6 Plants That Repel and Keep Groundhogs Out of Your Yard

Groundhog comes out of his den in a meadow
Mitch Shark/Shutterstock.com

Written by Nixza Gonzalez

Published: August 16, 2024

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Have you noticed large bite marks in your tomato garden? Or flowers and plants torn up with no suspect in sight? You may need to consider that you’re dealing with a hungry and sneaky groundhog. As sweet and lovable as groundhogs are, they are also destructive. These common garden pests love vegetation and will munch on nearly anything growing in your yard.Groundhogs are excellent diggers. They use their claws to create long burrows under the ground.

Even when they create burrows and don’t directly mess with your plants, it can harm your garden. Groundhogs can create burrows through thick roots, destroying plants in the process. Before you call pest control, look into plants that repel and keep groundhogs away. Although they love vegetation, there are some plants they won’t touch. Keep reading to discover six plants that repel and keep groundhogs out of your yard.

Garlic

Onion anzur or Onion Suvorov or elephant garlic (Allium suworowii) is a species of onion native to Afghanistan and Central Asia

Groundhogs do not like garlic.

A great way to repel groundhogs from your garden is to plant garlic. You can either plant garlic or place garlic cloves or powder in your garden. Either way, groundhogs won’t want to stay. The super strong scent drives them away.

Garlic is an excellent fall crop to plant. The best time to plant garlic bulbs depends on your USDA growing zone, but it’s typically from September to November. This plant thrives in full sun and well-draining soil.

Chives

A person harvesting Allium schoenoprasum or chives from a box garden with scissors.

Another way to repel groundhogs is by planting chives.

Chives can also drive groundhogs away. Even if groundhogs do stay in your yard, they’ll keep away from this fragrant plant. According to Penn State University, while groundhogs eat a lot of vegetation, they tend to stay away from chives.

So, how do you grow chives? Chives are easy to grow. They do best in cool weather and are often planted from fall to spring for a late spring and early summer harvest. Chives also spread quickly. If you aren’t careful, they can take over your garden. This is probably a good thing though if you’re looking to scare away groundhogs.

Thyme

Thymus serpyllum elfin thyme

Thyme is a fragrant herb that repels animals like groundhogs.

Also on our list of plants that repel and keel groundhogs out of your yard is thyme. This sweet-smelling and gorgeous herb produces tiny yet stunning purple flowers. They are a great addition to your garden if you’re looking to repel or deter groundhogs while also adding a pop of color.

Groundhogs don’t like thyme. You won’t have to worry about these animals eating your thyme plants or roughing the soil near them. Thyme grows best in full sun during spring. The seeds take weeks to germinate.

Foxglove

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) on the slopes of Waligora mountain, Stone Mountains, Poland.

Foxglove flowers are absolutely breathtaking in gardens. They are showy plants that produce a long stem of flowers that are hard to look away from. Thankfully, groundhogs don’t feel the same way. They prefer not to chew on foxglove leaves or flowers. Foxglove flowers are also deer-resistant.

Foxglove flowers are easy to grow. They prefer full sun with some light afternoon shade and can be planted in the ground and in containers. They flower during spring and summer.

Snapdragon

Snapdragons. Snapdragon pink flowers in the garden. Spring and summer background. Vertical photo

Snapdragons thrive in full sun during spring and early summer.

Another groundhog-repelling and resistant plant is the snapdragon. This lovely flower is a cool-season plant that groundhogs could care less about. Deer also rarely consumes or interacts with snapdragons. Not only do they repel garden pests, but snapdragons are stunning and showy flowers. They are perfect for filling up space in your garden.

Snapdragons love the sun. They thrive in full sun with minimal shade. The more shade, the smaller the blooms. Snapdragons bloom during spring and early summer, often stopping with summer heat.

Lemon Balm

lemon balm perennial or annual

Lemon balm is a groundhog-resistant plant.

Last but not least on our list of groundhog-resistant and repelling plants is lemon balm. This delicious herb has a strong and sweet scent. It’s a mixture of lemon and mint, which deters groundhogs. It also keeps your garden looking and smelling fresh.

This spring and mild winter favorite grows best in cool weather with shade. Too much sun can cause the plant to shrivel up. It’s a great plant for small spaces and can also be planted in containers.

Other Ways to Repel Groundhogs

Groundhog sitting on the ground looking at camera. Wildlife. Forecaster

Groundhogs scare easily.

Plants might not be enough to permanently get rid of groundhogs. If you’re still facing problems with groundhogs even after planting things like mint, thyme, and lemon balm, consider chasing them away. One way to do this is by cleaning out your yard. Find their hole which they use as their burrow. Clear the area of debris and shade. Groundhogs love to hide if they don’t have a hiding spot, they may look for another.

Another way to get rid of groundhogs is to scare them with DIY gadgets and garden accessories. For instance, you can add brightly colored pinwheels that move with the wind. The sudden movement can frighten them. Some gardeners even add pointy plastic forks with spikes up in containers and near prized plants.


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About the Author

Nixza Gonzalez

Nixza Gonzalez is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering topics like travel, geography, plants, and marine animals. She has over six years of experience as a content writer and holds an Associate of Arts Degree. A resident of Florida, Nixza loves spending time outdoors exploring state parks and tending to her container garden.

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