Keeping the pests away

[Oliver Buckle]

I have recently come across a couple of things supposed to put off pests. The first was coffee grounds, which are supposed to put off squirrels. the second cinnamon to put off pigeons. The idea of smells to put things off is not a new one, my father's generation used to dip peas in paraffin (kerosene) to put off mice. I'm not suggesting that , it would be illegal in the US for a start, but I do wonder how effective scents are.
Other pest deterrents I have come across are black threads stretched to keep off birds, pretty good in my experience, they touch a wing and it freaks them out, but easily damaged and hard to maintain, and old cd discs suspended for the same reason, I haven't tried them.
On the insect front taking the tops off broad beans is supposed to stop blackfly finding them, fairly effective I find, and carrot fly travel at low heights and go up for barriers , missing the carrots and flying over them. I find growing carrots in buckets has a similar effect.
Has anyone tried these things, or any others, and how well did they work?

 

[oneeye]

I have recently come across a couple of things supposed to put off pests. The first was coffee grounds, which are supposed to put off squirrels. the second cinnamon to put off pigeons. The idea of smells to put things off is not a new one, my father's generation used to dip peas in paraffin (kerosene) to put off mice. I'm not suggesting that , it would be illegal in the US for a start, but I do wonder how effective scents are.
Other pest deterrents I have come across are black threads stretched to keep off birds, pretty good in my experience, they touch a wing and it freaks them out, but easily damaged and hard to maintain, and old cd discs suspended for the same reason, I haven't tried them.
On the insect front taking the tops off broad beans is supposed to stop blackfly finding them, fairly effective I find, and carrot fly travel at low heights and go up for barriers , missing the carrots and flying over them. I find growing carrots in buckets has a similar effect.
Has anyone tried these things, or any others, and how well did they work?

My grandmother used to hang tin pie pans in the garden to scare the birds.

 

[MiTmite9]

Marigolds are supposed to deter a whole raft of garden pests. In our garden, we just let things play out. Unfortunately, we just lost one of our major pest control buddies. Fence lizard got whisked away by a crow. Damnit. (We love our crows, but . . . sheesh. Leave the lizards alone.)

 

[Ruderunner]

Fortunately, we don't have much trouble with bugs other than cabbage worms and Japanese beetles, Sevin works on those.

Rabbits are the most destructive thing we deal with but the dogs do a good job at keeping them under control, even the 15 year old husky mix.

Fencing works for keeping the dogs out of the garden. There's been a couple times I've considered locking the pittie in and letting her till the soil for me.

 

[Sluggy]

Human urine keeps foxes away. My neighbour complained to me that foxes had moved into her garden. I did not tell her they were my ex visitors.

 

[Sluggy]

My grandmother used to hang tin pie pans in the garden to scare the birds.

CDs also work but this could be expensive.

 

[big rockpile]

I have found Oregano and Basil work. I have Onions and Carrots.

This year I’m using Borage and Nostrum's . Borage Deer don’t like because the leaves are fuzzy.

Some plants use as a Trap Plant and go early in the morning pick bad bugs off and put them in Soapy Water.

I like planting Green Onions around my Cabbage.

big rockpile