Complete Gardening
Imagine waking up to find your trash scattered across the yard, paw prints trailing across your porch, and your carefully tended garden turned into a midnight snack bar.
Frustrating, right? Raccoons may be clever and cute, but when they invade your space, they bring nothing but chaos.
The good news? You don’t need traps or harsh chemicals to keep them away. Nature has its own secret weapons! In this post, we’ll reveal 25 powerful plants that not only enhance your garden’s beauty but also act as natural raccoon deterrents.
From fragrant herbs that overwhelm their senses to spiky bushes they’d rather avoid, these plants will help you reclaim your yard—without the nightly raccoon raids.
Ready to outsmart these furry intruders? Let’s dive in!
1. Curry Plant
The Curry Plant, with its aromatic leaves and delicate yellow flowers, serves as a natural raccoon deterrent. Its strong, spicy fragrance is pleasant to humans but unappealing to raccoons, making it an excellent addition to your garden.
2. Wormwood
Wormwood, with its silvery foliage and bitter aroma, acts as a natural barrier against raccoons. Its strong scent is off-putting to raccoons, ensuring they stay at bay.
3. Perilla
Perilla, often recognized for its culinary uses, doubles as a raccoon deterrent with its pungent aroma. This hardy plant is both beautiful and practical, making it a great addition to your yard.
4. Society Garlic
Society Garlic, with its charming purple flowers and garlicky scent, acts as an effective raccoon repellent. The scent, while mild to humans, is potent enough to keep raccoons away without disrupting your garden’s ambiance.
5. Marigolds
Marigolds are not only beautiful with their vibrant colors, but their strong scent is known to deter raccoons. Plant them as a border around your garden to keep raccoons and other pests away.
6. Rosemary
Rosemary’s strong scent is unappealing to raccoons. Utilize rosemary in your garden landscape to create an aromatic barrier that keeps raccoons at bay.
7. Sage
Sage is another aromatic herb that raccoons avoid. Incorporate sage into your garden design for a fragrant, raccoon-repelling touch.
8. Castor Bean
The Castor Bean plant is known for its stunning foliage and formidable raccoon-repelling properties. Its leaves exude a scent that is unpleasant to raccoons, while its seeds, though toxic, add an extra layer of deterrent.
9. Peppermint
Peppermint’s potent aroma is another effective raccoon deterrent. Plant peppermint near entry points to your garden or use peppermint oil to create a raccoon-repelling barrier.
10. Chives
Chives contain sulfur compounds that are effective in deterring raccoons. Planting chives in your garden not only keeps raccoons away but also adds flavor to your culinary dishes.
11. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus’s strong scent is a natural deterrent for raccoons. Plant eucalyptus in your garden to enjoy its aromatic benefits while keeping raccoons at a distance.
12. Lavender
Lavender’s soothing scent is a delight for humans, but raccoons find it overwhelming. Planting lavender around the perimeter of your garden can create a fragrant barrier that deters these nocturnal visitors.
13. Basil
Basil’s fragrant leaves are not favored by raccoons. Use basil plants in your garden to add a fresh aroma while naturally deterring unwanted raccoon visitors.
14. Garlic
The strong aroma of garlic is unpleasant to raccoons. Incorporate garlic plants into your garden, or use garlic sprays, to effectively repel raccoons and protect your crops.
15. Oregano
Oregano’s pungent aroma is a natural raccoon deterrent. Incorporate oregano into your garden for its aromatic benefits and to keep raccoons at bay.
16. Dill
Dill’s strong scent is not appealing to raccoons. Use dill in your garden to create a fragrant, raccoon-repelling environment.
17. Onions
Onions emit a pungent smell that raccoons dislike. Planting onions throughout your garden can serve as a natural raccoon deterrent, while also providing a staple ingredient for your kitchen.
18. Mint
Mint’s potent aroma is known to repel raccoons effectively. Incorporate mint into your garden to create a fresh and raccoon-free space.
19. Fennel
Fennel has a strong scent that raccoons dislike. Plant fennel in your yard to utilize its natural repelling properties while enjoying its culinary uses.
20. Coriander
Coriander’s distinct aroma can deter raccoons. Plant coriander in your garden to add a unique scent that keeps raccoons away while enhancing your cooking.
21. Catnip
While catnip is adored by cats, raccoons are less enthusiastic about its scent. Plant catnip in your garden to deter raccoons while entertaining your feline friends.
22. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm’s citrusy aroma is unappealing to raccoons. Use lemon balm plants around your garden to create a refreshing, raccoon-repellent environment.
23. Tansy
Tansy has a strong aroma that deters raccoons. Plant tansy in your garden for its vibrant flowers and to naturally keep raccoons away.
24. Rue
Rue’s aromatic foliage is effective in repelling raccoons. Use rue in your garden to create a visually appealing and raccoon-deterring landscape.
25. Thyme
The earthy aroma of thyme is effective in keeping raccoons away. Plant thyme around your garden or near entry points to discourage raccoons from entering.