Keep Pests Out of Your Garden with Cayenne Peppers (2024)

Key Takeaways

Cayenne pepper deters garden pests with capsaicin, causing discomfort but not harm.
Use cayenne pepper powder or spray to repel pests in a humane and safe way.
Keep pests away from your plants by applying cayenne pepper strategically and consistently.

If you're looking for an all-natural pest control option in your garden, look no further than cayenne peppers! While there are many beneficial health effects of cayenne peppers for humans, like reducing inflammation, stimulating digestion, and increasing your metabolism, did you know this hot pepper is actually detrimental to your garden pests?

According to various studies, there are a variety of different animals and insects that detest the smell and taste of cayenne pepper as it contains an active compound known as capsaicin. With a few simple strategies and techniques, keep pesky garden visitors away from your precious plants with spicy peppers!

From squirrels and mice to spider mites and aphids, find out why these pests dislike cayenne pepper. Discover how to use cayenne peppers for pest control, cayenne pepper benefits, and how to properly apply it in your home garden.

Why Does Cayenne Pepper Deter Garden Pests?

Keep animals and insects out of your garden

Keep Pests Out of Your Garden with Cayenne Peppers (1)

Cayenne pepper harvest in the garden

So, you may be asking yourself, why does cayenne pepper deter garden pests? There are quite a few cayenne pepper benefits for your garden, aside from enjoying its spicy fruit, and the most useful one is discouraging unwanted visitors.

Health Effects of Cayenne Pepper on Animals and Insects

Various pests like squirrels, mice, raccoons, skunks, and rabbits despise the strong scent of cayenne pepper and typically steer clear of it, making it a great all-natural choice for pest control. Like all hot peppers, cayenne pepper contains an active compound called capsaicin. Capsaicin is a known irritant for these animals and some insects, as it overwhelms their senses and makes them uncomfortable.

While it won't cause any serious harm to animals, it will kill off pesky insects. Capsaicin can also be used as a natural insecticide to ward off insects like spider mites, lace bugs, aphids, and beetles. When applied to the foliage of your plants, capsaicin causes severe damage and nervous system dysfunction in insects that typically feed on the leaves of your plants, often resulting in death.

How to Use Cayenne Pepper to Get Rid of Pests

A natural pest control option for your garden

Keep Pests Out of Your Garden with Cayenne Peppers (2)

Sprinkle Cayenne Pepper Powder Around Your Plants

Ideal for: squirrels, mice, raccoons, skunks, and rabbits

To keep away small animals, try sprinkling a decent amount of cayenne pepper powder around your garden plants. Once these animals catch a whiff of cayenne, they are less likely to frequent your garden. By regularly applying cayenne pepper powder, squirrels and other pests will avoid digging in your containers and garden beds, or nibbling on the fruit of your edible plants nearby.

Step 1: Identify Where to Apply	First, identify areas of your garden where squirrels and other animals frequently enter your garden. Also, take note of specific plants, containers, or garden beds that they tend to dig in or destroy.
Step 1: Sprinkle Cayenne Pepper Powder	Wearing gloves, sprinkle ½ cup to 1 cup (depending on your garden size) of cayenne powder around the garden, scattering in a thin layer. Generously apply the powder directly at the soil level and in any areas where these pests may enter your garden.
Step 2: Reapply as Needed	Reapply cayenne pepper powder every few days, especially after heavy rainfall or high winds. Over time, the powder will disintegrate or wash away, so in order to be the most potent and effective, reapply as needed.

Using cayenne pepper powder is one of the most humane ways to discourage pests. While there are some negative health effects of cayenne pepper for small animals, like burning and itching, capsaicin is not lethal and will not cause any serious harm to their health.

Use a Cayenne Pepper Spray on Plant Foliage

Ideal for: spider mites, lace bugs, aphids, and beetles

Another way to use cayenne pepper in the garden to repel pests is to make a DIY homemade repellent spray for your plants! Cayenne pepper spray is a natural pest control solution that works best for unwanted insects, but it also discourages squirrels and other small animals because of its strong smell. By thoroughly spraying the leaves of your garden plants, this repellent spray will kill off any infestations already on your plants, and prevent new ones from occurring.

Step 1: Make Your Homemade Repellent	To make your pepper spray, use dried or ground cayenne peppers. Wearing gloves, mix 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper powder with 1 gallon of water and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Adding soap helps the mixture to stick to the leaves better when applying it to your plants.
Step 2: Spray Foliage	Next, thoroughly spray the foliage of your plants, saturating both the top and bottom of the leaves. If your plant already has a bad insect infestation, blast them with water from your garden hose first, then spray your repellent afterward to kill off any remaining insects. Make sure to heavily spray any areas where you see multiple insects and, if necessary, trim and remove any decaying leaves.
Step 3: Reapply as Needed	Continue to reapply your homemade repellent every few days as needed, especially after heavy rainfall and if you continue to see insects on your plants.

Keep Pests at Bay with Cayenne Pepper

Growing cayenne pepper benefits not only you but your garden too! Instead of reaching for harmful solutions to control insects and pests in your garden, opt for an all-natural pest control alternative by using cayenne peppers. Make a homemade repellent to fight off insect infestations or sprinkle cayenne pepper powder around your plants to prevent squirrels and other animals from destroying your crops. The best part is that there are no serious health effects of cayenne pepper on small animals, so you don't have to worry about harming any of your furry friends. Instead, keep them out of your garden for good with a natural solution that is cost-effective and easy to apply!