How to Keep Chipmunks Out of Your Garden

Chipmunks can be cute and entertaining to watch, but they can quickly become a nuisance in your garden by burrowing under plants, chewing on roots and bulbs, and stealing your vegetables. Keeping chipmunks out of your garden takes some persistence and consistency, but it can be done humanely without harming them. Here are the most effective methods to deter chipmunks and protect your garden.

Understand Chipmunk Behavior

To deter chipmunks effectively, it’s helpful to understand their behavior patterns and what attracts them to your yard and garden.

Chipmunks are foragers who constantly search for food. They primarily eat seeds, nuts, fruits, and some insects. Chipmunks cache food by gathering it in their cheek pouches and carrying it back to their burrows to store for winter.

Your garden is an ideal habitat because it provides food as well as places to burrow and hide. Chipmunks dig shallow burrows and intricate tunnel systems underneath plants, patios, decks, and sheds. They build nesting chambers in these burrows lined with dried grass and leaves.

Chipmunks are diurnal and most active in early morning and late afternoon. They tend to avoid open spaces and areas with a lot of human activity. Cover and hiding spots allow them to feel protected while they search for food.

Understanding these behaviors can help you identify and remove chipmunk attractions in your yard. Reducing cover, food sources, and burrowing locations will go a long way in keeping chipmunks out of your garden naturally.

Remove Cover and Hiding Spots

Chipmunks hide and build burrows under dense vegetation, woodpiles, landscaping stones, deck skirting, and structures like sheds. Removing or reducing these habitats takes away the protection they seek.

Cut back overgrown vegetation especially near garden fences and structures. Chipmunks use tall grasses and perennial flowers as cover while entering your garden.
Remove any piles of wood, sticks, leaves, compost, or debris. These become hiding and burrowing spots.
Seal off openings under porches, decks, sheds, and retaining walls with wire mesh. Use 1⁄4 inch hardware cloth or mesh to prevent burrowing without blocking water drainage.
Trim ground cover plants and shrubs to increase visibility. Dense foundation plantings provide cover for chipmunks to burrow unseen.
Space out plants and vegetables to eliminate hiding places while making it easier to spot tunnels.
Consider removing landscape rocks, mulch, and wood chips if chipmunks are hiding underneath. Replace with gravel which is less hospitable for burrowing.

Reducing cover removes protection and

Remove Food Sources

The easiest way to discourage chipmunks is to eliminate any food sources in your yard and garden. This deprives them of what they seek on your property.

Remove fallen nuts, fruits, and berries from fruit trees. Don’t allow these to accumulate on the ground.
Protect vegetable gardens with fencing. Use 1⁄2 inch mesh fencing at least 2 feet high and extending 6 inches underground to prevent burrowing underneath.
Cover seed trays and tender transplants with horticultural fleece or netting to prevent access.
Harvest vegetables as soon as they mature to decrease temptation. Timely picking also prevents rotting produce which further attracts chipmunks.
Remove bird feeders and clean up spilled seeds to reduce foraging opportunities.
Allow lawn areas to grow longer to discourage nuts and seeds from germinating. Mow regularly to disrupt hiding cover though.
Apply repellents such as hot pepper spray on vulnerable plants. Reapply after rain.
Consider planting varieties of flowers and vegetables that chipmunks tend to avoid such as onions, daffodils, foxgloves, poppies, and curry plant.

Preventing access to food sources like fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables, removes the primary attraction.

Use Predator Scent Repellents

Chipmunks have many natural predators like hawks, snakes, foxes, and coyotes. Repellents containing predator urine or scents can effectively scare chipmunks away by triggering their survival instincts.

Use coyote, fox, or bobcat urine granules or sprays around garden perimeters and potential burrow sites. Reapply weekly.
Place used pet fur, dog hair, or kitty litter near problem areas. This warns chipmunks of the presence of potential predators.
Sprinkle predator fur from local trappers or from your own pets. The smell of dogs, cats, or ferrets discourages chipmunk activity.
Install ultrasonic stakes that emit high-pitched noises only heard by chipmunks. Move these regularly to new spots.
Consider adding a outdoor dog house or cat enclosure to your yard. This reinforces predator threats.

