Keep cats and foxes away from the garden with easy ‘tea bag’ hack

Gardening expert gives tips on deterring pets and pests

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Gardens are attractive places for all animals, especially those with long grass and hedges for cats and foxes to explore. While many love foxes, they can be a nuisance to gardeners who spend lots of time making their outdoor spaces perfect. Keeping animals out of the garden completely is impossible, but protecting plants and flowers in borders is simple.

Foxes tend to be most active during dawn and dusk, meaning you may never even see them.

However, the damage in the garden is unmissable, with some suffering from holes, food debris on the lawn and trampled plants.

They may also eat new plants, especially where bonemeal, dried blood or chicken pellet manure has been used to aid the growth.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, one expert recommended an unusual hack to deter the animal away from the garden.

QVC’s Gardening Expert, Richard Jackson, said: “Keep cats and foxes off your seedlings and young plants with tea bags.

“Spray old tea bags with deep heat type muscle treatment.”

It is thought that this strong scent can help to keep animals away from specific areas of the garden.

The expert added: “Then place it in problematic parts of the garden and, if needed, cover with a sprinkling of soil to disguise them.”

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The household essential product can also be coated in peppermint or eucalyptus oil.

Richard continued: “These smelly oils should last at least two weeks, even if it rains.”

What’s more, tea bags can also help to deter spiders, mice and bugs as well as discourage the growth of weeds.

By reusing tea bags, there is less waste going into landfills too, meaning it is a great way to help the environment.

Britons can also use herbs as a natural deterrent for foxes, which causes no harm to the garden or to the animal.

Jordan Foster from Fantastic Pest Control explained: “You can deter foxes from entering your garden by mixing garlic and chilli pepper in boiling water and spraying it around.

“Foxes don’t like people, loud noises, flashing lights, and sudden movements. Ultrasonic devices are also available for sale, emitting high-pitch sounds only animals can hear.

“It would keep foxes away, but keep in mind that other animals will heat it too, and it may make them uncomfortable.”

Heading into the autumn months, it can be easy to let the garden get out-of-hand, letting weeds grow.

However, one of the easiest ways to keep the animal from ruining plants is to thoroughly clean and maintain the garden.

The pest expert added: “Water-repellent systems startle foxes and make them uncomfortable. They will give foxes a surprise and hopefully force them to run away.”

These sprinklers are easy to install and use and will make the animals run away from your garden.

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