If you're looking for an easy and affordable way to keep pesky critters away from your fruit trees, look no further than this DIY hot pepper spray! Not only is it incredibly effective, but it's also pretty simple to make. Plus, you can use ingredients that you likely have on hand already. So why not give it a try? Your fruit trees will thank you!

What You’ll Need

  • Blender
  • Strainer
  • Bowl
  • Spray bottle
  • Water
  • Gloves
  • Mask
  • Goggles
  • Hot peppers

Step-By-Step Guide to Making Your Own DIY Hot Pepper Spray

Chili pepper for pesticide

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Hot peppers contain capsaicin, a substance that is irritating to animals and humans. While the flesh of the pepper is what contains the capsaicin, the seeds are where most of it is concentrated.

When made into a spray and applied to trees, the capsaicin will irritate any animal that tries to eat the fruit off of the tree. The best part about this method is that it is completely safe for both the environment and animals. All you need are hot peppers, water, and a little time!

Step One- Preparing Your Peppers

Chopped hot pepper

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Chop the peppers into small pieces. The smaller they are, the easier they'll be to blend later on. Next, remove the seeds. If you want the spray to be more potent, you can leave the seeds in. However, be warned that this will also make the spray more irritating to your skin as well.

Pro tip: If you have any peppers that are starting to turn, use them up first.

Step Two- Blend!

Chopped red chili. Prepare to cook

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Once the peppers are seeded, add them to the blender with water until smooth. You can do this in a food processor, or even by hand if you prefer. Just make sure that everything is well combined before moving on to the next step.

Step Three- Strain

Strainer

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Now, it’s time to strain your blended peppers! Pour the mixture into a bowl through a strainer to remove any chunks of pepper that didn’t get blended.

Step Four- Bottle and Label

Spray bottle

Image credits: Parth Shah

via Unsplash

Once it’s all strained, pour the mixture into a clean spray bottle. Make sure to label it so you don’t accidentally use it on yourself! Be sure to shake it well before each use, as the ingredients may settle over time.

Step Five- Spray!

Woman in mask spraying a fruit tree

Image credits: Kamil Macniak via Shutterstock

Now your DIY hot pepper spray for fruit trees is ready to use! Whenever you see an animal starting to eat the fruit off of your trees, give your tree a quick spray. The capsaicin will aggravate their mouth and throat, causing them to stop eating and hopefully deter them from coming back.

This method is safe for both the animals and the environment, so you can feel good about using it. Plus, it’s a whole lot cheaper than buying commercial animal repellents!

Just remember to use it sparingly, as too much of a good thing can actually end up being bad. A little bit of this spray goes a long way, so start with just a few sprays and see how it goes. You can always add more if you find that it's not working as well as you'd like.

Additionally, don’t spray on edible parts of the crop! You do not want this very strong mixture anywhere near your fruits.

A Few Notes On Your DIY Hot Pepper Spray

hot pepper plants

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When it comes to making your own hot pepper spray, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. The first is the type of peppers you use. There are many different types of peppers out there, and each one has its own unique flavor and heat level. If you're looking to make a truly fiery hot pepper spray, then you'll want to use peppers that pack a serious punch.

The second thing you need to think about is the ratio of peppers to other ingredients. This is important because you don't want your spray to be too weak or too strong. If it's too weak, it won't do much to deter pests and animals from eating your fruit trees. On the other hand, if it's too strong, it could end up harming the trees themselves.

The best way to find the perfect ratio is to experiment a bit and see what works best for you. Start with a small batch, using about equal parts peppers and other ingredients. If you find that the spray isn't hot enough, then add more peppers next time. On the other hand, if it's too hot, then add more of the other ingredients and less peppers.

Go Try It!

Have you ever tried making your own hot pepper spray? It’s a really easy and affordable way to keep pests and other animals away from your fruit trees, and it just requires a few simple ingredients that you likely have on hand already. So why not give it a try? Do you have any tips or tricks for making this DIY hot pepper spray even more effective? Let us know in the comments below!