How to Make a Garden-Safe Pepper Spray to Deter Pests

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Use the power of capsaicin to ward off deer, rabbits, and other animals
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Animals like rabbits, deer, and squirrels can be bothersome if they eat your garden and bird food. But a simple hot pepper spray from cayenne, chili, or jalapeno peppers, which contains an irritating compound called capsaicin, can keep pests away. We’ll show you how to make and apply this DIY organic garden spray, and share other ways to protect your garden from pests.

Cayenne Pepper Spray for Plants

  1. Simmer 1 gallon of water and 3 tbsp of pepper flakes in a pot for 15 minutes.
  2. Let the mixture cool and set for 24 hours.
  3. Strain any flakes or other solids out of the mixture.
  4. Stir in 2 tsp of biodegradable dish soap.
  5. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it on your plants in the morning or evening.
Section 1 of 3:

Making Hot Pepper Spray

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  1. Paragon Pest Control tells us that hot peppers have a compound in them called capsaicin, which is an irritant to most animals if they smell or taste it, and so makes an effective repellant. Cooking the pepper flakes in the water will help to release the capsaicin into the water and make the mixture more potent.
    • To make the spray more potent, or if you don’t have hot pepper flakes available, use 10-15 blended cayenne or jalapeno peppers, instead, and include the seeds. [1]

    Tip: If you’re dealing with larger pests, like bears or moose, add an additional 2-3 tbsp (10.6-15.9 g) of hot pepper flakes to the mixture to make the spray more potent.

  2. Move the pot onto a burner and cover it with a lid. Wait for the water to reach a boil, and lower the temperature to medium heat. Then, stir the mixture regularly as it cooks to infuse the pepper into the water. [2]
    • For added potency, add a diced white onion or 10-12 smashed cloves of garlic.
    • Your eyes may start to water if there’s a lot of steam rising from the pot. Try to keep your face away from the steam, and leave the pot partially covered while you stir.
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  3. After the heating process is over, the spray needs to infuse for a longer period of time to become as potent as possible. [3] Leave the pot covered and place it in a safe area to diffuse the pepper flavor into the water. [4]
    • Optionally, blend the mixture in a blender after it cools to let the capsaicin and other deterrents mingle and set. [5]
    • Let the mixture set for up to 48 hours for a more potent infusion.
  4. Pour the liquid through a sieve or cheesecloth , and gather the water in a large pot under the sieve. This will separate the flakes and other solids from the water, leaving only the hot pepper spray behind. [6]
    • Since you’re going to be spraying the liquid, you don’t want the hot peppers suspended in the water. They can clog the spray bottle, making your spray less effective.
    • Discard or compost the strained solids.
  5. The dish soap helps the spray stick to the plants and other areas when you spray it outside. Make sure you only add the soap to the liquid after the pepper flakes have been strained out of the water. If they’re still in the water, the soap will stick to the flakes and get strained out. [7]
    • Try using a castile soap , which is biodegradable and safe for outdoor use. It won’t harm your plants or soil, but is powerful enough to add some sticking power to the spray.
  6. Use a funnel to make this easier. Label the spray bottle to prevent a mix-up, and write the date on the outside since the spray will be most effective if used within 2-3 months. When you’re ready to use the spray, make sure the cap and nozzle are secured, and shake the bottle vigorously. [8]
    • If you get some liquid on your hands as you’re pouring it into the bottle, avoid touching your face, and immediately wash your hands to prevent irritation.
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Section 2 of 3:

Applying the Spray to Get Rid of Pests

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  1. Paragon Pest Control says the spray works by giving animals a bit of a shock when they eat sprayed plants. In the morning or evening, head outside and mist the leaves, stems, and soil surrounding the plants that the deer and rabbits like best. Make sure you spray every part of the plant that you want to protect, since the animals can sometimes eat around the unsprayed parts. [9]
    • This spray is organic and safe for most plants, including ornamentals, crops, trees, and shrubs. If you're not sure how sensitive plants will react to the spray, test a small area of a leaf first. Wait 4 days to see if there’s a reaction before applying more.
    • Keep a close eye on plants like ivy, ferns, succulents, palms, tomatoes, and azaleas, which are known to be sensitive to insecticides and pesticides.
    • Never apply the spray in the middle of the day, as the heat from the sun can cause the spray to “bake” the leaves and kill the plant.

