Groundhog is a rodent from the family Sciuridae which is genetically close to the large ground squirrels known as marmots.
They are lowland animal that is native to North America and frequently found in the Eastern United States, and Canada. Apparently, the groundhog is a small, cute, and furry creature with an average weight of 5 to 10 pounds.
However, these cute creatures can destroy your lawn and garden. Follow our guidelines to get a comprehensive understanding of smells that groundhogs dislike and how to use these smells to deter groundhogs from your garden.
Twelve smells that groundhogs dislike and how to use them:
Groundhogs usually dislike the smell of garlic, pepper, talcum powder, onion, mustard, ammonia, lavender, mint, vinegar, predator’s urine, Epsom salt, and castor oil. Since groundhogs have a very sensitive sense of smell, you can use these smells to effectively repel them from your garden.
Table of Contents
The most commonly used smell-based repellents for groundhogs are explained below.
Garlic:
Groundhogs dislike the pungent odor of crushed garlic. The combination of garlic and pepper is one of the most effective repellents for groundhogs.
You can simply crush garlic and pepper together and throw them inside the burrows of groundhogs and near the burrows. This technique needs some time, but it will work must.
You can also mix the crushed garlic and pepper with water to make a liquid preparation. Then you can spray the preparation on the leaves of plants in your garden to prevent them from eating your plants.
Pepper:
Since groundhogs have a strong sense of smell, they do not like the spicy smell of pepper. Pepper is typically used with garlic to deter groundhogs from a garden.
Talcum Powder:
Although we humans like the scent of talcum powder, groundhogs cannot tolerate it. You can spread talcum powder all around the burrows of groundhogs and that will encourage them to move their residence.
Onion:
Since they do not like any strong smell, they dislike the smells of onion. Opinions are used with the combination of garlic, pepper,
Mustard:
Due to the sensitive sense of smell, groundhogs dislike the pungent odor of mustard. Mustard is used with other materials such as garlic, pepper, and onions to deter the groundhogs from a garden.
Ammonia:
The odor of ammonia is one of the most effective repellents for groundhogs. You can prepare the repellent solution at home by mixing 2 cups of ammonia with 2 tablespoons of detergent and a quarter cup of water.
This solution can be sprayed all around your garden to keep the groundhogs away from the garden.
Lavender:
The odor of lavender may seem sweet to us. But groundhogs dislike the smell and find it offensive. Thus, they tend to avoid the area if there are any lavender plants present.
You can plant some lavender trees around your garden. Due to the scent of lavender, groundhogs will avoid the area of your garden.
Mint:
Groundhogs also dislike the odor of mint. To use mint a groundhog repellent you need to crush mint leaves and apply them near the burrows of groundhogs.
Vinegar:
Vinegar has a very pungent smell and groundhogs also dislike the odor of vinegar. It is recommended to use vinegar with other elements like ammonia, detergent, garlic, and pepper.
You can make a solution by simply mixing vinegar with ammonia and detergent. Then spray the solution on the holes and near the holes of groundhogs. This will make the groundhogs run away from your garden.
Predator’s Urine:
Since groundhogs have a very sensitive sense of smell, they easily get the smell of their predators. Though the use of predator’s urine sounds nasty, it works very effectively.
You can collect the urine of your dog and cat in a spraying bottle and spray these near the holes of groundhogs. Groundhogs will think their predators are very nearby and this will make them run away from your garden.
Epsom salt:
The scent of Epsom salt is known to irritate the groundhogs. It is one of the most effective and easiest ways to get rid of groundhogs from your garden.
Just sprinkle some Epsom salt on the soil of your garden. This will force the groundhogs to leave your garden immediately.
Castor Oil:
One of the most common ways to deter groundhogs away from your plants and lawn is the use of castor oil. Groundhogs dislike the scent of castor oil.
You need to simply add some castor oil near the burrows of groundhogs. The castor oil will do the rest. Groundhogs will leave their burrows in your garden as soon as possible.
Where to place these smells to prevent groundhogs?
Groundhogs are diurnal animals and they live in burrows. To deter groundhogs from your garden, the most common place to apply these smells are inside their burrows and nearby their burrows.
Groundhogs are primarily herbivores and they usually eat plants, leaves, and fruits. The smells can be sprayed on the leaves and fruits of plants.
This will discourage the groundhogs to eat plants in your garden. Eventually, they will leave your garden or yard due to a lack of food sources.
Groundhogs also can come into your house to search for food. If you find any evidence of groundhogs, just spray the repellent in every corner of your house. This will prevent them to roam around your house.
If you can identify entrances of groundhogs through which they are entering your home. You can apply the smell near their entrances. This will prevent them to enter your house.
What attracts groundhogs to your yard or house?
The main thing that attracts groundhogs to your garden or yard is the food. Groundhogs are herbivores and love to eat plants, fruits, and even some flowers.
Groundhogs like sweet fruits very much such as strawberries, blueberries, peaches, and corn. If your garden or yard has sweet fruit trees, they will most likely attract groundhogs.
Groundhogs also like lettuce, cucumber, green beans, broccoli, and soybeans. If you are producing these vegetables in your garden, groundhogs most likely will be attracted to your garden.
They also like to eat grasses, clover, alfalfa, and dandelions. Thus, they will be attracted to your lawn and garden if you have these trees.
In fall, groundhogs usually eat the roots, barks, and twigs of plants. Groundhogs can be attracted to your yard or garden if there are these food sources.
Groundhogs also can enter your house to search for food. If your kitchen has fruits and vegetables open, they can be attracted to these food sources.
Groundhogs are good at climbing trees, fences, and walls. They can enter your house to escape if they are chased by predators.
Tips to get rid of groundhogs from your yard or garden for good:
There are several ways of getting rid of groundhogs from your yard. The most effective ways are listed below:
Use natural repellents:
The most common natural repellents for groundhogs are garlic, pepper, mint, onion, and mustard. Apply these near the burrows of groundhogs to deter them away from your yard.
Pour ammonia into their burrows:
Groundhogs dislike the odor of ammonia. You can pour ammonia in the burrows of groundhogs to force them to leave your yard.
Apply smoke into their burrows:
Groundhogs do not like smoke. You can apply smoke into their burrows. This will force the groundhogs to leave their burrows.
Vibrate the ground:
You can create vibration in the ground near the burrows of groundhogs. This vibration will scare them and make them leave your yard.
Get a dog or cat:
The most common predators of groundhogs are dogs and cats. You can adopt and dog and cat and keep them in your yard. This will scare the groundhogs and they will escape from your yard.
Groundhogs also dislike the smell of their predators. Thus, you can sprinkle the urine and fur of dogs and cats near their burrows. This will also force them to escape your yard.
Use a trap to catch them:
You can use a trap to catch them. If you can catch them, you need to release them 5 to 10 km away from your yard.
Use fencing and net:
You can prepare high fencing and cover it using a net to prevent groundhogs from entering your yard.
Put Human Hair:
Another thing groundhogs dislike is human hair. When they get the smell of human hair, they certainly think that humans are around. Hence, they move to a safer place.
Final Thoughts:
Garlic, pepper, talcum powder, onion, mustard, ammonia, lavender, mint, vinegar, predator’s urine, Epsom salt, and castor oil are all odors that groundhogs dislike. Because groundhogs have a very acute sense of smell, you may easily discourage them from your garden by using these smells.