Fans of spicy foods know all about the power of cayenne pepper, a finely ground powder made from hot chili pepper that is used to spice up many dishes. But cayenne pepper has another somewhat surprising use—as an organic form of pest control in the garden. The pantry staple is used to keep insect and animal pests away from flowers and vegetables. But how how does it work? And is it a good option? Ahead, we’re digging deeper into this hot topic with insights from a gardening expert.
Why Cayenne Pepper Deters Pests
A little bit of heat from cayenne pepper goes a long way in the kitchen—and the same goes for your garden. Sprinkling cayenne pepper near the base of plants can discourage some common garden pests that dislike the overwhelming pungency of this pantry staple. Like humans, some pests experience a strong, unpleasant, burning sensation when they come in contact with cayenne pepper, which may send them looking for another meal somewhere else—far away from your vulnerable garden plants.
Pests Cayenne Pepper Repels
Cayenne pepper isn’t effective for all garden insects and animals, but there are some species it may deter.
Mammals
Many common mammals that disrupt garden plants won’t go near the strong smell and burning taste of cayenne pepper. Some of these include:
- Red or gray squirrels
- Ground squirrels
- Mice
- Voles
- Rabbits
- Skunks
- Raccoons
- Deer
Bugs and Slugs
Cayenne pepper can also discourage certain bugs from munching on your plants. Some of these include:
- Fruit flies
- Lace bugs
- Aphids
- Spider mites
- Yellow jackets
- Beetles
- Slugs
Surprisingly, birds are unaffected by cayenne pepper. Capsaicin is the chemical that gives peppers their heat—and birds don’t respond to it in the same manner as some mammals or humans. So if you’re having trouble with birds pecking your strawberries or taking pieces out of your tomatoes, you may need to try another organic deterrent.
How to Use Cayenne Pepper to Repel Pests
There are two ways to use cayenne pepper to deter pests: powder or liquid. “To prevent squirrels from digging up your newly planted bulbs and plants, sprinkle pepper in the hole and on the surface,” says Kathy Jentz, GardenDC Podcast host and author of The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City. “If you want to stop rodents from chewing on wooden surfaces or rubber items, then a spray would be more effective.” No matter the form you use, be careful not to touch the plants with the pepper; apply it to the areas around the plants you’re targeting.
Take plenty of care when using cayenne pepper as a pest-deterrent. “Wear gloves and eye protection whenever handling any hot peppers or pepper by-products,” says Jentz. “Be careful not to touch your eyes or bare skin with your gloves while handling hot peppers or any capsaicin.”
Downsides of Cayenne Pepper as a Pest-Deterrent
There are some downsides to using cayenne pepper in the garden. Even though it won’t permanently affect animals, it’s not pleasant for them if they sniff or lick the pepper, or somehow get it near their eyes. While cayenne pepper may be effective in keeping pests away from your plants, you may not want to risk causing them discomfort. In the same vein, you will need to keep your pets away from cayenne pepper you sprinkled or sprayed around your garden.
What’s more, while cayenne pepper can be effective at deterring harmful pests from bothering your plants, it can negatively affect good bugs. Cayenne pepper can be toxic to honey bees and other useful pollinators that you do want in your garden.
Alternatives to Cayenne Pepper
If you don’t want to run the risks associated with using cayenne pepper in the garden, there are other suitable organic options. “Other organic solutions that can deter insects and animal pests include peppermint essential oil (note: this is not the same as peppermint extract) as well as making a spray with crushed garlic cloves,” says Jentz.
Vinegar is another easy and effective organic option for deterring garden pests. Using vinegar in the garden can help control insects and also deters wildlife pests like squirrels, raccoons, deer, and rabbits.
