A popular TikTok creator has shared a simple gardening tip using a common kitchen ingredient to naturally deter pests from your garden. Gardeners battling pests that dig up bulbs and destroy flowerbeds might already have the solution lurking in their kitchen cupboard. A well-known TikTok creator suggests one inexpensive household ingredient could help safeguard plants naturally without resorting to harsh chemicals.
The Chilli Powder Hack
The guidance comes from Dave The Plant Man, who boasts over 100,000 followers and 570,000 likes on the platform. He recently recorded a video at the Chorley Flower Show where he was joined by a stallholder named Bob. They explored a cost-effective gardening trick involving chilli powder.
Speaking in the clip, Dave explained how the spice can be blended into bird seed to help ward off squirrels and other mammals from bird feeders. "Birds don't have taste buds, they're oblivious to it, it doesn't do them any harm," he said. "Mammals don't like the smell."
They also revealed how a level teaspoon of chilli powder combined with feed can be deployed to prevent rats and mice from returning to gardens. It was described as a "top tip" for shielding the likes of crocuses, bluebells and other spring bulbs from interference.
Why Chilli Powder Works
Chilli powder is frequently championed online as a natural pest repellent because capsaicin - the compound responsible for heat in chillies - can irritate mammals and discourage them from feeding in treated zones. According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), strong-smelling deterrents are occasionally employed by gardeners to help discourage pests from digging in flowerbeds.
The RHS also recommends gardeners pair deterrents with physical protections such as mesh covers, fencing and strategic bulb positioning for optimal outcomes. Wildlife specialists caution that deterrents must be applied responsibly and never placed directly onto animals.
Scientific Backing
Studies published by the University of Massachusetts Amherst highlight that capsaicin-based repellents are frequently deployed to deter squirrels and deer from gardens and bird feeders. The university explains that mammals react strongly to capsaicin, while birds remain largely immune because they don't possess the same receptors that sense the compound's burning sensation.
Affordable Solution
Budget supermarkets and discount shops frequently stock small containers of chilli powder for as little as 43p, making this tip an affordable alternative to shop-bought pest repellents. Numerous specialist garden deterrent sprays containing capsaicin can cost considerably more.
