6 Plants That Repel and Keep Groundhogs Out of Your Yard

Have you noticed large bite marks in your tomato garden? Or flowers and plants torn up with no suspect in sight? You may need to consider that you’re dealing with a hungry and sneaky groundhog . As sweet and lovable as groundhogs are, they are also destructive. These common garden pests love vegetation and will munch on nearly anything growing in your yard.Groundhogs are excellent diggers. They use their claws to create long burrows under the ground.

Even when they create burrows and don’t directly mess with your plants, it can harm your garden. Groundhogs can create burrows through thick roots, destroying plants in the process. Before you call pest control, look into plants that repel and keep groundhogs away. Although they love vegetation, there are some plants they won’t touch. Keep reading to discover six plants that repel and keep groundhogs out of your yard.

Garlic

A great way to repel groundhogs from your garden is to plant garlic. You can either plant garlic or place garlic cloves or powder in your garden. Either way, groundhogs won’t want to stay. The super strong scent drives them away.

Garlic is an excellent fall crop to plant. The best time to plant garlic bulbs depends on your USDA growing zone, but it’s typically from September to November. This plant thrives in full sun and well-draining soil.

Chives

Chives can also drive groundhogs away. Even if groundhogs do stay in your yard, they’ll keep away from this fragrant plant. According to Penn State University , while groundhogs eat a lot of vegetation, they tend to stay away from chives.

So, how do you grow chives? Chives are easy to grow. They do best in cool weather and are often planted from fall to spring for a late spring and early summer harvest. Chives also spread quickly. If you aren’t careful, they can take over your garden. This is probably a good thing though if you’re looking to scare away groundhogs.

Thyme

Also on our list of plants that repel and keel groundhogs out of your yard is thyme . This sweet-smelling and gorgeous herb produces tiny yet stunning purple flowers. They are a great addition to your garden if you’re looking to repel or deter groundhogs while also adding a pop of color.

Groundhogs don’t like thyme. You won’t have to worry about these animals eating your thyme plants or roughing the soil near them. Thyme grows best in full sun during spring. The seeds take weeks to germinate.

Foxglove

Foxglove flowers are absolutely breathtaking in gardens. They are showy plants that produce a long stem of flowers that are hard to look away from. Thankfully, groundhogs don’t feel the same way. They prefer not to chew on foxglove leaves or flowers. Foxglove flowers are also deer-resistant.

Foxglove flowers are easy to grow. They prefer full sun with some light afternoon shade and can be planted in the ground and in containers. They flower during spring and summer.

Snapdragon

Another groundhog-repelling and resistant plant is the snapdragon. This lovely flower is a cool-season plant that groundhogs could care less about. Deer also rarely consumes or interacts with snapdragons. Not only do they repel garden pests, but snapdragons are stunning and showy flowers. They are perfect for filling up space in your garden.

Snapdragons love the sun. They thrive in full sun with minimal shade. The more shade, the smaller the blooms. Snapdragons bloom during spring and early summer, often stopping with summer heat.

Lemon Balm

Last but not least on our list of groundhog-resistant and repelling plants is lemon balm. This delicious herb has a strong and sweet scent. It’s a mixture of lemon and mint, which deters groundhogs. It also keeps your garden looking and smelling fresh.

This spring and mild winter favorite grows best in cool weather with shade. Too much sun can cause the plant to shrivel up. It’s a great plant for small spaces and can also be planted in containers.

Other Ways to Repel Groundhogs

Plants might not be enough to permanently get rid of groundhogs. If you’re still facing problems with groundhogs even after planting things like mint, thyme, and lemon balm, consider chasing them away. One way to do this is by cleaning out your yard. Find their hole which they use as their burrow. Clear the area of debris and shade. Groundhogs love to hide if they don’t have a hiding spot, they may look for another.

Another way to get rid of groundhogs is to scare them with DIY gadgets and garden accessories. For instance, you can add brightly colored pinwheels that move with the wind. The sudden movement can frighten them. Some gardeners even add pointy plastic forks with spikes up in containers and near prized plants.

Up Next:

• 13 Plants That Repel and Keep Deer Away
• 7 Plants That Repel and Keep Dogs Out of Your Yard
• 7 Plants That Repel and Keep Chipmunks Out of Your Yard

The post 6 Plants That Repel and Keep Groundhogs Out of Your Yard appeared first on A-Z Animals .