    Caution: If you have pets in your yard, like cats and dogs, partition off any areas that you've sprayed. Your pets can experience discomfort and burning sensations if they come in contact with or eat vegetation that has been sprayed with hot peppers.

  2. According to Paragon Pest Control, squirrels are very sensitive to the active ingredient in peppers. Meanwhile, birds are not. [10] Spray the mixture on your bird feeder and onto the seeds inside the feeder. When the squirrels eat the seeds, they’ll experience a burning sensation in their mouths and won’t revisit the bird feeder. [11]
    • This also means that the spray won’t prevent birds from snacking on your plants, so use other deterrents for birds .

    Other Ways to Repel Squirrels

    Sprinkle hot pepper flakes in your garden to deter them. If squirrels are digging up your mulch and eating your plants, lay the flakes in the squirrels' favorite spots.

    Set up wind chimes and pinwheels to create noise and movement. Position pinwheels and wind chimes throughout your garden to scare squirrels away.

    Try mixing cayenne powder with petroleum jelly. If you have squirrels who like to climb poles or hang from ledges, mix 1 teaspoon (5.3 g) of cayenne powder into 3 tablespoons (40 g) of petroleum jelly. Then, smear the jelly in the places where they're climbing and running to deter them.

  3. Most commercial bear sprays are essentially extremely potent pepper spray. [12] To make your own emergency spray, replace the flakes in the spray recipe with 24 large chopped cayenne peppers, and reduce the amount of water to 2 cups (470 mL). If you have bears visiting your yard, spray the areas that they frequent. [13]
    • Important: Use this spray only as a passive deterrent. Always carry certified, commercial bear spray when traveling on foot through bear territory.
    • Remember to keep pets away from the sprayed areas to avoid injury, especially if you're using a potent spray.
  4. Unfortunately, the spray won’t last forever on plants, and is washed away by rain or regular watering. Apply it your garden once per week during the spring, summer, and fall to ensure that your plants are protected from pests. If it rains at any point, apply the spray again as soon as possible to deter deer, rabbits, and squirrels. [14]
    • If you notice the animal pests have been avoiding the areas that you’ve sprayed, but have chosen new targets in your garden, Paragon Pest Control advises spraying as many plants as you can. Eventually, the animals will learn that your garden is unsafe and will look for food elsewhere.

    Hot pepper spray can also deter soft-body insects, like mayflies, aphids, caterpillars, and maggots. The spray will irritate their outer shells, causing them to migrate to a different plant, but it won't kill them on contact.

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Section 3 of 3:

Other Ways to Deter Garden Pests

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  1. The best defense against garden pests is a physical barrier. Construct a tall fence (8–9 ft (2.4–2.7 m)) that deer can’t leap over, and which extends 6–12 in (15–30 cm) underground, so rabbits can’t dig under it. Chicken wire makes an excellent fencing material that keeps both large and small animals away. [15]
    • Many gardeners also add a “ceiling” of chicken wire to their fenced gardens so that climbing pests, like raccoons, can’t get in.
  2. Marigolds are one of the best deterrent crops—rabbits, deer, and other pests don’t like the flavor or aroma, and may turn away if they see it. [16] Plant marigolds around the perimeter of your garden to act as a sort of shield.
    • Other deterrent plants include lavender, catnip, garlic, and onions.
  3. Animals have to eat plants sprayed with pepper spray for it to work. To keep animals out of your garden altogether, use odor-based repellents . Look for ingredients like dried blood, garlic, cloves, cinnamon, or eggs, and spray them on the ground all around the garden. [17]
    • Also, animals might build a tolerance for the pepper spray, so it’s best to rotate through different repellants, swapping for a new one each month.
  4. Prey animals that munch on your plants won’t munch so much if they think they’re in danger. Some gardeners hang old CDs or reflective tape from trees to “flash” animals. You might also install motion-activated noise machines or sprinklers. [18]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    I added cayenne pepper to water and both sprayers seized up when I sprayed it. Why? And what can I do to prevent that?
    Community Answer
    I learned this the hard way also. Any kind of powder will clog up a sprayer. It's best to use large pepper flakes, cook them as specified here, then strain them with a fine mesh strainer. Cheesecloth inside the strainer prevents small particles from leaching through.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 49
  • Question
    Squirrels are chewing on my wood porch and steps. Will this spray help with this problem?
    Community Answer
    It should repel all rodents, including squirrels. When sprayed on a non-organic surface it may come off more easily and is almost guaranteed to wash off when it's raining, so you'll have to apply it more frequently. Because you will be walking on the steps, make sure that you don't accidentally get it in your eyes (it sounds odd, but it's amazing how substances can get from one surface to another so easily, eventually getting into the worst places).
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Does this pepper spray work on rats?
    Community Answer
    No. But peppermint oil does! Just a few drops will be sufficient to make the rats disappear.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Warnings

