Foxes are a common sight in many UK gardens, but they can be a real nuisance if they start digging up your beds or rummaging through bins.
Foxes can be destructive(Image: Claire Wood via Getty Images)
Foxes are a familiar nuisance in gardens up and down the country. If you’re regularly visited by these creatures, you’ve probably had enough of their piercing screams and the havoc they wreak.
Home maintenance specialist Martin Dooley at MD Carpentry Workshop warns these animals can inflict far more harm than many homeowners appreciate if allowed to roam freely in outdoor spaces.
He explained: “Foxes are curious by nature, so they’ll always check out sheds or corners of the garden that seem sheltered. If they start digging or nudging at a weak patch of wood, it doesn’t take long before you’re dealing with loose panels or damaged soil around the base of a building. It’s the kind of thing homeowners only notice once the problem has already grown.
Deter foxes from creeping into your space with kitchen scraps(Image: Getty)
“Freshly planted beds, compost areas and raised vegetable patches all carry strong scents, so foxes see them as interesting spots to rummage around. Even one night of digging can undo the time and money people put into growing things.”
If you’re battling with nocturnal fox intrusions, there’s one brilliant method to send them packing. You won’t need to splash out on expensive solutions or purchase specialist products — simply save your coffee grounds, reports the Express.
Martin added: “Most people make a coffee in the morning and throw the grounds away without a second thought. Instead, let them dry out and then sprinkle them around the garden; they can do a great job at putting foxes off. There’s no big effort involved, and you’re making use of something you already have.”
Foxes can be very disruptive(Image: Getty)
Ensure you keep topping up the coffee grounds regularly, particularly after rainfall, to maintain their effectiveness.
If you’re not a coffee drinker, don’t fret. There are a few other budget-friendly solutions for your fox issue.
Similar to coffee, foxes detest the potent aroma of citrus oil, so spreading leftover lemon, orange or lime peels around sheds, borders and vegetable beds can make these areas less appealing to them.
You can also concoct a spray of white vinegar and water and lightly spritz around fence lines and common entry points to deter foxes from venturing in.
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