raccoons away.
Physical Ways To Deter Raccoons From Tomato Plants
The various physical ways to deter raccoons are installing a cage around the plants and trapping the animals. You may also use bright lights with audio to keep these critters away from tomato plants.
Method 1-Cage The Plants
The fence or cage around the plants will help to deter raccoons from tomato plants. You may also use an electric fence for increased effectiveness.
- Make a cage- Make a cylinder with chicken wire to accommodate the plant. Cut the chicken wire about the same diameter as the cylinder. Secure it to the top of the cylinder.
- Put it around the plants- Place it around the plants to protect them from raccoons.
- Use an electric fence– You may also install a two-wire electric fence with one wire 4-6 inches above the ground.
Check this video on using fencing to deter raccoons:
Method 2- Use Bright Lanterns
Bright lights along with audio can be used at night to deter raccoons from tomato plants. Raccoons will assume that people are awake and avoid entering the garden.
- Set up bright lanterns– Light up the garden at night using bright lights. It will scare the raccoons away. You may use solar-powered lanterns that will charge during the day and turn on during the night.
- Play the audio- You may play the audio in combination with lights.
Click this link to discourage raccoons from using light and radio:
Method 3- Set Cage Traps
Humane cage traps can be used to trap raccoons in the garden and release them elsewhere. It helps in saving the tomato plants from raccoon damage.
- Set cage traps– You may either buy or rent them from animal services agencies. Place a food bait, including corn at the back of the trap. When the raccoon goes after the food, it causes the door to shut and trap the animal.
- Release the trapped animal– Contact animal services for a professional to remove the trapped animal.
You may watch this video on catching raccoons using cage traps:
Chemical Ways To Deter Raccoons From Tomato Plants
Different chemical raccoon repellents are available in the garden. It can be sprayed or sprinkled near the plants to deter the critters.
It has to be kept away from children or pets.
Method 1-Use Commercial Raccoons Repellent
Many commercial raccoon deterrents are available in the market that may deter raccoons due to their strong smell. It is available in liquid, powder, or capsule form.
- Use commercial raccoon repellent– Purchase commercial raccoon repellent and dilute as required. Spray them as required according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Reapply the repellent as required.
FAQs
Raccoons have a strong sense of smell and dislike scents, including blood meal, hot pepper, onion, garlic, peppermint oil, and Epsom salt. You may use these scents to deter raccoons from harming tomato plants.
Raccoons will live in hollow trees, brush pile, and barns. You may remove open structures, including woodpiles, overgrown shrubbery, and garbage from the garden. Also, close the open garbage bins in the gardens. Prune the overgrown foliage to prevent the raccoons from entering the garden.
Many gardeners have used apple cider vinegar to deter raccoons. Soak a cloth or cotton in apple cider vinegar and place them in an aerated container near the plants. However, more scientific studies are required to study its effectiveness.
Summary
Hopefully, this guide has highlighted many methods to keep raccoons away from your sweet tomatoes!
Do you have any tips on getting rid of a raccoon? Let me know in the comments below.
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