Gardening experts have been tipped off about an age-old but nifty tactic to keep crops safe from pesky wildlife. Throughout history, and agriculturists alike have put a slew of measures through their paces in the effort to shield their bounty from hungry intruders, although not always with great success.

From the traditional scarecrow to advanced pesticides, people have concocted numerous ways to safeguard their greenery against voracious animals, but many top-tier options come at a cost that's too steep for the common enthusiast. However, gardening experts at Farm Flavour have floated an economical hack that just might save your blooms and greens from becoming a free feast.

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Utilising those leftover plastic forks from festive feasts of the past can be useful - stick them around your plants and you could ward off unwanted critters.

Farm Flavour experts advise: "Before you toss that box of unused plastic forks from last year's holiday gathering, consider using them in your garden.

"Placing forks in the soil around your plants will discourage animals like raccoons, cats, squirrels and deer from wandering into the garden and helping themselves to your crops."

The theory hinges on the premise that the menacing appearance of the cutlery makes potential invaders think twice before encroaching too close, resulting in them steering clear of the area, reports .

While there's no concrete proof of this technique's efficacy in repelling garden gatecrashers, its harmless nature means that gardeners may reckon it's worth a punt since there's nothing to lose by giving it a whirl.

In case that tactic doesn't work, gardening gurus have a treasure trove of quirky tips to share, like nourishing your plants with coffee grounds and utilising cayenne pepper.

They remarked: "Coffee grounds are a wonderful garden fertilizer, rich in phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen and magnesium. They can also serve as pest control against slugs and snails. Some even say they boast natural anti-fungal properties, which is a huge win for anyone hoping to grow healthy produce."

On the quirky application of cayenne pepper, they continued: "Consider using a little cayenne pepper to keep those pesky critters away.

"Cayenne won't harm your plants, but it will keep unwanted animals and bugs from munching on all your hard work.

"All you need to do is sprinkle a quarter cup throughout your garden every few days and you'll begin to see healthier plants without chewed-up leaves and half-eaten fruit."