Households urged to sprinkle 75p kitchen staple in garden to keep 3 pests away

If pests like foxes, rats and pigeons are intruding on your , there is one effective and humane way to get rid of them – without damaging your . Better still, you likely have it in your kitchen cupboard.

There are few things worse than spending all year cultivating your only to have it picked apart by greedy animals. Pigeons are known to dive down and peck away leaves and blossoms, leaving just the stalks and veins behind. Meanwhile, foxes and rodents love munching on any fruits and veg you have growing.

Worse still, these animals are also known to spread disease. In particular, rats can carry leptospirosis – otherwise known as ‘rat bite fever’ – and is spread through their saliva and urine. If contracted by humans it can cause severe symptoms like and swollen lymph nodes.

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So, how do you get rid of them? While you can call the exterminators on rats and set up snares for foxes, it can be a better, cheaper and kinder idea to try to deter them from your garden first.

Equally, it’s worth remembering that killing nuisance birds like pigeons is actually illegal in the UK. They’re protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act from 1981, which prohibits the harming of wild birds, their nests (while they're occupied) or their eggs.

A great and safe way to prevent them from snuffling around your garden is to make it less appealing. This can be done by adding foods or herbs that they dislike the smell and taste of.

Lucky for humans, while many of us enjoy a spicy meal, pests certainly do not. advises sprinkling spices around your plants to keep naughty critters at bay.

One of the best options is chilli powder is a natural deterrent for many animals as they find its intense flavour irritating to digest. Much like with humans, it burns their mouths and triggers pain receptors.

Fortunately, if you don’t have chilli powder at home, they also aren’t a fan of the strong kick that comes from cinnamon, cayenne pepper and black pepper. Simply leave fabric bags near your plants, or scatter it directly into the soil.

Most of these spices can be picked up cheaply at your local supermarket. For examples, sells chilli powder for just 75p.

Although, it’s important to note that this is just a temporary solution. You will need to top up your spice barrier after it rains, as otherwise it will be washed away.

If you notice animals are still coming back, there are other measures you can take. This includes covering your crops with a netting that blocks animals from worming their way inside.

Alternatively, be careful not to overfeed your crops with fertiliser or compost. The excess food may attract animals to your garden beds.