      • Avoid touching your face, eyes, or mouth after spraying the liquid. Wash your hands as soon as possible to prevent irritation.
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        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      • Do not use hot pepper spray near lakes, streams, or ponds. The effect on aquatic life is unknown and it may harm your backyard fish.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      • Capsaicin is extremely toxic to bees and other beneficial pollinators, if your garden depends on them consider using a different repellent. [19]
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        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Although this spray can help, especially with squirrels, some animals might be resistant and not bothered by it, says Paragon Pest Control.
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        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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      Things You’ll Need

      • Large pot
      • 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water
      • 3 tbsp (15.9 g) of pepper flakes
      • 10-15 cayenne or jalapeno peppers (optional)
      • 1 white onion (optional)
      • 10-12 smashed garlic cloves (optional)
      • 2 tsp (10 mL) of biodegradable dish soap
      • Sieve
      • Spray bottle

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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about pest control, check out our in-depth interview with Paragon Pest Control .

      References

      1. ↑ https://archive.organicgrowersschool.org/ask-ruth-hot-pepper-spray/
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FXoQ1y_UWo&t=66s
      3. ↑ https://www.finegardening.com/article/garlic-and-chile-insecticidal-soap-spray
      4. ↑ https://oldworldgardenfarms.com/2013/07/16/battle-pests-garlic-spray/
      5. ↑ https://archive.organicgrowersschool.org/ask-ruth-hot-pepper-spray/
      6. ↑ https://oldworldgardenfarms.com/2013/07/16/battle-pests-garlic-spray/
      7. ↑ https://archive.organicgrowersschool.org/ask-ruth-hot-pepper-spray/
      8. ↑ https://archive.organicgrowersschool.org/ask-ruth-hot-pepper-spray/
      9. ↑ https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/deerdeter3.html
      1. ↑ https://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=760961
      2. ↑ https://www.smilinggardener.com/organic-pest-control/how-to-keep-squirrels-out-of-the-garden/
      3. ↑ https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/species/livingwithwildlife/bears/pdfs/bear_spray_what_you_should_know.pdf
      4. ↑ https://goneoutdoors.com/homemade-bear-repellent-7933623.html
      5. ↑ https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/deerdeter3.html
      6. ↑ https://northerngardener.org/battling-bunnies-garden/
      7. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/news/keeping-animals-out-your-garden
      8. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/news/keeping-animals-out-your-garden
      9. ↑ https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/pnw-719-manage-wildlife-conflicts-your-home-garden
      10. ↑ http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/Capgen.pdf

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to make hot pepper spray for controlling pests, start by boiling 1 gallon of water with 3 tablespoons of hot pepper flakes. Once the water is boiling, let the mixture simmer for 15 minutes, and then remove the pot from heat to soak the pepper flakes for 24 hours. After a day of soaking, strain the flakes out of the water, and mix 2 teaspoons of dish soap into the liquid. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle, and spray it on any plants that you want to protect from hungry animals, For tips on using the spray to get rid of squirrels in your bird feeder, scroll down!

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