Predator scents create an uncertain environment that deters chipmunks without harming them. Combining these with other methods strengthens the warnings.

Use Physical Barriers

Installing physical barriers can effectively block chipmunk access and prevent burrowing damage.

Bury fencing 6-12 inches underground around garden perimeters or vulnerable planting beds. Use 1⁄4 inch mesh wire fencing or hardware cloth.
Use aluminum flashing at least 12 inches high around foundation plantings to prevent digging. Bury a few inches underground.
Apply gravel mulch instead of bark or wood chips to discourage digging. Avoid pea gravel which can be pushed aside.
Place wire mesh cylinders around individual plants or rows to protect from digging and chewing.
Protect bulb beds and seed trays with hardware cloth covers secured in place. Raise these as plants grow.
Cover seeds and seedlings with floating row covers to create a protective barrier from damage.

Physical barriers like fencing, flashing, and mesh shields offer long-term protection against chipmunk burrowing and feeding.

Discourage Burrowing

Chipmunks establish complex burrow systems in lawns, under sheds, beneath porches, and in garden beds. Stopping this digging prevents damage and tunneling under plants.

Inspect regularly and fill in holes and tunnels promptly as you spot them. Persistence is key before they become entrenched.
Place thorny prunings from roses, pyracantha, blackberries or hawthorns in tunnels. Avoid puncture risks.
Introduce a gopher wire mesh lining in garden beds or beneath mulch layers to block digging through from underneath.
Apply flexible plastic lattice or grid barriers designed to discourage burrowing animals. Secure these according to package directions to stop tunneling.
Use vibration stakes or battery-operated stakes that emit vibrations into soil. These create an uncomfortable environment that deters burrowing.
Sprinkle repellents like dried chili pepper, garlic powder, or castor oil pellets into tunnels. Avoid skin contact. Reapply after rain.
Introduce a natural predator scent like coyote or fox urine into tunnels to mimic a surrounding predator threat.

Filling in holes promptly and blocking tunnel access prevents chipmunks from gaining a foothold and causing extensive damage under garden plants and borders.

Use Ultrasonic Repellents

There are a variety of battery-powered ultrasonic repellents and electronic stakes that claim to drive away burrowing pests using high-frequency sounds. These emit tones at various ultrasonic frequencies that are irritating and uncomfortable to rodents including chipmunks. They act as a supplementary deterrent.

Install battery-powered ultrasonic noise emitters around the garden perimeter and in problem areas.
Position solar-powered ultrasonic stakes near potential burrows and high activity spots. Adjust occasionally.
Look for units with varying and alternating frequency options for maximum effectiveness. Sounds can blend into background noises over time with single tones.
Ensure repellent coverage overlaps and units are situated to reach burrows and feeding locations for full garden protection.
Move and reposition units regularly to introduce new unfamiliar sounds before chipmunks become accustomed and ignore them.
Use these devices in conjunction with other deterrents. Sound alone may not be fully effective for some resilient pests.

Ultrasonic sound devices present an added line of defense against chipmunks. Evaluate their effectiveness based on ongoing activity and combine with other approaches as needed.

Apply Vibrating Stakes Near Burrows

Specialized vibrating stakes can deter burrowing pests like chipmunks through unfamiliar vibrations transmitted into the soil. When positioned near burrows or high traffic areas, the vibrations create an uncomfortable environment that chipmunks will avoid.

Place battery-powered vibrator stakes inserted into the ground along garden borders, burrows, or under sheds and porches where chipmunks are active.
Use solar-powered models designed to pulse on and off randomly throughout the day for optimal deterrence.
Adjust vibration intensity and frequency if possible based on pest response. Higher settings are more disturbing to chipmunks.
Move stakes to new locations every few days so chipmunks don’t become accustomed to the vibrations in one spot.
Ensure full garden perimeter coverage by using multiple stakes. Space these to overlap ranges for a continuous vibration barrier.
Pair with other deterrents like predator scents or hot pepper repellents applied directly into burrow openings.

