Foxes can cause significant disruption in British gardens, from digging up carefully cultivated flowerbeds to scavenging through vegetable patches and leaving unpleasant messes behind. While these wild animals might appear charming from a distance, their presence can quickly become a gardener's nightmare when they start destroying plants, rummaging through bins, or creating potential hazards for household pets.
Simple Two-Item Solution to Protect Your Garden
One gardening expert has now revealed her surprisingly straightforward approach to keeping foxes at bay using just two common household items. In a detailed YouTube tutorial, she demonstrated how strategic placement of toothpicks and wire mesh has successfully protected her garden beds from fox damage.
The Toothpick and Wire Mesh Method
The gardening enthusiast explained her technique while showing footage of her previously damaged flowerbeds. "Foxes cause a lot of destruction to gardens in the UK," she noted, pointing to excavated soil and damaged plants. "They dig soil, damage plants, and leave faeces everywhere."
Her solution involves two simple components:
- Toothpicks strategically positioned throughout pots and around greenery create an uncomfortable surface that discourages foxes from approaching
- Wire mesh draped over plants and containers provides an additional physical barrier that prevents digging and access
"Thanks to this simple trick, I managed to get rid of the foxes in my garden," she declared at the conclusion of her demonstration.
RSPCA Guidance on Legal Fox Deterrents
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has issued important guidance for gardeners dealing with fox visitors, emphasising that all deterrent methods must remain within legal boundaries. Using hazardous substances or dangerous repellents could result in substantial penalties.
Recommended Approaches from Wildlife Experts
The RSPCA suggests several effective strategies for discouraging foxes without causing them harm:
- Replace wildlife feeders with bird feeders that don't scatter seeds on the ground where foxes can scavenge
- Position feeding stations for creatures like hedgehogs in locations inaccessible to foxes
- Cover fruit trees and vegetable patches with fencing or robust weld-mesh featuring holes no smaller than 4cm across
- Promptly collect any windfall fruit to remove food sources
- Avoid garden fertilisers containing meat, fish, blood or bone that might attract digging foxes
- Use securely sealed dustbins and composters, and avoid leaving rubbish bags outside
- Eliminate potential hiding spots by maintaining gardens without tall grass or overgrown vegetation
- Seal gaps beneath sheds or decking where foxes might seek shelter
Understanding Fox Behaviour in Gardens
Foxes often visit suburban gardens because they provide both food sources and refuge, making these spaces particularly attractive for raising young. While they might initially go undetected, tell-tale signs of their presence include flattened plants, scavenged leftovers, and occasionally gnawed hosepipes or plastic tunnels.
Gardens offering easy access to food through unsecured bins, fallen fruit, or accessible compost become perfect targets for foxes seeking to feed themselves and their offspring. By implementing the simple two-item method alongside the RSPCA's recommended practices, gardeners can protect their outdoor spaces while ensuring wildlife remains unharmed.
