How to Keep Chipmunks Out of Your Garden, According to Experts

The beauty of your garden comes from the bounty that grows there—so the last thing you want is for a pest to devour your flowers and vegetables. Chipmunks, a common culprit, use their keen sense of smell to find your prized plants. To prevent your garden from being targeted by these little creatures, check out our expert-approved tips.

Signs You Have Chipmunks In Your Garden

Chipmunks are pretty adorable, but they can wreak havoc on your garden and landscaping as they forage for food. "Chipmunks like all kinds of nuts and seeds, flower bulbs, and tree bark," says Sabine H. Schoenberg, a home and garden expert and the CEO of Smart Healthy Green Living. "During the dry months, they often shred leaves to get to the moisture in the plants." Here are some signs to look out for that you might have a chipmunk problem in your garden:

• Small, deep holes clustered together
• Underground tunnels that can impact patio and cement foundations
• Uprooted bulbs, or bulb flowers that didn't bloom
• Piles of seeds or grains
• Chewed-out holes in low-hanging vegetables and fruit
• Small tracks
• Tiny droppings
  

How to Keep Chipmunks Out of Your Garden

If you've noticed any of the above signs (or you've actively seen a chipmunk using your vegetable garden as their own private buffet), there are a few safe and humane steps you can take to deter them from coming back.

Run Your Sprinkler to Scare Them Off

Chipmunks don't like water (they really hate thunderstorms!), so running your sprinkler system will send them scattering, says Schoenberg. The only downside to this method? It is a short-term solution. "Animals that are used to living around humans will be less shy, smarter, and more adaptive to environmental changes (scare devices and repellents) than their wild counterparts," says Josh Matta, senior biologist for Liquid Fence Animal Repellent.

Use Natural Deterrents From Your Pantry

To keep the rodents out of your yard for long periods, Schoenberg recommends sprinkling deterrents like hot cayenne, garlic, apple cider, peppermint, or coffee grounds around your plants and gardens."Coffee grounds are particularly good around acid-loving plants, so it does double duty," she says. "While it is a deterrent against chipmunks, it is also a fertilizer for acid-loving plants, like hydrangea, azaleas, and Rhodes." Just be sure to reapply whatever you use as a deterrent after rainstorms, since it will wash away over time.

Place Ultrasonic Sound Devices Around Your Yard

Whatever you do, Schoenberg strongly recommends avoiding toxic repellents. "While I agree that chipmunks are a nuisance, poisoning them is definitely not a recommended way [of dealing with them]," she says. Her best long-term suggestion is to pick up ultrasonic devices at your local hardware store or purchase a few online. They emit vibrations and sounds that unsettle chipmunks and will keep the rodents out of your garden for good (not to worry, you won't hear a thing). "For more location-specific protection, place mesh wire over or around vulnerable plants," Matta says.

Lay Down Chicken Wire or Hardware Cloth

Protect your seedlings or bulbs by covering them with chicken wire or hardware cloth. Weigh them down further by putting rocks or mounds of soil on the edges to deter any would-be diggers from trying to lift it and get around it. Seedling shoots should still be able to shoot up through the gaps in the coverings but will be protected from tiny claws attempting to dig them out.

Clean Up Bird Seed and Debris

Fallen bird seed and other organic debris act as an open invitation for chipmunks. If you're feeding birds or have fruit trees nearby, make a habit of cleaning up anything that drops to the ground. Two simple strategies that can help: rake regularly to remove food sources and debris, and place bird feeders on poles equipped with seed-catching trays. The less food that's available at ground level, the fewer reasons chipmunks have to wander into your garden beds.