King Charles’s Gardener Shares a Simple Trick to Keep Foxes Out of Your Garden

In an exclusive interview, Jack Stooks, the senior gardener at Highgrove – King Charles and Queen Camilla’s private residence in Gloucestershire – revealed a clever method to deter pests like foxes and moles from invading your garden.

The trick to Keep Foxes Out of Your Garden

1. Animal Alarms: Stooks recommends using animal alarms, which are available at garden centers and online. These devices can be placed in the corners of your garden. When triggered by body heat, they emit bursts of ultrasonic sound, effectively scaring off animals. While their effectiveness isn’t guaranteed, they serve as a useful deterrent.
2. Mole Probes: For mole control, there’s a probe-like product that you insert into the soil. It emits occasional strange noises that repel moles. Again, the results may vary, but it’s worth trying if you’re dealing with mole infestations.
3. Who Can Hear the Alarms?: Most animals, including birds, frogs, hedgehogs, and rabbits, cannot hear these alarms. However, dogs are sensitive to the ultrasonic sound and will avoid the covered area. So, if you have a dog, it won’t be affected by the alarms.
4. Balancing Wildlife: Stooks emphasizes the importance of coexisting with wildlife. Rather than eliminating all pests, consider welcoming nature into your garden. For instance:
   • Slug Solution: Hedgehogs are excellent slug hunters. If you have a slug problem, let these spiky creatures take care of it.
   • Foxes for Rabbits: If rabbits are an issue, foxes can help manage their population. Of course, this means accepting the presence of natural predators.
   • Creating an Ecosystem: By allowing this balance, you contribute to a self-regulating ecosystem in your garden.
5. Highgrove House: King Charles purchased Highgrove House in 1980 when he was the Prince of Wales. The gardens have become a focal point, emphasizing organic and sustainable practices. Chemical pesticides are avoided, rainwater is used for irrigation, and solar panels generate electricity.

Remember, a harmonious garden includes both cultivated plants and the wildlife that shares the space.