What Plants Keep Raccoons Away?

Raccoons are scavengers that will try to find food anywhere they can, including your yard and garden where there’s plenty of plants, fruits, and vegetables to devour. Fortunately, you can turn the tables on the pests by planting aromatic plants that raccoons strongly dislike. Here are some plants you can get to help drive raccoons away from your property.

Natural Raccoon-repelling Plants

There are a variety of fruits and vegetables you can plant in your yard that raccoons can’t stand, such as:

• Thorny plants: Squash and cucumbers have thorns on their vines that act as defense mechanisms. Raccoons have sensitive paws and won’t like touching or walking on these plants.
  
  
• Spicy peppers: Peppers contain capsaicin, a spicy compound that raccoons avoid. Raccoons hate spicy food and won’t return to your garden if they accidentally eat one of your peppers. Even the smell of chilis or black pepper can be enough to drive raccoons away.
  
  
• Tomatoes: Raccoons aren’t very selective when it comes to what they eat, but they’ll avoid acidic plants. Plump, red tomatoes have enough acidity to keep them away.
  
  
• Strong scents: Raccoons rely on their sense of smell to determine what’s safe to eat. Their perceptive noses can easily be overwhelmed with strong scents such as garlic or peppermint. Not only can these plants keep raccoons away, but they are also easy-to-maintain herbs that can spice up your dishes.

Do Plants Keep Raccoons Away? 

While the above plants may deter raccoons away from your garden for a short period of time, they are not a permanent solution to get rid of a raccoon infestation. To evict nuisance raccoons for good, you’ll need the expertise of a licensed and trained raccoon removal professional.

Effective Raccoon Removal Services Near You

The experienced raccoon removal professionals at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh will quickly and safely remove nuisance wildlife and keep them from returning to your Pennsylvania property. Schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate by calling Critter Control® of Pittsburgh today at 412-767-4067.