Cheap Hacks to Keep Pests from Your Plants
Simple, cheap solutions to keep birds, deer, and rodents away from your garden and deck.
Miss Z
5/26/2026
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There’s nothing more frustrating than getting your garden planted and your deck plants set up, only to wake up one morning, look outside, and see your plants mangled and eaten. It’s actually more than frustrating; it’s heartbreaking. I’ve been on a budget the past several years, so investing in building a new structure or fence to keep the deer, rabbits, birds, and voles out, has not been an option. However, that has led me to do a bunch of research into what some cheaper alternatives might be - nothing over $30 here! I’ve personally tried all of these and have had really great success. Hoping these cheap hacks can keep your plants and produce from meeting an early demise.
Bird Scare Streamers
First off, these streamers are excellent at scaring the birds off. I’ve used them in a variety of ways. I’ve cut strips and tied them to wooden bamboo stakes in my garden around my leafy greens. Afterwards, I didn’t see any more rips in my rainbow chard from the birds. I’ve also tied strips to the edges of my deck where the robins would just sit and poop. That kept them away completely. My sister even borrowed some to tie on top of her kids’ swingset to keep the birds from perching there and pooping on the swings. Cheap (under $10), simple, and effective!
Cayenne Pepper
Pests don’t want to breathe this stuff in anymore than we do. Line garden fences to keep the voles out or sprinkle around flower beds to keep the rabbits away. You do have to reapply after big rainstorms though. Just be careful that the wind isn’t blowing in your direction as you apply it.
Netting
I find early in the season, there are certain seedlings or blooming flowers that the birds or rabbits will go after. This is a great solution to protect them long enough to get established in the ground. I’m sharing the Amazon link, if that’s what is most convenient for you, but honestly, you can get these much cheaper at your local Dollar Store - which will keep you well under that $30 price.
Apparently, there is something about the smell of Irish Spring Soap specifically that deer do not like. I’ll halve a soap bar, then take a large drill bit and drill a hole right through the center of each half. I’ll then use a thin rope to tie around each bar half to hang from hooks or stakes around my short fence to deter the deer. You can also hang the soap from fruit trees - my neighbor does that. Another tip would be to take a cheese grater and grate the soap to create a perimeter on the ground around your plants to keep away smaller animals.
Glue traps are another more well known method to keep the rodents out of your garden. I’ve had a lot of success with glue traps, as opposed to just basic mouse traps or putting out the traps with the poisonous granules inside. The key is to look for their run path. They are habitual in where they like to run - around the edges or through between the same two plants in your garden. So try to identify their path instead of just placing on the corners, and you’ll have quick success with the glue traps on your mice and voles.
Pinwheels are another cheap, easy item to put in your garden and deck planters. Much like the streamers, the movement and reflection helps to scare away birds. Plus, the kids can play with them too!
Depending on what supplies you already have around the house, this bird control hack may be completely free. All you need are some landscaping stones, red paint, and a gold or yellow sharpie marker. Just spray paint the stones. Once dry, dot each one with the gold or yellow marker to create some faux strawberries to fool the birds away from your berry patch. Place them out early in the season to peck at, which will then discourage the birds from returning once the real strawberries form. I’ve been doing this for years in my strawberry planter on my deck, and I haven’t had a single strawberry eaten.
While netting isn’t a new trick or anything, I do think it is overlooked by many. I have had a ton of success keeping netting around my chard, kale and radishes. For the last few years, I’ve put a net around my green beans that I plant from seed. What a difference that made! No seeds were eaten by the birds, and no critters got at the plants as they produced beans. These nets are sturdy and reusable too - mine are going on their sixth summer now with no holes or rips.
Wire Wastebaskets
Irish Spring Soap
Glue Traps
Reflective Pinwheels
Strawberry Stones
Military Gnome
And when all else fails, Military Gnome to the rescue! Strategically place him amongst your veggies and planters to scare the vermin away! I’m joking, of course. But I do love seeing this guy out there ‘protecting’ my plants.
Thank you for reading! I hope this list helps you protect your plants and enjoy your outdoor space this summer!