The discomfort and uncertainty of random underground vibrations provides a strong motivator for chipmunks to leave and avoid the area. Strategic placement maximizes results.

Apply Castor Oil Repellent

Castor oil contains the compound ricinoleic acid that causes irritation and discomfort when ingested by burrowing pests like chipmunks. When used safely and properly, castor oil repellent can deter chipmunks from treated areas in your garden.

Apply castor oil concentrate diluted with water around vulnerable plantings, potential burrows, and garden entry points.
Use castor oil granules inserted into existing burrow openings. Sprinkle granules along potential access points.
Reapply castor oil weekly, after rain or watering, or following damage to maintain effectiveness.
Exercise caution and keep castor oil away from eyes. Avoid skin contact and never ingest castor oil products. Keep locked away from pets.
Monitor plants for phytotoxicity like leaf burn which indicates excessive application. Dilute further if necessary.
Enhance results by pairing with other deterrents such as predator scents, hot sauce, or vibratory stakes to drive away chipmunks.

Castor oil repellent adds a chemical irritant that discourages chipmunk activity through discomfort after application on and under soil. Combining with other deterrents strengthens effectiveness.

Apply Hot Pepper Repellent Sprays

Natural capsaicin-based repellents made from hot peppers can effectively deter chipmunks when sprayed around your garden. The compounds irritate membranes and discourage chewing, burrowing, or ingesting treated plants.

Use concentrated hot pepper wax or hot pepper powder diluted in water and sprayed on bulbs, seeds, tender vegetation, and perimeter garden areas.
Reapply weekly or after rain and watering. Pepper-based products wash away and will need frequent renewal.
Avoid spraying peppers directly on plant leaves or foliage. The pepper oils may cause leaf burn or damage some plants. Instead target surrounding soil areas.
Exercise caution when handling hot peppers and wash hands immediately after application. Avoid touching eyes or face before washing up.
Enhance effectiveness by adding granular applications around potential burrow sites. Sprinkle along garden borders and entry points too.
Pair with other deterrents like predator urine sprays for added protection against chipmunk burrowing and feeding damage.

The irritation of hot pepper repellents makes plants and surrounding areas unpleasant for active burrowing pests like chipmunks. Using both liquid and granular forms boosts this organic deterrent.

Install Lights in Problem Areas

Chipmunks prefer to remain hidden and avoid well-lit exposed locations. Installing lighting along garden borders, under decks, and around potential burrow sites can discourage nocturnal activity and damage.

Use continuous solar-powered LED spotlights along garden perimeters and in problem zones to extend light exposure.
Install motion-sensing lights that automatically trigger when chipmunk movement is detected around foundations, sheds, decking, or plantings.
Provide dusk-to-dawn lighting around garden borders using LED floodlights on sheds, fences or patio posts. Avoid extremely bright lights which may attract insects.
Place standalone solar-powered path or step lights around the garden and yard to eliminate dark secluded zones.
Use a mix of uplighting and downlighting focused on burrows and potential access points. Vary light placement for maximum exposure.
Keep lights unobstructed by vegetation or other objects to ensure light reaches potential burrowing and feeding areas.

Increasing light makes chipmunks feel exposed and vulnerable to predators. Sustained illumination deters nocturnal activities like burrowing or stealing fruits and vegetables.

Restrict Water Sources

Chipmunks need to drink water daily so eliminating accessible water sources helps reduce garden visits searching for hydration.

Drain or fill in small puddles, boggy spots, and standing water sources accessible to chipmunks. Remove water bowls.
Position birdbaths and fountains away from planting beds and ensure they are not leaking or overflowing into soil areas.
Place pet water bowls indoors rather than on porches or yards. Bring these in overnight.
Use a mister attachment rather than sprinklers to avoid excessive watering and puddling that can attract wildlife.
Fix any leaking hose bibs, downspouts, or underground irrigation pipes that create soggy zones. Chipmunks will dig in moist soils.
Consider lining decorative ponds or streams with rocks, gravel, or slanted sides so chipmunks cannot access the water easily.

