Foxes can cause damage in gardens by digging up flowerbeds and plants, but a garden expert has shared simple deterrent methods that helped keep them away – and you only need two items
Alice Sjoberg Social News Reporter
13:39, 05 Feb 2026
You can stop foxes from digging up your garden beds by using just two items (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
Foxes often go undetected in gardens, causing minimal harm to outdoor areas. Tell-tale signs of their presence include flattened plants, scavenged leftovers, and occasionally gnawed hosepipes and plastic tunnels.
Whilst these creatures might look adorable, they can swiftly quickly a nightmare to deal when they’re starting to tear up flowerbeds or vegetable patches, digging through rubbish bins looking for food, depositing foul-smelling droppings, or posing a threat to any household pets in the neighbourhood. Gardens offering food sources and refuge are particularly attractive to foxes, making suburban plots perfect spots for foxes wanting to care of and raise their babies.
Importantly, whilst removal methods must never cause harm, there are effective strategies to discourage them from your property, and it might be easier than you’d think.
One gardening enthusiast has now revealed her go-to methods for protecting her plants using just two everyday items to stop foxes from destroying her garden beds.
“How to repel foxes from your garden,” her YouTube clip began, before detailing her straightforward approach.
“Foxes cause a lot of destruction to gardens in the UK,” she explained whilst displaying her flowerbeds, which appeared to have been excavated and wrecked by the animals. “They dig soil, damage plants, and leave faeces everywhere.”
Whilst it’s against the law to employ dangerous toxins and substances to keep foxes at bay, the keen gardener proceeded to demonstrate how utilising just two simple products has successfully protected her garden beds and vegetation from being disturbed by the creatures.
She then revealed how she’d strategically positioned toothpicks throughout her pots and around her greenery, explaining that the pointed ends would discourage foxes from venturing near.
As an added layer of protection, she’d also draped wire mesh over her plants and containers.
“Thanks to this simple trick, I managed to get rid of the foxes in my garden,” she declared as her video wrapped up.
RSPCA’s tips to deter foxes from your garden
The RSPCA has issued a stark warning to gardeners battling fox visitors – you must stay within the law when attempting to shoo them away, or risk facing hefty penalties. This includes steering clear of hazardous repellents or dodgy substances.
The charity has also outlined several legitimate methods for keeping foxes out of your outdoor space without causing them distress.
For those with wildlife feeders dotted about, they suggest switching to bird feeders that don’t scatter seeds onto the ground where foxes can scavenge, and positioning feeding stations for creatures like hedgehogs in spots beyond foxes’ reach.
If you have fruit trees or veg patches in your garden, you should cover them them using fencing or robust weld-mesh featuring holes no smaller than 4cm across. And be quick to gather up any windfall fruit.
The RSPCA also advises against garden fertilisers containing meat, fish, blood or bone, as these might be luring foxes to excavate your beds in search of buried treasure. Experts also suggest using securely sealed dustbins and composters, and advise against leaving rubbish bags outside, as this helps deter foxes from rummaging through waste in search of food.
Lastly, ensure your garden doesn’t contain potential hiding spots that might attract foxes, such as patches of tall grass or overgrown vegetation, and seal off any gaps beneath sheds or decking.
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