Use red pepper to prevent critters from eating your vegetables!

Living in New England means having deer, squirrels and rabbits in the garden. There are many anecdotal ways to prevent and repel these critters from munching on your plants. I am fortunate to have a fenced in kitchen garden but, even still, small critters find their way in. Sprinkling red pepper flakes around plants works best for me inside my kitchen garden and in the landscape. Red pepper flakes contain capsaicin, which is the source of their heat. The seeds of the peppers also add a significant amount of heat. One sniff of this spice and the animals learn to stay away. About every two weeks, I generously add a layer of red pepper flakes to the hosta, daylilies and other wildlife favorites. In the fall, when planting tulips, I will add about 1/4 cup red pepper flakes to the hole.

What tips and tricks do you have to keep the wildlife from munching on your prized plants?