The Aluminum Foil Hack People Use To Keep Chipmunks Out Of Flower Pots

Chipmunks may be cute, but they can cause a lot of damage to your garden and plants if left unchecked. These critters love to spend time burrowing in dirt and eating organic materials such as roots and leaves. If they've been getting into potted plants on your porch or patio, there are some steps you can take to stop them.

Among the many hacks that claim to keep chipmunks out of your garden and deter them from flower pots is to use aluminum foil. Fortunately, this hack does tend to work pretty well. Chipmunks are startled by shiny objects such as aluminum foil, CDs, and similar items. They don't like walking on aluminum foil and are likely to stay away if they notice it. Unlike some methods for deterring chipmunks and squirrels, this method is also completely safe and won't harm these rodents in any way.

To repel chipmunks, simply hang up a shiny object such as aluminum foil near a flower pot or attach it to the flower pot. One of the best options is to simply place it on top of the soil in the same container where you're growing a plant. Stretch it over the soil and poke a few holes in the aluminum to allow water and moisture to pass through. Chipmunks will be deterred by the shine and feel of the aluminum and won't want to dig through. They'll likely stay away from your plant as a result.

Although this hack can potentially do a great job of repelling chipmunks from flower pots, consider using it along with other methods. Another way to keep chipmunks away is to use certain scents near and around your potted plants. Deterrents that may work well include garlic, peppermint, chili peppers, eucalyptus, and citrus. Cinnamon can also keep chipmunks out of your garden and flower pots. You may also want to consider companion planting to achieve the same result by growing plants that they don't like in your flower pots. Daffodils, for example, double as an easy and humane chipmunk repellent. 

As an alternative, you may add chicken wire or another physical barrier around your flower pots. You can either place chicken wire over the soil or around the entire pot. Also, consider adding topdressings such as a large mulch or rocks to discourage chipmunks and make it harder for them to reach your plants. In addition to chicken wire or aluminum foil, you can consider using a pre-made animal-repellent mat on top of the soil. These barriers rest on top of the soil and feature spikes or unpleasant textures that make it difficult for an animal to reach your plants.