The Common Kitchen Spice That Keeps Chipmunks From Destroying Your Garden

With their striped tails, round cheeks, and mischievous personalities, it's easy to see why people find chipmunks so adorable. It's also easy to forget that these cute little animals belong to the rodent family, along with mice and rats. Though they have some delightful characteristics, chipmunks also have a few other traits that aren't so charming, especially when they live in your garden. These little animals travel from place to place by digging tunnels under your lawn, below your sidewalk, and through your pansies. This mischievous behavior and network of tunnels can cause widespread destruction to your garden before you're even aware that the chipmunks are there. Much of what they love to eat is found in the garden, such as seeds, roots, and flowers, and they particularly enjoy tomatoes and strawberries. The good news is that there's an easy way to deter chipmunks from your garden before they take over. Sprinkle some cinnamon around your plants as an effective, inexpensive, and humane way to protect your garden before the these little scavengers eat one more tulip bulb.

The reason that cinnamon works as a deterrent is because chipmunks are very sensitive to smells. It's how they find that perfect plant that's ripe for the taking, and it's also how they are alerted when danger is nearby, such as when a cat walks into the yard. Cinnamon's strong odor is too spicy for their sensitive noses, and it can overwhelm a chipmunk that depends on scent for direction.

The simplest way to create a barrier between your plants and these striped scavengers is to sprinkle cinnamon on the ground throughout the garden, so that its scent will overpower any chipmunks who come near. You can also pour a few drops of cinnamon essential oil into a spray bottle filled with water for a truly potent spray that is sure to linger. Another way to create a spray is by making "tea" — steep a few cinnamon sticks in some hot water, allow it to cool, and then spray it around your garden. These cinnamon sticks can also come in handy simply by placing them in potted plants or around the perimeter of the area. Further, the spice will not harm your plants. In fact, a sprinkle of cinnamon may even make your garden thrive by serving as a fungicide and a stimulant for soil nutrition.

Once chipmunks have moved into your yard, it can be difficult to get rid of them. For this reason, it's better to prevent them from taking up residence in the first place. Use a variety of these methods to protect your plants, and be sure to reapply after it rains so that the scent of the spice remains strong. Using cinnamon as a deterrent is simple and cost effective, so keeping your spray bottle handy will allow you to be able to keep your tulips intact.