Removing ready water access forces chipmunks to look elsewhere beyond your garden for their daily hydration needs. Don’t let your garden serve as their local watering hole.

Grow Repellent Plants

Certain plants contain natural compounds in their leaves, flowers, or oils that can deter or even be toxic to chipmunks. Incorporating these throughout your garden can make the habitat less welcoming.

Alliums like onions, garlic, chives, and leeks are pungent options that annoy chipmunks with their strong scents.
Daffodils contain toxins that cause vomiting. Plant bulbs among vegetables and around garden edges.
Lavender, thyme, sage and rosemary have strong scents chipmunks dislike. Interplant these.
Pansies and foxgloves contain saponins that cause illness when ingested.
Curry plant has a spicy scent. Marigolds release thiopene. Both irritate chipmunks.
Plant prickly plants like barberry, hollies, blackberry canes, yucca, and prickly poppies to block access.

Strategically planting repellent aromatics, irritants, and abrasives throughout your garden helps create an unwelcoming environment for chipmunks.

Apply Granular Repellents at Burrow Entries

Treating active burrow openings and access holes with certain natural repellents can discourage chipmunks from utilizing those tunnels and nesting areas.

Sprinkle dried chili powder, crushed red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper directly into burrow openings. The spicy irritant deters use. Reapply after rain.
Place pads soaked in predator urine like coyote, fox or bobcat urine into burrow openings to mimic threats. Refresh pads weekly.
Use biodegradable in ground tunnel barrier mats covered with plastic spikes, irritants, or sharp abrasives designed to pester burrowing pests.
Insert natural dried snake shed skins into tunnel openings to emit scent and mimic predator threats. Replace monthly.
Fill burrow entrances with sharp gravel or pea gravel that shifts underfoot leading to an unstable and uncomfortable environment.

Applying irritating or threatening scents, textures, and discomforts inside burrows discourages chipmunks from inhabiting those tunnels and nesting chambers.

Use a Cat or Dog to Patrol Yards

Dogs and cats are excellent hunters and deterrents for keeping small animals like chipmunks out of your garden and yard spaces. A four-legged sentry on patrol reinforces that your property is an undesirable habitat occupied by predators.

Allow your dog or cat access to patrol your garden borders and potential burrow locations. Their scent and presence alone often discourages pests.
Make sure pets are supervised for safety and unable to dig up or damage your garden. Pay attention as some dogs and cats may actually catch chipmunks as prey.
Dogs that dislike chasing small animals can still be effective deterrents. Set up a dog run or install stakes allowing your dog access near vulnerable garden areas while preventing damage.
Play canine or predator sounds on speakers to simulate dog presence. Try coyote howls, dog barking or growling sounds. Change the location of speakers periodically.
Install a outdoor dog house in your yard as a warning even if you don’t have a dog. Place worn dog or cat beds inside. Refresh bedding with fur.

Dogs and cats reinforce your garden is already staked out predator territory. Their presence and scents often deter pests from moving in.

Apply Mothballs Near Problem Areas

The strong scents released from mothballs containing either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene can effectively repel chipmunks away from treated zones in gardens.

Place mothballs into empty toilet paper rolls or small mesh bags. Secure these with twine and hang near potential burrow locations and garden entry points.
Partially bury mesh bags of mothballs along border areas where chipmunks are entering the garden. Mark locations to retrieve bags later.
Stuff toilet paper rolls containing mothballs into underground burrow openings. The fumes will permeate throughout tunnel systems as a repellent. Monitor for toxicity.
Use gloves when handling mothballs and wash hands immediately after. Avoid inhaling fumes. Never ingest mothballs or allow exposure to skin.
Monitor effectiveness and adjust mothball placements accordingly if chipmunk